CLASS MAMMALIA. 



259 



PIG. 451. 



position.* The tail is tufted, while the neck of the male 

 is ornamented with a flowing mane that in some varie- 

 ties reaches nearly to the ground, f His tawny, uniform 

 color, closely corresponding to that of the desert tracts 

 in which he lives, aids his concealment in stealing upon 

 his prey. The pupil of his eye is round, giving as ex- 

 tensive horizontal vision as vertical ; and his strength is 

 such that he can carry off a cow with ease, even leaping 

 broad dikes and keeping ahead of pursuing horsemen 

 for miles without dropping it. He naturally feeds at 

 night, so that his apparent magnanimity in sometimes 

 sparing man and beast during the day is only because 

 he is already satiated with 

 food. Like many other an- 

 imals, he has no desire to 

 kill merely for the sake 

 of killing. 



The Leopard (lep'ard), 

 now considered identical 

 with the Panther, inhabits 

 Africa, India, and the ad- 

 jacent islands. Its mimicry is striking its skin being 

 marked with circles of dark spots, corresponding to the 

 leaves of the tree among which it conceals itself. In 

 Java there is a black variety latolv discovered. 



* Livingstone and Gerard pronounce him cruel and cowardly. He secures 

 his prey by lying in ambush till it comes within reach, of his terrible bound, 

 fnd if the first spring fails, like the tiger, he sneaks back to his covert ashamed 

 and disappointed. In fact, his speed is too slow to permit his overtaking his 

 game. 



t It is asserted by some travelers that the roar of the Lion is terrific beyond 

 description, while others declare it to resemble the discordant cries of the ostrich. 

 Probably the degree of fear aroused colors the narration. Since the Lion's larynx 

 is relatively larger than that of any other mammal, there may be no exaggera- 

 tion in -the statement that its roar sometimes shakes the ground like an earth- 

 quake, and carries dread to every animal within hearing. 



Fe'lis leopar'dus. Leopard. 



