328 DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE PANTHER AND LEOPARD. 



agreed in accepting Dr Jerdon's view, based upon the most reliable evidence 



namely, that the panther and leopard are mere varieties of the same 



species. Though they differ greatly in size, the former attaining, in excep- 

 tional cases, almost to the dimensions of a small tigress, whilst the latter is 

 i'recpuently, when full-grown, under fifty pounds in weight — in fact, not larger 

 than our large bull-dogs — there is not more radical difference between the 

 two animals than exists between horses and ponies, or large dogs and little 

 ones. Their habits and haunts are almost identical, such divergences as 

 occur being due mainly to the relative powers of the two animals. Thus, 

 whilst the panther seizes cattle as well as the smaller domestic animals, and 

 large deer, the leopard is content with goats, dogs, and even fowls ; and in 

 the forest it preys upon pea-fowl, hares, and such small game. Much of 

 the confusion that has arisen regarding panthers and leopards has undoubt- 

 edly been caused by the fact that adult animals are found, varying in size 

 as much as do the dray-horse and the child's pony, or the mastiff and toy- 

 terrier. As there are also various shades of colour amongst them, the 

 question has puzzled many who have not had opportunities of examining 

 numerous specimens of both animals. The following distinctions, compiled 

 chiefly from Dr Jerdon's Mammals, will, I trust, assist the inexperienced 

 sportsman to a correct classification of such animals of the two varieties as 

 he may shoot. 



The panther (Felis parclus) varies in size from six to eight feet from 

 nose to tip of tail. Ground colour generally pale fulvous yellow, or rufous 

 fawn, with dark spots grouped in rosettes, except on the spine and towards 

 the extremities, where they are distinct black marks. Fur short and close. 

 The ground colour is lighter in old than in young animals. 



The leopard {Felis leopardus) varies greatly in size, but probably 

 never exceeds six feet in length from nose to tip of tail. Some individuals 

 are little larger than a large tiger-cat. The leopard is stouter in propor- 

 tion to its size than the panther, and the skull is rounder. The spots are 

 more crowded, and the fur is longer and looser than in the panther. 



A variety of the leopard perfectly black all over, in winch the spots 

 si tow but indistinctly as still darker marks, is not altogether uncommon in 

 Mysore and other parts of India, and is less rare in certain localities in the 

 Malay peninsula and Java. In Mysore it is never found out of forest- tracts. 

 In its habit of confining itself entirely to heavy forests it differs somewhat 

 from the common leopard. I have never seen the animal in its wild state, 

 but I have seen two nearly full-grown ones in captivity, and more than one 

 skin. The two I saw are now alive in England, and are apparently cubs 

 of one litter. This circumstance would seem to militate against the view 



