THE LEOPARD 



{Felis pardus) 



Ingwc of Swazis, Zulus, and Amaxosa : Inkwi of Basuto 



(Kirby) 



This well-known and much-dreaded carnivorous 

 animal is generally known in South Africa as a 

 Tiger — Tijger or Vlackte tijger of the Dutch 

 colonists. 



There are, however, no real tigers in this country. 

 The leopard is a very widely spread animal. In 

 fact its distribution is more extensive than any 

 others of the cat family. Wherever forests, kloofs, 

 and rugged bush-covered hills abound, the leopard 

 will be found, unless it should happen to have been 

 exterminated by man. It inhabits Africa from the 

 Cape to the extreme north, and throughout Asia, 

 with the exceptions of Northern Siberia and the 

 high plateau of Thibet. In ancient times it in- 

 habited Europe, for its bones have been found in 

 caverns in Great Britain, Spain, France, and Ger- 

 many. When our primitive ancestors spread over 

 Europe, they came into conflict with the leopard 

 and dispossessed it of its cave shelters and took 



ii6 



