12 LLOYD’s NATURAL HISTORY. 
pale-coloured within, very@riable in form, size, and number, 
the external ring being generally interrupted, and the central 
area usually of the same hue as the ground-colour of the fur, 
although occasionally darker. On the head, lower portions of 
limbs, under-parts, and extremity of tail, the spots without 
light centres ; those at the tip of the upper surface of the tail 
taking the form of transverse bars. Young brownish, with 
the spots indistinctly defined. Skull with broad nasal bones, 
and the hyoid arch connected with it by ligaments, instead of 
by a series of small bones. 
Distribution—Africa generally, Asia Minor, Persia, Baluchi- 
stan, India, Assam, Ceylon, Burma, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, 
Java, and China. During the Pleistocene period the Leopard 
ranged into Western Europe, where its remains are met with 
in caverns and superficial formations. 
Much discussion has taken place as to whether there is 
more than a single species of Leopard in India, although all 
writers seem to be agreed that there is but one in Africa.* It 
may be mentioned before proceeding farther that the names 
‘“‘Pard ” and “ Panther” were applied by the ancients to these 
Spotted Cats, but whether indifferently to these animals in 
general, or as distinctive specific terms, is not apparent. It 
does not, moreover, seem at all clear as to whether one or 
both of these names were first applied to the African or to the 
Asiatic forms, although it is highly probable that they origin- 
ally referred to the former. 
In addition to the Pard or Panther, the ancients were also 
acquainted with the animal now commonly known as the 
Hunting-Leopard ; and as this creature was then considered 
to be a hybrid between the Lion and the Pard it was appro: 
* The gist of this discussion on the nomenclature and varieties of Leo- 
pards originally appeared as an article in ‘‘ Land and Water.” 
