THE LEOPARD. 79 
hibits a decided tendency to melanism; and it is stated that 
the black Leopards are found chiefly in forest-districts of 
considerable elevation. So far, the conditions under which 
melanism appears in the Asiatic Leopard seem to be similar 
to those under which our specimen was reared. On the other 
hand, the abnormal coloration affects the ornamental pattern 
of the Asiatic Leopard in a different fashion from that ob- 
servable in our specimen. In the former the black colour 
is equally diffused over the whole body, the rosettes retaining 
their shape and number, and shining with a more intense 
black through the ground-colour.” It is added that the black- 
ness of these African Leopards may perhaps be considered as 
an incipient stage of the total melanism of the Asiatic form. We 
have, however, yet much to learn as to the nature of melanism, 
and of what advantage (if any) it can be to the individuals in 
which it is developed. 
Since the former of these specimens (which will be found 
described and figured in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological 
Society” for 1883, p. 244, pl. xvi.) is so entirely unlike an or- 
dinary Leopard that it might well be taken for a distinct species, 
or a hybrid, it may be well to quote the original description 
im extenso. ‘Vhe ground-colour of the fur, writes its describer, 
“is tawny, with a rich orange gloss about the shoulders. Of 
the rosettes only a few faint indications are preserved, namely 
on the haunches, where two are visible on the right side, 
whilst they form an irregular confluent pattern on the left. 
Remains of rosettes are also visible on each shoulder, close to 
the whorls of hairs usually developed in the Leopard and Lion 
in this place. ‘Two pairs of similar rudimentary rosettes suc- 
ceed these at intervals of about ten inches. The remainder 
of the rosettes are broken up into, or replaced by, innumer- 
able small separate spots, which are most distinct on and be- 
hind the region of the shoulder, and on the outer sides of 
