BLACK LEOPARD. 
alarm. They were just about to retire, when one of the party caught sight of a Leopard, 
which was ¢ linging to the thatched roof immediately above the hooks on which the meat 
was suspended. No sooner did the animal discover that its presence was known, than it 
dropped to the floor, laid about it vigorously with its claws, and leaping through the 
doorway, made its escape, leaving several souvenirs of its visit In various scratches, one of 
which was inflicted on the sentry who gave the alarm, and kept him to his bed for several 
weeks. 
The consternation caused by such an attack was very great, and many who escaped 
the Leopard’s claws, suffered severely f yom bruises which they received in the general rush 
towards the door. 
The usual colour of the Leopard’s fur is a golden-yellow ground, which is thickly 
studded with dark rosette-shaped spots. The form of the rosettes and the colour of the 
fur are no means uniform. 
There are some Leopards whose fur is so very dark as to earn for them the name of 
Black Leopard. This is probably only a variety, ‘and not a distinct species. Although at 
first sight this Leopard appears to be almost uniformly black, yet on a closer inspection 
it is seen to be furnished with the usual pardine spots, which in certain lights are very 
evident. There have been often exhibited sundry Leopards of an exceedingly dark fur, 
and yet partaking largely of the distinct spottings of the ordinary Leopard. These were 
a mixed breed between the Black Leopard and the Leopard of Africa. The black variety 
of this animal is found in Java, and has by some authors been considered as a separate 
species under the title of “ Felis (Leop: wdus) melas,” the latter word bei tne a Greek term, 
signifying “ black.” 
The strength of the Leopard is marvellous when compared with its size. One of these 
annals crept by night into the very midst of a caravan, seized two wolf-greyhounds that 
were fastened to one of the tent pegs, tore up the peg to which they were tethered, and 
although both the dogs were linked together, and were of that pow erful breed which is used 
for the pursuit of wolves and other fierce game, the Leopard dragged them clean out of the 
camp and carried them for some three hundred yards through dense thorny underwood. 
A pursuit was immediately set on foot, and the dogs rescued from the daring foe. To one 
