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" his quarry by the throat. So light is this specimen of the leopard 

 <* that a buck autelope has been known to struggle on with the 

 " cheetah on his back some yards before he fell. I once saw a 

 " large tame leopard pitted against one of those fighting rams ; the 

 " leopard was one of the ordinary breed that had been taken when 

 " quite young, and had, up to the time in question, never tasted 

 " raw flesh, yet, when loosed at the redoubtable ram, he rushed 

 " round him, leapt on his back, ran along till he got the ram's 

 " mouth and nose into his own mouth, and so held on ; in a few 

 " seconds the ram would have been stifled, without doubt. I never 

 " saw such an exhibition of instinctive ferocity ! the ram was quite 

 " cowed and could not be persuaded to show fight at all. 



" I have omitted to bring in, as a separate species, the black 

 " leopard purposely, I may say, for it has yet to be proved whether 

 " they are distinct. The evidence is conflicting and it is difficult to 

 " decide, especially as on one occasion a gentleman saw an old 

 " leopard accompanied by two of her offspring, one red, the other 

 " black. Did ever any one see a white leopard, barring the snow 

 " leopard of the Himalayas ? which by the way is not white, but 

 " yellow. If not, may we not though it sounds paradoxical look 

 " upon the black as the Albino of the common leopard ? I throw 

 " out the query hap-hazard, and leave it to others better versed in 

 " these matters to take it up, if they like. One point has, I believe 

 " been observed, that these, may I call them "Betes Noires?" 

 " are more commonly met with on the Neilgherries and in Travan- 

 " core, than elsewhere.* This fact, if a fact, might lead to the 

 " solution of the vexed question. My own opinion is of no value, 

 " my observations having been very limited. One thing I may say, 

 " and that is, that I have never seen two black leopards in company, 

 " nor do I know of any one who has. Like the black cat of witch- 

 " craft notoriety, the black cheetah has a fierce and repulsive look, 

 " his light-colored eyes giving him a very devilish expression. 

 " Talking of Travancore, reminds me of my first meeting with a 

 " leopard in those parts ; I had gone out some ten or twelve miles 

 ' from cantonment (Quilou) for spotted-deer shooting, and the 



* I am told they arc numerous in the Malay Peninsula. 



