THE LEOPARD 39 i 



sporting than the purely zoological point of view, it will be found that two species 

 of large spotted cats are recognized as inhabiting Africa and India, to the smaller of 

 which the name leopard is restricted, while the larger is known as the panther. 

 Although there is an enormous amount of difference between the smallest and the 

 largest of such spotted cats in point of size, yet, in the opinion of those who have 

 paid most attention to the subject, the transition from the one to the other is so 

 gradual and complete that, in a large series of specimens, it is quite impossible to say 

 where leopards end and panthers begin. Hence it is concluded that there is but a 

 single species, for which the name leopard should be adopted. The spotted coat of 



THE JEOPARD. 



(One-twelfth natural size.) 



the leopard being its most distinctive feature, the animal (in common with the 

 hunting-leopard) is known to the natives of India as the chita, meaning spotted; 

 the leopard, on account of its larger size being often distinguished as the chita- 

 bagh, or spotted tiger. By Europeans the name chita (or cheetah) has been very 

 generally restricted to the hunting-leopard; but, as the above remarks show, there 

 is no justification for this use, and it is accordingly preferable to call each of the 

 two animals by its English title. The ground color of the fur of the leopard is sub- 

 ject to considerable individual variation, but it is generally of a yellowish fawn, 



