162 THE LEOPARD. 



thickest and most pathless jungles, renders pursuit, m 

 this way, nearly impossible. The most COUTH ?u *r>- 

 thods of destruction are various kinds of traps, or with 

 dogs, which run them until the animal takes refuge 

 upon a tree, where, being kept at bay until the hun- 

 ter gets up, it is easily shot ; and, from the delibe- 

 rate aim that can be taken, it is generally so far dis- 

 abled with the first bullet, as to be easily overpowered 

 by the dogs. 



In a state of captivity, we are perhaps best ac- 

 quainted with the leopard. They have, in a few in- 

 stances, bred in this country ; but not so frequently 

 as either the lion or tiger. The pair which were in 

 the Tower in 1829, and described by Mr Bennet, 

 were of very different dispositions ; and in this they 

 resembled their congeners, for scarcely two are found 

 which can be equally trusted. The male, notwith- 

 standing very kind treatment, continued sullen and 

 savage, while the female suffered herself to be patted 

 and caressed by the keepers. She possessed a sin- 

 gular propensity, however, " for the destruction of 

 umbrellas, parasols, muffs, hats, and such other ar- 

 ticles of dress as may happen to come within her 

 reach, seizing them with the greatest quickness, and 

 tearing them into pieces, almost before the astonished 

 visitor has become aware of his loss. To so great 

 an extent has she carried this peculiar taste, that Mr 

 Cops declares he has no doubt that, during her resi- 

 dence ha the Tower, she has made prey of at least 



