LEOPARD 



77 



all over Africa, and also inhabits a large portion of India. 

 In South Africa it is not uncommon in the more wooded 

 localities ; and is still fairly common in the Albany 

 Division of Cape Province, where a dark or melanistic 

 variety also occurs. The Zoo has had examples from 

 India, Ceylon, Mo9ambique, Khodesia, Pietersburg, Belfast, 

 Sabi, and South-West Africa. The latter animals appear 

 of a more sandy tone than those from the Union. 



FIG. 23. Young Leopard (" Nora "). 



The Leopard's favourite haunts are on rocky hillsides 

 or amongst thick bush, but sometimes it may be found 

 on rocky or stony kopjes, where there is little or no bush. 

 It hunts singly or in pairs, and is more nocturnal in its 

 habits than the lion. Its food chiefly consists of Dassies, 

 Baboons, Monkeys, Cane-rats, Duikers, Bluebucks, and 

 other small Antelopes, and it will steal lambs, pigs and 

 poultry from the farmyard. The Leopard is an active 



