THE LEOPARD. 



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 "Fells 

 (Leopardus) melas," the latter word being a Greek term, signifying "black." 



The strength of the Leopard is marvellous when compared with its size. One of these 

 animals 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 powerful 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 of them aid came 

 too late, for its skuU was literally smashed by a blow from the Leopard's paw. The same 

 animal had sprung upon and killed a goat which was picketed in the midst of the numerous 

 servants that accompany an European. 



Another Leopard committed an act of audacity which very much resembled the exploit of 

 the roof -clinging Leopard mentioned before in these pages. 



In a native hut some goats were kept, and as night had drawn on, the human inhabitants 

 of the hut were beneath the shelter of their own roof. A Leopard which was prowling about, 

 and was probably attracted either by the bleating or the scent of the goats, clambered up the 

 low walls of the hut, and tearing away with his claws the fragile thatch, leaped into the middle 

 of the room. In this case, the Leopard fared well enough, for the terrified inhabitants were 

 without arms, and as soon as they saw the unexpected visitor come tumbling through the roof, 

 they hid themselves like so many lean Palstaffs, in some wicker corn baskets that were 

 standing in the hut, leaving the Leopard to his own devices and in full possession of the 

 ground. 



The Leopard has a curious and ingenious habit of obtaining a meal. He pays a visit to 

 some village, and taking up a convenient post, at some little distance, sets up a loud and con- 

 tinuous growling. 



The pariah dogs, which swarm in every village, present a curious contradiction of 

 qualities. At the sound of a Leopard's voice they will rush furiously to the spot, uttering 

 their yelling barks, as if they meant to eat up the enemy on the spot. But when they come 

 to close quarters, sell-preservation obtains the upper hand, and they run away as fast as they 

 had appeared, turning again and baying at their foe as soon as they see that he is not pursuing 

 them. These habits render them of invaluable assistance to the hunter, who employs the pariah 

 dogs to point out the locality of his fierce quarry, and to distract its attention when found. 



So at the sound of the angry growl, out rush the pariahs towards the spot from whence 

 the sounds proceeded, yelping as if they would split their throats by the exertion. To draw 

 the dogs away from the protecting vicinity of man is just the object of the concealed Leopard, 

 who springs from his hiding place upon one of the foremost dogs, and bounds away into the 

 woods with his spoil. 



Fond as is the Leopard of well wooded districts, it appears to have a distaste for trees 

 around which there is no underwood. The long grass jungle which is so favored by the tiger, 

 is no way suited to the habits of the Leopard ; so that if the hunter seeks for tigers, his best 

 chance of success is by directing his steps to the grass jungles, while, if Leopards are the 

 objects of his expedition, he is nearly sure to find them among wooded places where the trees 

 are planted among underwood reaching some seven or eight feet in height. 



When a Leopard is "treed," i.e. driven to take refuge in a tree, it displays great skill in 

 selecting a spot where it shall be concealed so far as possible from the gazers below, and even 

 when detected, covers its body so well behind the branches, that it is no easy matter to obtain 

 a clear aim at a fatal spot. Its favorite arboreal resting places are at the junction of the larger 

 limbs with the trunk, or where a large bough gives off several smaller branches. The Leopard 

 does not take to water so readily as the tiger, and appears to avoid entering a stream unless 

 pressed by hunger or driven into the water by his pursuers. When fairly in the water, however, 

 the Leopard is a very tolerable swimmer, and can cross even a wide river without difficulty. 



