FELIS PAKDUS. 99 



own tent, near Mhow, by panthers. Mr. Barnes, of Colgong, informs 

 me that he has known many cases of human beings killed by them in the 

 Bhagulpore district, old women being the chief victims, some of whom 

 were taken out of their huts. Children are not unfrequently carried off 

 in various parts of India. This is the variety usually found in Bengal. 

 It appears to extend through Western Asia as far as the Caucasus, 

 and it is common in the mountainous parts of Afghanistan, but does 

 not accompany the Tiger into Northern Asia. In Africa it is often 

 destructive to human life j as also in some parts of the Malayan 

 peninsula. 



2nd. The Leopard, or smaller variety. F. leopardus apud Hodgson. 

 F. pardus apud Temminck. F. longicaudata, Valenciennes. Gforbacha, 

 or Horbacha, H., in the Deccan. Beebeea-bagh, Mahr. Bibla of the 

 Bauris. Ghur-hay and Dheer-hay, of some of the hill tribes near Simla ; 

 but generally called Lakkar-bagha throughout the hills, a word in the 

 plains confined to the Hysena. 



W. Elliot says, " The generality of Kerkals are dark, whence probably 

 their name, from kera, dark j the fur is longer and looser than in the 

 Honiga. It is a smaller and stouter animal, and varies much in size, 

 some not being bigger than a large tiger-cat, though the skull proved 

 them to be adult animals. The skull is rounder, and the bony ridge of 

 the Honiga wanting. Dimensions, from 3 to 3 J feet to root of tail, which 

 is 21 feet ; height 1 J to 2 feet." 



Horsfield says, " smaller, stouter, darker, with the spots more crowded." 

 " Mountaineer " says, " It is smaller, with a round bull- dog head." This 

 is the one most commonly met with, and appears to be the most numerous. 

 It does not confine itself to the forests, but prowls among villages, carrying 

 off sheep, goats, dogs, and sometimes commits great depredations. It is 

 very fearless, frequently seizing a dog in the middle of a village, whilst 

 the inhabitants are still stirring. " Everywhere," says Mr. Blyth, " it is 

 a fearful foe to the canine races, and in general to all the smaller animals 

 sheep, goats, deer, monkeys, pea-fowl, &c. j and when such animals are 

 penned up and helplessly in its power, it will kill any number of them, 

 seemingly in indulgence of its blood-sucking propensity." Hutton men- 

 tions one entering a house and seizing a bull-dog chained to the bed of its 

 master, and I have known it enter tents and carry off dogs in Goomsoor 

 as well as on the Himalayas. At Manantoddy, in the Wynaad, I have 

 known every dog in the station to have been carried off, many in broad 



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