100 FELID^E. 



daylight. This small variety appear to be most abundant in forest 

 countries, as in Malabar, the "Wynaad, Goomsoor, and the more wooded 

 parts of the Himalayas. In winter it is particularly bold, coming on to 

 the roads in some of our hill stations shortly after sunset, and carrying 

 off many dogs. A spiked iron collar is often, however, a sufficient pro- 

 tection, and in the interior of the hills most of the shepherd dogs are 

 thus clad. It always seizes its prey by the back of the neck or the throat, 

 and it is popularly believed in India that it cannot recover from a wound 

 inflicted on ib, which would be the case sometimes if it seized a dog from 

 behind. Instances are known of the fine hill dogs killing leopards occa- 

 sionally in fair fight. 



Speaking generally of the Pard, without reference to the distinct races, 

 Blyth says, " The pard is a particularly silent creature, very stealthy, 

 and will contrive to dodge and hide itself in places where it would appear 

 impossible that a creature of its size could find concealment." In the 

 Malay provinces, they are said to attack man not unfrequently, and are 

 said occasionally to climb up to the machdns * with facility, and carry 

 off people who are watching the grain by night. They are popularly 

 said to be much in the habit of climbing trees, but this habit does not 

 seem to have been much noticed by late observers. The natives assert 

 that they are fearful of water, and will not readily swim, and are there- 

 fore rarely found on small islands. Blyth too says that " it shows great 

 aversion to wetting its feet, and if water be spilt in its cage, will care- 

 fully avoid treading on it if possible." Like the Tiger, the Leopard will, 

 if hungry, eat any dead carcass he can find. 



A well-marked race is the Black Leopard, F. melas, PeYon.F.perniger, 

 Hodgson, Cat. Coll. B. M., No. 25. It is of an uniform dull black colour, 

 the spots showing in particular lights. Mr. Elliot considered it a variety 

 of the Honiga, or panther, but it is generally a smaller animal, and is 

 almost always found in forests or forest country ; in this more resembling 

 the Leopard. It is found sparingly throughout India, from the Himalayas 

 to Malabar and Ceylon, and in Assam, the Malay peninsula, &c. ; but 

 I have not seen it recorded from Africa. Mr. Hodgson is inclined to 

 consider it a distinct species. 



The name leopard and also panther were originally both given to the 

 Cheeta ; or hunting leopard, this being the Pard of the ancients \ but they 



* Platforms erected on trees. 



