2i8 THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



of Fells pardus are the mountain dwellers and those 

 that are found upon the lowlands. The first men- 

 tioned is a much shorter-legged animal than the 

 latter, and seldom exceeds the length, including the 

 tail, of six feet. Its limbs are possessed of extra- 

 ordinary power and development, and its courage, 

 more especially when wounded, is not to be surpassed ; 

 in fact, its capacity of doing injury to a foe is quite 

 equal to that of the larger f elides. Its mode of attack 

 has been frequently described to me, and my own 

 experience endorses it, viz., when its enemy is within 

 springing distance it charges with incredible velocity, 

 and on reaching its molester, seizes him about the 

 shoulders with its formidable claws, at the same time 

 commencing to rend his face and neck with its power- 

 ful teeth. Moreover, like the smaller cats, it does not 

 hesitate to use its hind legs as further auxiliaries to 

 its destructive powers, tearing and lacerating with 

 them the abdomen and thighs of its victims. 



From the diminutive size of the mountain 

 leopard, a casual observer would be inclined to 

 imagine that two or three good dogs would be more 

 than a match for it ; but this is not the case, for, 

 unaided, I believe this animal would be more than 



