CHAPTER XVI 



THE LEOPARD 



As seems to be the custom in Ceylon, we find, in the case 

 of the leopard, a misnomer in general use, it being almost 

 always spoken of as the " cheetah," though it is, or ought 

 to be, a well-known fact that there are no cheetahs in this 

 island. 



Our largest feline is the true leopard, Felis pardus, in 

 no way different from the ordinary leopard found through- 

 out the East. A full-grown animal will measure as much 

 as 7 feet from nose to tip of the tail, and stand 22 to 28 

 inches high at the shoulder. Females are, as a rule, some- 

 what smaller than the males. 



The low-country leopard is generally considered to 

 be larger than the hill leopard. 



The ground colour of the body is a yellowish brown, 

 and the whole skin is thickly studded with black " rosettes " 

 with pale centres. As in most other species of animals, 

 cases of colour variation occur, and leopards are occasion- 

 ally seen exceptionally light in colour, or so dark as to 

 almost merit the name of " black leopard." The Ceylon 

 animal is usually fairly heavily built and very powerful. 



As far as distribution is concerned they are found liter- 

 ally everywhere in Ceylon, at all elevations from sea-level 

 to Nuwara Eliya district, 6000 to 7000 feet above the sea. 



They are not strictly nocturnal, and may be heard or 

 seen on the prowl in the low country up to late in the 

 morning and again very early in the evening. They are 



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