108 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



tied to the cook's tent, well secured to a strong peg. In the 

 morning only two remained, but the large tracks of a leopard or 

 l>anthcr were deeply printed in the dust, and the sheep had been 

 carried off bodily, as a big dog would carry a hare. The jungle 

 at the base of a range of hills, almost perpendicular and full of 

 eaves, was the great resort of leopards, bears, and jackals ; the 

 sheep had l>een actually carried quite half a mile without leaving 

 a trace upon the ground to show that it had been partially dragged, 

 or that the leopard had stopped to rest. This was an admirable 

 proof of a great carrying power, as nothing could have moved upon 

 that dusty surface without leaving a well-printed trace. 



Although the cubs of leopards are charming playthings, and 

 exhibit much intelligence and apparent affection, it is a great mis- 

 take to adopt such companions, whose hereditary instincts are cer- 

 tain to become developed in full-grown life and lead to grave disaster. 

 The common domestic cat is somewhat uncertain with her claws, 

 and most people must have observed that should they be themselves 

 spared the infliction of a feline scratch, the seats and backs of 

 morocco chairs are well marked by the sharp talons, which cannot 

 refrain from exercising their power upon any substance that tempts 

 the operation. I remember a leopard in Khartoum that was con- 

 sidered tame ; this beast broke its chain, and instead of enjoying 

 its liberty in a peaceful manner, it at once fastened upon the throat 

 of a much-prized cow, and would have killed the animal had it not 

 been itself beaten to death with clubs by a number of stout slaves 

 of the establishment. All such creatures are untrustworthy, and 

 they should be avoided as domestic pets. The only class of leopard 

 that should become the companion of man is the most interesting 

 of the species: this is the hunting leopard (Felis jnbata). I have 

 never met a person who has shot one of this species in a wild state, 

 and such an animal is rarely met with in the jungle. Most people 

 are under the impression that the hunting leopard with non- 

 retractile claws is incapable of climbing a tree ; I was myself of this 

 opinion until I actually witnessed the act, and the animal ran up 

 a tree with apparent ease, ascending to the top. 



The Felis julata is totally different in shape from all other 

 leopards. Instead of being low and long, with short but massive 

 legs, it stands extremely high ; the neck is long, the head small, the 

 eyes large and piercing ; the legs are long, and the body light. The 

 tail is extremely long, and thick ; this appears to assist it when 

 turning sharply at full speed. The black spots upon the skin are 

 very numerous, and are simply small dots of extreme black, with- 

 out a resemblance of rings. It is generally admitted that the 



