MY THEORY ABOUT THE LEOPARD. 345 



I am convinced that in Africa there are three 

 distinct species of leopard, the first thick and massive 

 about the body, like a well-fed domestic cat, yet low in 

 the shoulders, and light in the limb. The next stands 

 taller, has coarse hair, and is very imperfect in its 

 markings ; the head is narrower and more pointed, 

 while the limbs are stronger built and evidently more 

 calculated for speed than those in the first mentioned. 

 The last, an example of which I have just slain, stands 

 high on its legs, possesses a beautiful and regularly- 

 marked skin, and limbs that are really extraordinary 

 in their size and power, while the tail is shorter 

 than in what I claim to be other species. Since 

 my return home I have spoken to Mr. Bartlett, the 

 well-known naturalist and superintendent of the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens concerning this subject, but he ap- 

 parently differed from me. 



Of the dog family we have acknowledged different 

 species. Thus the wolf, the Eskimo dog, and what is 

 familiarly known as the Pomeranian, are very much 

 alike, different in size, it is true, yet no one would assert 

 they are the same species. Again, the pointer, the fox- 

 hound, and the beagle, how closely do they resemble 

 each other, yet are as widely different as possible ! No 

 one denies them the right of belonging to different 

 species, yet naturalists are prone to place all leopards in 

 one species, although marked in formation of body as 

 differently one from the other as any of the dogs. 



On my return to camp I saw my first harris-buck, 

 but as day was waning, and we did not require meat, I 

 did not attempt a stalk. 



To-morrow we treck into a famous buffalo country, 

 margining a river, tributary of the Chabagi, and if my 



