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CHAPTER XXIII. 



THE PANTHER, LEOPARD, AND CHEETA OR HUNTING-LEOPARD. 



THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PANTHER, LEOPARD, AND CHEETA OR HUNTING-LEOPARD 

 — DISTINGUISHING MARKS — THE BLACK, LEOPARD — HABITS AND DISPOSITION OP THE 

 PANTHER AND LEOPARD — THE CHEETA OR HUNTING- LEOPARD — DR JERDON AND 

 GENERAL SHAKSPEAR's DESCRIPTIONS — ANTELOPE-COURSING WITH THE CHEETA. 



THEKE are three animals of the geuus Fdis which in India usually pass 

 incorrectly as to two of them, under the common denomination of 

 cheeta. These are the panther {Fclis pardus), the leopard {Felis Icopardus), 

 and the cheeta or hunting-leopard {Fells juhata). Of the handsome sjDotted 

 .skins that grace many Indian bungalows, and which are generally referred 

 to as cheeta-skins, at least ninety-nine out of every hundred are those of 

 the panther or of the leopard. 



The accompanying illustration shows the characteristics of the first and 

 the third named animals, the panther and cheeta. The distinction between 

 the panther and the second, or leopard, is practically small, and lies chiefly 

 in the inferior size of the leopard. The markings, habits, and general appear- 

 ance (except size) of the two animals are almost identical. But neither can 

 be confounded with the cheeta, even by the most casual observer. It will 

 be seen that, irrespective of the ditference of the physical conformation of 

 the panther and cheeta, the spots of the panther (and also of the leopard) 

 are grouped in rosettes, enclosing a portion of the ground colour ; whereas 

 those of the cheeta are solid, and are separate from each other. 



Between the panther and leopard the distinction is, as above stated, 

 less marked, and is chiefly interesting to zoologists and critical sportsmen. 

 The general observer may be pardoned for confounding the two. All 

 interested in the question in India are aware of the prolonged controversy 

 that has been carried on upon the subject, but most are now, I think 



