THE LEOPARD 67 



his " kill " may be easily identified. He often prudently takes the 

 remains of a partly eaten carcase up a tree, and thus is less likely to 

 be robbed of food than are the Lion and Tiger. 



Leopard cubs are not so distinctly spotted as the old animals ; they 

 are often taken and reared, but as pets they are very objectionable, 

 being peculiarly treacherous and dangerous as a rule. The animal is, 

 of course, a well-known exhibit in Zoological Gardens ; it breeds fairly 

 well in captivity, and is so easily procured in India that in my time 

 an adult specimen was not worth more than three or four pounds 

 in Calcutta. The Black variety is, of course, always comparatively 

 scarce and expensive, and it is a curious fact that individuals of 

 this colour almost invariably show a more savage temper than the 

 spotted ones. Of several specimens I have seen, all bore out this 

 commonly received opinion except perhaps one ; but this I only 

 saw once. 



That different colours accompany differences of disposition and con- 

 stitution is well known to every one who has to do with Horses, 

 and it would be interesting if this correlation were to be worked out 

 in connection with all animals which present well-marked colour 

 variations. 



The greater ferocity of the Black Leopard may account for its com- 

 parative scarcity, since an undue degree of this quality in any animal 

 is liable to lead it into conflicts which may prove fatal, even in the 

 case of such a powerful and active creature as is the Leopard. An 

 interesting exception to the general untrustworthiness of the captive 

 Leopard's disposition was furnished by a West African individual kept 

 many years ago at Coomassie, which was allowed to go about loose, 

 and even to associate with children, along with whom he would stand 

 looking out of a window. It is even recorded that on one occasion 

 his playfellows pulled him down by the tail, as he was in their way, 

 so that he must have been as gentle as large dogs so often are in 

 juvenile company. This very amiable animal, however, did not long 

 survive after arrival in England, and it is possible that his disposition 

 might have become less pleasant when he grew older. 



