NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



it will rarely show itself during the daytime, so 

 thoroughly nocturnal are its habits. When hunger 

 drives, however, it will attack the flocks and herds 

 of the farmer in broad daylight and seize a sheep 

 or goat in the presence of the shepherd and bound 

 off with its victim into the neighbouring scrub. 

 The leopard seldom gives vent to any sound, and 

 when it does, the growl or grunt is merely a low, 

 hoarse, coughing kind of noise. 



This animal differs from the lion by reason of 

 its climbing powers, for it is perfectly at home 

 amongst the branches of the forest trees. So silent, 

 cunning, and secretive is it that it can softly steal 

 along a branch and drop upon its unsuspecting prey 

 beneath. Stretching its long and graceful body 

 along the branch of a forest tree overhanging one 

 of the pathways of the bush-dwelling antelopes, 

 it will lie immovable for hours in the hope of 

 securing one of them for a meal. 



One evening a friend and I had camped out in 

 a kloof under a large tree and were busy grilling 

 some meat on a fire when, glancing upwards, I saw 

 two large luminous eyes, and presently made out 

 the dark form of a leopard by the fitful light cast 

 by the fire. I sat immovable and stared at those 

 beautiful eyes for about the space of a minute. 

 The leopard lay along a branch quite still, its eyes 

 focussed upon mine. Sliding my hand quietly 

 along the ground I sought to reach my gun, but 

 the animal, observing the movement, turned swiftly 

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