804 



THE AFRICAN LEOPARD. 



accomplishes the most surprising leaps, and swims, and climbs trees, 

 or crawls along the ground, serpent-like, with admirable ease. Com- 

 pared with the jaguar and panther of naturalists, he is uniformly of 

 a paler and more yellowish colour, and rather smaller, while the spots 

 on his skin are rose-formed, or consist of several dots partially united 

 into a circular figure in some instances, and in others into a quadran- 

 gular, triangular, or other less determinate forms. The lower part 

 of the neck and inner parts of the limbs are white ; the spots are con- 

 tinued upon the tail, which is long, and black at the extremity. 



THE AFBICAN LEOPARD. 



The Panther is larger than the leopard, measuring about six feet 

 and a half from nose to tail, which is itself about three feet long. On 

 his sleek hide the spots are disposed in circles of four or five, with, 

 usually, a central spot in each circle, in which, as well as in his 

 deeper colour, he differs from the leopard. Both are handsome, 

 stealthy, and ferocious animals ; supple, agile, and muscular. The 

 leopard (Fells leopardus) is a native of Africa, principally ranging 



