LEOPARD. 



425 



ental tiger, and almost as 

 dangerous. I lisa bright 

 tawny colour above, 

 marked along the flanks 

 with four rows of black 

 rings, with a black spot 

 in the middle of each. 

 Underneath it is white, 

 arked across with black 

 tripes. Some individuals 

 are black, on which the 

 spots, of astill deeper hue, 

 are only visible in certain 

 aspects. It swims and 

 climbs with ease, and 

 preys not only on the 

 larger domestic quadru- 

 peds, but also on birds, 

 fishes, tortoises, turtles' 

 eggs, &c. It must, how- 

 ever, be verv hard pressed 



b IG. 47I-J AGL-AR. before ^ ^.^ att man _ 



The Panther (Fells Pardalis) is fawn-coloured above, white underneath, with 

 six or seven ranges of black patches resembling rosettes that is to say, each composed 

 of an assemblage of five or six simple black spots. It very much resembles the leopard, 

 which inhabits the same regions. It is one of the wildest of the feline tribe, always 

 retaining its fierce aspect and perpetual growl. The female carries her young nine 

 weeks; they are born blind, and continue so for nine days. 



/ V.. .--- ^ 

 .V 



FIG. 472. LEOPARD. 



The Leopard (Fells Lcopardiis] resembles the panther, but has ten rows of spots, 

 which are of smaller size. Its habits may be gleaned from the following anecdote : 

 "I was awakened with a start by an unearthly roar as of some animal in extreme 



