THE BLACK LEOPARD. 



169 



jight of a Leopard, which was clinging to the thatched roof immediately above the 

 hooks on which the meat was suspended. No sooner did the animal discover that its 

 presence was known, than it dropped to the floor, laid about it vigorously with its 

 claws, and leaping through the doorway, made its escape, leaving several souvenirs of 

 its visits in various scratches, one of which was inflicted on the sentry who gave the 

 alarm, and kept him to his bed for several weeks. 



The consternation caused by such an attack was very great, and many who escaped 

 the Leopard's claws, suffered severely from bruises which they received in the general 

 rush towards the door. 



The usual color of the Leopard's fur is a golden-yellow ground, which is thickly 

 studded with dark rosette-shaped spots. The form of the rosettes and the color of 

 the fur are by no means uniform. 



There are some Leopards whose fur is so very dark as to earn for them the name of 

 Black Leopard. This is 'probably only a variety, and not a distinct species. Although 

 at first sight this Leopard appears to be almost uniformly black, yet on a closer in- 



BLACK LEOPARD. 



spection it is seen to be furnished with the usual pardine spots, which in certain lights 

 are very evident. There have been often exhibited sundry Leopards of an exceedingly 

 dark fur, and yet partaking largely of the distinct spottings of the ordinary Leopard. 

 These were a mixed breed between the Black Leopard and the Leopard of Africa. 

 The black variety of this animal is found in Java, and has by some authors been con- 

 sidered as a separate species under the title of " Felis (Leopardus) melas," the latter 

 word being a Greek term, signifying " black." 



The strength of the Leopard is marvellous when compared with its size. One of 

 these animals crept by night into the very midst of a caravan, seized two wolf-grey- 

 hounds that were fastened to one of the tent pegs, tore up the peg to which they were 

 tethered, and although both the dogs were linked together, and were of that powerful 

 breed which is used for the pursuit of wolves and other fierce game, the Leopard 

 dragged them clean out of the camp and carried them for some three hundred yards 

 through dense thorny underwood. A pursuit was immediately set on foot, and the 



