HABITS OF PANTHERS AND LEOPARDS. 329 



held by some naturalists and sportsmen that black leopards are only lusi 

 naturce ; and the fact that they never occur amongst ordinary leopards in 

 the open-country localities of Mysore also seems to point to the conclusion 

 that the black leopard is quite distinct. On the other hand, there is said 

 to be no anatomical distinction between the two animals, and testimony 

 exists to show that amongst ordinary leopards, from heavy forest tracts at 

 least, melanoid individuals do occur. The following information on this 

 point has been obligingly given me by the director of the Zoological 

 Society's Menagerie at Amsterdam : " In regard to the black leopards from 

 Java my experience leads me to suppose them to be merely a variety of 

 the Felis leopardics from Java. We have had two young ones from a black 

 female ; one was black, the other of the ordinary colour. This female took 

 the male in liberty, so there is no proof as to what the father was. The 

 black leopards from Java have all sorts of shades, from jet-black to light 

 brown." It would appear from this, and other evidence, that wliilst the 

 black leopard is entirely confined, at least in India, to heavy forest tracts, 

 it does not there refuse to inter-breed with the ordinary leopard. 



Both panthers and leopards are exceedingly common in Mysore. I 

 wiQ proceed to describe their habits as I have observed them. 



The panther takes rank after the tiger among the beasts of prey of 

 India. Though his powers of offence are inferior to those of his larger 

 relative, he frequently proves himself a more dangerous animal for the 

 sportsman to encounter, as less provocation suffices to rouse him, and he is 

 exceedingly courageous in his retaliation. The panther does not systemati- 

 cally frequent heavy forests. His favourite resorts are the light belt of 

 jungle on the borders of, or intersecting, cultivated lands, and, even more 

 frequently, the rocky lulls, or droogs, formed of large masses of rock piled in 

 wild confusion upon each other, and forming endless caverns from wliich 

 he cannot be dislodged. The leopard is also found in these places, though 

 his more favourite habitat is forest country. The isolated hills mentioned 

 are a peculiar feature of Southern and portions of Central India, and rise 

 abruptly from the level plains, being often entirely free of brushwood and 

 trees. From their strongholds in these panthers and leopards watch the 

 surrounding country towards sunset, and descend with astonishing celerity 

 and stealth, under cover of the rocks, to cut off any straggling animal among 

 the herds or flocks on their return to the village at nightfall. 



From their habit of lurking in the vicinity of the habitations of man, 

 to prey upon cattle, ponies, donkeys, sheep, goats, and dogs, the panther and 

 leopard are frequently brought into collision with Indian villagers ; and a 

 panther or leopard being mobbed in a garden, or field of sugar-cane or 



