WHAT IS A LEOPARD? 193 



of the Pasha of Belvedere, we have three distinct species, 

 not counting, of course, the " cheetah," or hunting-leopard 

 (F. jubata), viz. : first, the F. pardus or leopardus (whether you 

 choose to call it panther or leopard), divided into two varie- 

 ties, the greater and the lesser ; secondly, the F. (pardus or 

 leopardus) melas, or black panther ; and thirdly, the F. (pardus 

 or leopardus) macrocelis, or clouded panther. 



If the designation " leopardus" or lion-pard, is to be 

 understood as indicative of the appearance of the beast, it is 

 an unfortunate one, because the Bengal pard bears no resem- 

 blance whatever to the lion, whereas F. jubata does so to the 

 small extent of displaying long fur or hair on its crest, neck, 

 and breast, and also some slight resemblance in its tail, which 

 is thickly furred at its extremity. It seems, therefore, that 

 the name of leopard should be applied in ordinary conversa- 

 tion to the Felis jubata, or " cheetah," alone, and that of pard 

 or panther to the others. I shall abide by this rule in all 

 mention of these creatures, and I respectfully commend it 

 for the consideration of the learned as both reasonable and 

 convenient, and likely to put an end to such unprofitable 

 expenditure of words and temper as the following : " Well," 

 continued Captain Brown, " as I was saying, when the move- 

 lent in the grass ceased, I walked up gingerly, my finger on 

 the trigger, and then what do you think I found ? " 



"A jackal, I suppose," replied Green, who is rather 

 jealous of his friend's claims to be considered a sportsman, 

 styling him a mere sporting man ; " a jackal, of course ; what 

 else could it be in such a place ? " 



" A jackal ! " indignantly exclaimed Brown ; " it was a 

 leopard, a fine full-grown one too, and dead as mutton." 



" I will bet you anything you like it was not a leopard/' 

 put in Green, eager to relieve the other of a few chicks, " and 

 as you saw the beast, and I have not done so, you ought to 

 give me long odds. I allow, though, it may have been a civet 

 or other cat, and not a jackal." 



" Done," shouted Brown ; " I give three to one that it 

 was a leopard." 



o 



