TIGER SLAYER BY ORDER 



very difficult, but except in the case of the black leopard 

 the difference is practically only in size, the larger variety 

 in India being, rightly or wrongly, generally spoken of as 

 panthers. Some naturalists, I believe, are of opinion that 

 a panther and leopard are of two distinct species, claiming 

 that the skulls of the two are somewhat different in 

 shape, but though I have compared many a score I have 

 never been able to detect any difference between any two, 

 large and small. 



A leopard, or panther, varies in size from six to eight 

 feet in length, the last being very rare, and weighs between 

 160 and 180 pounds. His colouring is too well known to 

 need description. In the smaller animal the black spots 

 are closer together than in the larger beast ; hence the 

 latter often appears to be of a lighter colour when seen in 

 the jungles. 



Like the tiger, the skin of the leopard grows fainter in 

 colour as the animal increases in years. Leopards frequent 

 belts of jungle, rocky hills, and caverns, from the last of 

 which it is generally most difficult to dislodge them. 



They are, as I have already mentioned, far more destruc- 

 tive to the smaller cattle and goats than tigers, often coming 

 into a village to carry off a goat or calf, and are also specially 

 attracted by dogs, which they have been known to carry 

 off from the verandah of a bungalow, and even from inside 

 a tent. 



Leopards, too, are capable of climbing trees, which they 

 can go up as easily as cats,* and are often to be found lying 

 hidden among leaves and overhanging branches, on the 

 look-out for monkeys, which, in spite of their activity, 

 they occasionally secure. 



Though less powerful in attack than a tiger, the leopard 

 is, I consider, a far more dangerous animal for the sports- 

 man to encounter, as he is more easily provoked to anger 

 and exceedingly courageous in his retaliation. I have been 

 repeatedly charged by these animals, and on two occasions 

 have had my men mauled by them. 



In eating his " kills " a leopard, unlike the tiger, seldom 

 attacks the hindquarters first, but almost invariably tears 



* See " Life in the Indian Police," p. 213, by the author. 



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