NATURAL HISTORY. 33 



LEOPARDUS. (Lat. Ico, a lion ; pardus, a panther.) 



Varius (Lat. varied), the Leopard, or Panther. 



The LEOPARD is an inhabitant of Africa, India, and the 

 Indian Islands. A black variety inhabits Java, and is not 

 uncommon there. Its height is about two feet. This and the 

 following Felidse are accustomed to live much on trees, and 

 are on that account called Tree-tigers by the natives. Nothing- 

 can be more beautiful than the elegant and active manner in 

 which the leopards sport among the branches of the trees : 

 at one time they will bound from branch to branch with such 

 rapidity that the eye can scarcely follow them ; then, as if 

 tired, they will suddenly stretch themselves along a branch, 

 so as to be hardly distinguishable from the bark, but start up 

 again on the slightest provocation, and again resume their 

 graceful antics. It is easily tamed, and expresses great fond- 

 ness for its keeper, and will play with him like a cat. A 

 remarkably beautiful one in Wombwell's Menagerie was ex- 

 ceedingly fond of playing with the tuft at the extremity of a 

 lion's tail, and from the familiar manner in which he patted 

 and bit it, he evidently considered it as manufactured for his 

 own particular entertainment. The Leopard and Panther are 

 considered as the same animal, on the authority of Mr. Gray. 



