202 THE LEOPARD, 



In the year 17O8, if we may believe the account; 

 of Kolben, two Leopards, a male and female, with 

 three young ones, entered a sheep-fold at the Cape, 

 The old ones killed nearly a hundred sheep, and re- 

 galed themselves with the blood. When they were 

 satiated, they tore a carcase into three pieces, and 

 gave one of these to each of their young ones. They 

 then took each a whole sheep ; and thus laden 

 began to move off. Having been observed, how- 

 ever, they were way-laid on their return, and the 

 female and three young ones killed ; but the male 

 effected his escape *. The same writer also informs 

 us, that the Leopard will not eat carrion, nor deign 

 to touch what has been killed by any other beast. 



The Negroes take these beasts in pitfalls ; cover- 

 ed slightly o\Tr with hurdles, on which a piece of 

 flesh is placed as a bait. 



The late Sir Ashton Lever had a Leopard, which 

 he !feept in a cage at Leicester-house. It had be- 

 come so tame, as always to seem highly pleased and 

 gratified by caresses and attention, purring and rub- 

 bing its sides against the cage like a cat. Sir Ash- 

 ton gave it to the royal menagerie in the Tower; 

 where a person, before acquainted with it, saw it 

 after an interval of more than a year, notwithstand- 

 ing which it appeared instantly to recognize him, 

 and began as usual to renew its caresses '|~. 



The flesh is white and well-tasted ; eating, says 

 Kolben, much better than the finest veal. It is 

 both nourishing and delicious ; that of the young 



* Kolben, ii. 98. f Church, 



