186 THE LEOPARD 



India he is the Panther, in addition to being 

 known by his own name ; whilst, with that fine 

 independent disregard of accuracy which is so 

 striking a characteristic of that country, he is 

 known throughout South Africa as the " Tiger." 

 But the leopard of Zambezia, identical in type, 

 size, and colouring with those found all Africa over, 

 is a handsome beast whose skin is usually one of 

 the first to ornament the premises of the new- 

 comer, probably never destined, even after years 

 of residence or wandering, to behold him in the 

 flesh. Africa does not contain in all its length 

 and breadth a more cunning, silent, or elusive 

 animal, nor yet one with greater powers of des- 

 truction, to which so frequently he gives full 

 rein, as the leopard. Hidden during the day in 

 thick cover, in rocky, tree-clad ravines, or in the 

 shady retreat afforded by the gigantic limbs of 

 some vast Uiana-covered forest tree, the leopard 

 waits thus efficiently concealed until the shades 

 of night send him faring forth to the game-path, 

 the water-hole, or the hen-roost. Wholly noc- 

 turnal by habit, there is probably no rarer 

 African experience than to encounter his beautiful, 

 lithe, graceful form abroad in the daylight hours. 

 At early dawn he quits his kill and drinks at some 

 neighbouring water, and it will be well under- 

 stood that, as most of his ambushes are near by 

 the drinking-places of the game beasts, he has not 

 far to go to quench his thirst. 



The Zambezian leopard is the incarnation of 

 sinuous, feline stealth — a beautiful cat, in a word, 

 weighing about 100 to 120 lbs. and between 



