60 WILD ANIMALS. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE LEOPAED OR PANTHER {FELIX PAROUS). 



This animal is also another typical specimen of the feline tribe, 

 and one of the most ferocious and courageous, although it 

 uses more precaution against danger and is a much more wary 

 animal than either the tiger or the lion. In the conspicuous beauty 

 of its fur it must rank second only to the tiger, except in some 

 cases where it may be eclipsed by certain varieties of the jaguar. 

 It is found in nearly all tropical parts of Asia, having much the same 

 geographical range as the tiger, but is also found throughout 

 Africa from Algeria to the Cape, which the latter is not. It does 

 not extend into Northern China or South Siberia, which are 

 the homes of the tiger. Having such a wide range and being so 

 variable in size, colour, and markings, many travellers maintain 

 there are several distinct species, or at any rate well-defined 

 varieties, and others contend that there are at least two, and apply 

 the name Panther {Felis Tardus), to the larger animal inhabiting 

 Asia, and Leopard {Felis Leopardus), to the smaller variety, which 

 is thought to be confined to Africa ; the leopard of India being 

 in reality the cheetah. In India, however, the majority of sports- 

 men contend that there is a leopard distinct from the cheetah, , 

 being a small, dark animal, very powerful and abominably vicious, 

 only about half the size and weight of the .panther. 



In colour it is generally of a yellowish or rufous-fawn tint, 

 marked with numerous dark spots, grouped in rings or rosettes, 

 about the head, neck, and body. The tail is ringed, the limbs 

 spotted, and the general colour fades away to white on the 

 under parts. Occasionally, one or two cubs out of a litter of 

 Asiatic panthers will develop a very dark colour, and the spots 



