THE LEOPARD OE PANTHER. 61 



become indistinct or hidden in the general blackness of the coat ; 

 these are called black panthers, and at one time were con- 

 sidered a distinct race. It has been proved, however, that this 

 colouring is only accidental, being merely a melanoid form of 

 the species, and an animal of this kind now or lately in 

 the People's Park, Madras, had its young marked without any 

 pecuharity to distinguish the cubs from those of any ordinary 

 panther. There appears, however, to be a variety that is almost 

 completely black, and is an animal much dreaded in the islands of 

 Java and Sumatra. A few are also found in Equatorial Africa. 



The average size of these creatures is about four feet, exclusive 

 of the tail, which generally measures between two and two and a 

 half feet. 



Though so much smaller than the tiger, their powers of offence 

 and defence make them but little inferior in their capability of com- 

 manding caution when dealing with them in their natural state — in 

 fact, by many experienced hunters they are considered far the more 

 dangerous animals of the two. Like all cats, they will sneak away 

 from a man if they think they are not observed, but when 

 wounded or brought to bay, they will charge with more savage 

 impetuosity than the tiger, and on such occasions will not retreat 

 even when there is a way open for them, but will fight desperately 

 to the last, literally dying game. To extreme cunning and stealthi- 

 ness there is added the keenest powers of vision, hearing, and scent, 

 and l5he muscular strength they possess in conjunction with a pe- 

 culiar flexibility of spine and limbs, makes them unsurpassed in 

 agility, enabling them to make immense bounds perfectly clear of the 

 ground. One writer says, " Nothing either by day or night passes 

 with impunity within reach of a panther's spring, when the animal 

 is in its lair ; it then attacks men and animals without provocation 

 in a word, it leaps at anything it sees moving, sometimes con- 

 tenting itself with giving a wound with its claws, which either 

 maims or kills, and then walks away as if nothing had happened." 



They are as quick as thought in all their movements, and 

 take to water if hard pressed, or to trees, which they climb 

 easily, and move fearlessly about on the branches, hiding behind 

 the limbs when not wanting to be seen; these habits make them 



