THE LEOPARD 



animal than the leopard ; and the more complex development of its rosettes is a 

 further proof that this type of marking is one specially adapted to a life among 

 thick-foliaged trees. It may be added that the near relationship existing between 

 the leopard and the jaguar affords conclusive evidence that large spotted felines 

 at one time inhabited North America. 



With such an enormous geographical range, it would be only natural to 

 expect that the leopard should present considerable local variation ; and, as a matter 

 of fact, such is actually the case. The Amurland, or Manchurian, race has already 

 been mentioned. Asiatic leopards have large rosettes ; and among these the 

 Persian leopard (F. pardus panthera, or tulliand) constitutes a race characterised 

 by its pale colour, long fur, and thick tail. This race makes an approach to the 

 snow-leopard {F. uncia) of the highlands of central Asia, which is, however, a 

 distinct species, distinguished by its long fur and tail, with the prevailing colour 

 grey, and the rosettes in the form of ill-defined rings ; this type of colouring being 

 probably an adaptation to a life among rocks and snow. 



Leopards from North and East Africa show large rosettes of the Asiatic 

 type; but in most other parts of the African continent the rosettes show a great 

 tendency to break up into small spots. Among these small-spotted leopards the 

 Somali race (F. pavdus nanopardus) is noticeable for its pale colour and small size ; 

 its total length being less than 5 feet, whereas some of the other races may 

 measure 7J feet, or even more, in length. 



Both in Asia and north-eastern and East Africa black leopards are not un- 

 common ; but these are merely a dark (melanistic) phase of the ordinary leopard. 

 Nevertheless, it appears, so far as can be judged from a single authenticated 

 instance, that black leopards when mated together will breed true, although, if 

 paired with spotted individuals, the progeny may be of either type. 



With regard to the general habits of leopards, space permits only of reference 

 to their remarkable partiality for the flesh of dogs, which is so strong as to render 

 it difficult to keep these animals in leopard-infested districts. 



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