22 THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



elder of the two, has now been an inmate of the Tower above four years. Long confinement has 

 softened the natural ferocity of her disposition ; and it is said that she will allow herself to be 

 patted and caressed by strangers. From the natural treachery of the animal it is, however, an 

 experiment by no means to be recommended to be put in practice, for, on our visit to her den, we have 

 had frequent opportunities of remarking the sly and instantaneous manner in which she will dart her 

 fangs at anything within her reach. If a lady or gentleman point at her with either an umbrella or a 

 parasol, the chances are very much against it, that it will be ever fit for any future use. According to 

 the report of Mr. Cops, the keeper of the menagery, whose general civility and liberality deserve 

 particular notice, he declares it to be his firm belief, that the Leopardess has destroyed more umbrellas 

 and parasols than there are days in the year. Hats and muffs also come within the range of her 

 destructive powers, and in several instances the head itself has narrowly escaped some deep lacerations 

 from her tremendous claws. 



The male Leopard differs very much from the female in point of tameness and docility. He is, 

 perhaps, one of the most sullen beasts in the w hole menagery, and all the kindness of his keepers appears 

 to be thrown away upon him. He seldom exhibits himself in the upper den except at feeding time, 

 crouching in his dismal den beneath, and refusing all familiarity with any of the attendants of the 

 place. In his size and depth of colouring he surpasses the female, with whom, however, he conde- 

 scends to live on tolerably friendly terms, quarrelling only with her when he supposes that she has 

 had a larger portion of food bestowed upon her than upon himself, and consequently manifests a greedy 

 disposition to deprive her of her allotted share. 



It is most surprising to observe the agility with which the female bounds round her den, touching 

 at one spring each of its four walls, and skimming along the ceiling with the same rapidity of action, 

 which the eye can scarcely follow. This feat of the animal displays, in a wonderful manner, the 

 extraordinary muscular power and flexibility of limb which it possesses, and conveys to the spectator 

 some adequate idea of the extent of its powers when employed in its state of savage nature. 



Kolben relates that, in the year 1708, a male and female leopard, with three young ones, entered a 

 sheepfold at the Cape. They killed nearly a hundred sheep, and regaled themselves with the blood. 

 When the old ones were satiated, they tore a carcass into three pieces, and gave one of these to each of 

 their offspring. They then took each a whole sheep, and, thus laden, began to move off. Having, 

 however, been observed, they were waylaid on their return, and the female and three young ones were 

 killed, but the male effected his escape. We are informed by the same traveller, that the Leopard 

 will not eat carrion, nor deign to touch what has been killed by any other beast. 



We rather suspect that our modern Epicureans would not relish a dish of leopard cutlets, but Kolben 

 informs us that the flesh of the Leopard is white and well-tasted, and eats much better than the finest 

 veal. " It is," he says, " both nourishing and delicious, and the flesh of a young Leopard is as tender 

 as chicken !" 



The whole race of the leopard, the panther, and the tiger, may be considered as the most formidable 

 enemy of mankind ; there are others, indeed, stronger, but they are more gentle, and never inflict any 

 injur)' till they are themselves injured ; there are others more numerous, but they are more feeble, 

 and rather seek their safety by concealing themselves from man, than by opposing him. These are 

 the only quadrupeds that make good their ground against him, and which may be said to keep some 

 kingdoms of the earth in their own possession. There are extensive countries in Africa where the wild 

 beasts are so numerous, that man is deterred from living amongst them, reluctantly yielding to the lion 

 and the leopard those tracts, which nature appears to have formed solely for his delight and convenience. 



