CHAP. VIII 
THE LEOPARD 
275 
stances. A leopard will spring up a smooth-barked 
tree with the agility of a monkey; and there is a 
small species which almost lives among the branches 
[F. Macroscelis), from which it leaps upon its prey 
when passing unconsciously beneath. 
An examination of the skins of leopards from 
various portions of the globe exhibits a striking dif¬ 
ference in colouring and quality of fur. We find the 
snow leopard, which inhabits the Himalayahs and 
other lofty mountain ranges, with a fur of great value, 
deep and exceedingly close, while the spots are not 
determined as distinct black, but are shaded off by 
gray. This species is generally found at altitudes 
of from 8000 to 10,000 feet, or even higher. In 
Manchuria and the Corea there is a species which 
is unknown in India; this is a large animal, with 
a peculiarly rich and deep fur when killed during 
winter; the black spots are exceedingly large, and 
are formed in rings. A skin in my possession 
measures 7 ft, 9 in. in length ; the tail is full, and 
the fur long ; this is unusually beautiful, and it must 
have inhabited some lofty altitude where the tempera¬ 
ture was generally moderate. 
In Africa the leopards have almost invariably 
solid black spots, very close together upon the back, 
and becoming less crowded towards the belly 
and flanks. In Ceylon there are two distinct 
varieties—the large panther, generally about 7 ft. 
6 in. in length, and a smaller leopard, which inhabits 
the mountains ; in that island of misnomers they 
are both included in the name cheetah. 
