STORY OF THE LEOPARD. 
Some years ago a couple of leopards, which lived in England, afforded 
a strong proof of the innate individuality of these animals. One of them, 
a male, was always sulky and unamiable, and never would respond to offered 
kindnesses. The female, on the contrary, was most docile and affectionate, 
eagerly seeking for the kind words and caresses of her keeper. She was 
extremely playful, as is the wont of most leopards, and was in the habit 
of indulging in an amusement which is generally supposed to be the specialty 
of the monkey tribe. Nothing pleased her so well as to lay her claws on 
some article of dress belonging to her visitors, to drag it through the 
bars of her cage, and to tear it in pieces. Scarcely a day passed that this 
amusingly mischievous animal did not entirely destroy a hat, bonnet or 
parasol, or perhaps protrude a rapid paw and claw off a large piece of a. 
lady’s dress. 
The cubs of the leopard are pretty, graceful little creatures, with short 
pointed tails, ,and spots of a fainter tint than those of the adult animal. 
Their number is from one to five. Even in captivity the leopard is a most 
playful animal, especially if in the society of companions of its own race. 
The beautiful spotted creatures sport with each other just like so many 
kittens, making, with their wild, graceful springs, sudden attacks upon one 
companion, or escaping from the assaults of another, rolling over on their 
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