THE LEOPARD.

THE leopard, though considered by some naturalists as a variety only of the panther, has such specific characters as to entitle it to the rank of a distinct branch of the family of Felis. His height is about two feet, and his average length scarcely four. The ground colour of his skin is a yellowish fawn, which gradually becomes a perfect white on the under parts of the body; on the back, head, neck, and limbs, it is covered with black spots of a circular or oval shape. On the sides and part of the tail, the spots form ten or twelve ranges of distinct roses, surrounding a central space of a somewhat deeper colour than the general ground. The panther has no more than six or seven ranges of these roses. Leopards of a black colour, with still darker

spots, are occasionally met with in the East Indies, but this difference is regarded as merely accidental. The leopard is smaller than the panther, but its proportions are longer; it is of a more slender and graceful figure, with the exception of its fore-legs and feet, which are more muscular and powerful than the panther's. Its head is more flattened and oval, and its tail longer and more tapering.

While the panther inhabits northern Africa, the leopard is confined to the central regions of that continent. In Asia the latter is the less common of the two, and, as in Africa, its range is far more limited. Mr. Meredith informs us that the leopard is still an inhabitant of the countries bordering on the Gold Coast. He is dreaded by the natives for his ferocity, but is a favourite object of the chase with the warlike chieftains of those black na

tions.

From the accounts of more recent tra

vellers, the depredations of the leopard in this part of Africa are not confined to nightly irruptions into the pens and folds of tame cattle; but he frequently carries off young children, when he meets with them unprotected. Still, less fierce than the panther, the leopard seldom ventures to attack a man: should he accidentally encounter one, even unarmed, he betakes himself, with the strongest symptoms of fear, to the coverts of the forest or the desert.

In watching for his prey, the leopard crouches on the ground, with his fore-paws stretched out and his head between them, his eyes being rather directed upwards. His appearance in his wild state is exceedingly beautiful; his motions in the highest degree easy and graceful, and his agility in bounding among the rocks and woods truly amazing. Of this activity no idea can be formed by those who have merely seen these animals in