LEOPARD, or PANTHER, one of the great cats widely distributed over Africa and Asia, and prehistorically prevalent in southern, Europe. The general color is yellowish fawn, which becomes white on the under aspect of the body, marked with black spots of various sizes, irregularly dispersed; these spots are often rosette-like, but do not enclose a central spot as is the case with its American analogue, the jaguar (q.v.). Black examples often occur. In general appearance and conformation the leopard is tiger-like, but is considerably the inferior of the tiger in size and weight, meas uring on the average about 3 feet and 10 inches from the nose to the root of the tail, which is almost as long as the body. This beautiful cat is, however, the peer of the tiger, making up in agility, quickness and wit for his lack of weight and . power. Its prey con sists of any animal it is able to pounce upon or overcome, and among the native villages and herdsmen of both India and Africa it is dreaded as a destroyer of cattle and sheep, since, like the American puma, when it invades a cattle pen or sheepfold it kills many times more animals that it can eat or carry away. Never theless, leopards have always been among the partly tamed and trained animals of shows, and they thrive well and breed in captivity.
The leopard— which is more commonly called °panther° in India — frequents mainly .wooded and rocky regions, where it can take i refuge in trees, or seek among their limbs the birds, monkeys and other arboreal creatures that form a fair share of its food. It does not hesitate to attack large prey, but can rarely overcome a buffalo or one of the larger Afri can antelopes unless the animal is taken at a Feat disadvantage. Not more than one pair
is usually found in a given district; and they make their lair in some rocky jungle, where once a year two to four kittens are born to them, which remain with their mother until they are well grown. One hears less of man eating leopards than of lions and tigers with the habit of attacking human beings; but the leopard is more widespread, numerous and sub tle than either of the others and doubtless is the real perpetrator of many homicides attribu ted to the larger cats. At any rate the leopard is regarded by those familiar with him as quite as formidable a beast to encounter, and sports men adopt the same methods and use the same precautions as when they are pursuing the tiger. A most excellent summary of leopard-hunting experiences may be read in Porter's 'Wild Beasts' (New York 1894). For the leopard in India consult Sanderson, 'Thirteen Years among Wild Beasts in India' (1893) ; Forsyth, 'Highlands of Central India' (1889) ; Horna day, 'Two Years in the Jungle,' and similar writers. The Persian leopard is described at length in Blanford's 'Zoology of Persia> (1876) ; and the 'African' by Baker, 'Wild Beasts and their Ways> (1890) ; Drummond, 'Large Game and Natural History of South east Africa' (1875) ; Ingersoll, 'Life of Mam mals' (1906) i Roosevelt and Heller, 'Life His tories of African Game Animals' (1914) ; and many other sportsmen-travelers in that conti nent. See CHEETA ; SNOW-LEOPARD. LEOPARD, The. See CHESAPEAKE AND