Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-08-14
Vol. 67.-3435. No. 43.

the ground than II turned, and leapt on the
farmer, seizing his left arm, which be held up
as a defence to his head and neck, and crush.
ing it with It's powerful teeth. The farmer
dropped his gun, and having his right arm
free, drew bis long hunting knife, and stab.
bed tho leopard twice in the chest. This
caused the animal to let 90 its hold, when, as
il fell to the ground, IL received voley Of
bullets from the other hunters, who had not
dared to FIRE when the leopard was graphing
with the farmer. 1t was several months be-
fore this man was out Of danger, for the
scratch or bite Of a leopard is long time
healing but as this animal has practice of
scratching with its hind legs whilst it holds
on with its fore paws, aud thus ripping its
victim in fearful manner, the farmer was
considered lucky to escape with his life
Even full grown leopards vary very much
IN size aud il is usual to find the smallest the
most vicious and destructive. One that we
aided in trapping was small, but had commit
ted immense havoc among goats, fowls, and
pigs. The bait we used for this leopard was
a live hen, and the trap was like a common
rat trap With fall door. The side of this
trap we made with stout stakes driven firmly
IN the ground, and lashed together at the top.
On these stakes we rested panks, 80 as to
form roof, and on these planks weights were
placed, so as to keep the ends firmly down.
The entrance to this trap was by a door to
which string was fastened, and which was held
up by string. A fowl was then tied on a
perch, aud the string so attached TO the fowl
that an animal that approached the fowl was
sure to press against the string and let the
door fall.
The trap was ready, and set about an hour
before sundown, and at ten O'Clock we heard
the trap door fall, upon going out with dark
lantern, we found the leopard in the cage,
valnly trying TO force apart the stakes. When
he saw US, he crouched down and snared at
us in the most vicious manner, although he
endeavored to avoid looking at US but when
we came close to him, his ferocity overcame
his fear, and he rushed against the bars of the
cage with force that made their frmness
matter of uncertainty The point of an as
sagy held to his nose, however, caused him
to retreat to the far side Of his trap, where
he lay growing and muttering with rage and
spite The hen, he had not touched and
though he remained in his cage for twelve
hours, he never attempted to kill the fowl that
had been the tempting cause Of his capture.
1t was necessary to sit beside this cage all
night, in order to prevent the leopard from
forcing its way out, result that would at
length most certainly have happened had
he not been shot, proceeding unwillingly
adopted, as we had intended to transfer the
leopard to a strong cage, and consign him to
our Geological Gardens in England.
Next to the lion the leopard is the most
formidable Of the African carnvora /; and
as it is more cunning than the lion, more
stealthy in its habits, and more completely
denizen Of the forest, it usually exists in
numbers in a district from which the lion has
long been driven. Considering its beauty,
strength and courage, leopard is a worthy
foe, and one that hunter must attack with
caution. To rid neighborhood of such an
animal is often necessity for when this
creature has long infested any locality, and
has been allowed to kill and destroy without
opposition, its boldness increases, and it not
unfrequently attacks solitary travellers, wo-
men, or children. Thus, to hunt leopard is
sometimes duty as well as a sport and
leopard hunting may be classed among the
higher branches of venery.