The National tribune., 1889-10-17

he means both panther and leopard" is very
variable in size and color" So far as mere
skin marking is concerned, tho South Ameri-
eau aguar (Fois oncal carries variation in this
particular TO such an extreme that not only
arc no two individuals OF this species alike, but
the same animal is different on opposite sides
of the body
Panthers and leopards however much iden-
tilted in conformation they may be, diverge
widely in temper and habits. Without consid-
ering here the Japanese and lOng-haired Per-
sian forms, or the Cheetah, hunting leopard,
who is " the least cat-like of the cats" il may
be said that, whereas the panther is bold, Gu
terprising and fierce beast the leopard is gen.
orally The reverse. Both are arbofeal, but the
latter lives far more in trees than the former,
and the reason for this is not only obvious, but
in giving il we, most probably, render the true
reason why the panther climbs less, the tiger
more rarely asCend5 n tree, and the lion, SO far
rs the present writer's knowledge OF the liter
allure of the subject extends, has never been
reported ms climbing at all. Both he and the
tiger arc too long aud too heavy to move about
with any freedom in such n position. The
panther also, is physically unadaptcd TO move
ment among boulhs for the same reason, though
not TO the same extent. Neither of the greater
cats find the game upon which they subsist in
trees and have, therefore, in the ordinary
course of their lives, no reason for getting into
lHcul- w llU INC pdHlncI IL IL NOT uUNtNtt, tA'
aCtly the same AS with the lion and tiger. Like
Oxenhams acquaintance the Panama chief, he
viii "cat anything that has blood in it," For
the most part he proys on deer and wild pigs.
Not the grim gray tusker," who sometimes
Stays the tiger himself, for he, as Capt Shak-
sperc says, laughs at tho panther" But to
young pigs and their mothers ho Is very par
tial; likewise TO dogs and pOrcupines, but es-
pecially To the entolus and other monkeys
This latter L ind Of with ppncOrkg n
fowls, etc, naturally carries him aloft aud he
is on this account, to some extent, an arboreal
animal. As the leopard does not habitually
pursue any but small animals aud birds, and as
many of the former either live in trees or take
refuge there,
THE LIGHTER, SHORTER AND LESS FORMIDABLE
BEAST
has both the structural adaptation for climbing
and the need TO use this IN the struggle for eX
istence. The leopard" says Maj. Leveson
" is an admirable climber, and will often take
TO trees when pursued by n pack of dogs, or
when lying III ambush for moukeys-his favor
tie food
OF all the greater cats the panther is most
persistcntly % cave-dwellcr. Sometimes the
tiger makes his home in cavern, but as II rule
his lair is in the deep jungle or forest. near
some stream or pool, or in the karinda and
tAmarisk thckets on the banks Of a torroutial
river. The usual retreat of the panther, on
the contrary, is among low, arid, rocky
hills, clothed with brashwood aud cut by ra.
vines in whose sides are holows aud caverns
Essentially nocturnal in his habits and unlike
the lion aud tiger. caring but little for the
vicinity of water which he rarely drinks more
than once in 81 hours, and always during those
of darkness, the panther seldom leaves his den
except at night Then that harsh measured.
coughing cry Baldwin describes is frequently
heard on the Indian hllsdes, sometimes rising
10 what Gerard calls "a wild scream" From
those solitudes the panthcr-braycst, most adj.
vcnturous and iiercest of the Felidm-deparis
on his nightly foray. either into tho forest aud
Jungle or towards the sleeping villages. In
the latter case his GeprcdatioBs chiefly
committed upon domestic animals; but if he
has selected human beings as his prey, then. as
Col. Pollok says. he is =" far worse than the
tiger; and unless. like barbarians. we can
imagine the malign powers Of nature TO become
embodied, nothing conceivable is so deadly as
his attack.
In order TO illustrate the salient features
which have been described rs attaching TO the
panther, the following incident related by Col.
julius BsrrIs India aud Tiger Hunting, Lon
IL IA til