The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-08-02
fHE UCL LEOPARD
He Is a Cattle Thief and Even a
Human Being Thief.
WORSE THAN LION OR TIGER.

Less in size, but even more 1eroclous, |
the leopard has worse character than
the tiger or lion. Living mainly In
trees and very nocturnal, this fierce
and dangerous beast is less often seen
than far rarer animals. 1t is widely
spread over the world from the Cape
of Good Hope to the Atlas mountains
and from southern China to the Black
sea, where 1t is sometimes met with In
the Caucasus.
Any one who has frequented the zoo
for any time must have noticed the
difference In size and color between
leopards from different parts Of the
world. On some the ground color is
almost white. in others a clear nut
brown. Others are jet black.
Wherever they live leopards are cat
tie thieves. sheep thieves. dog thieves
and human being thieves. Though not
formidable in appearance they are i'm
mensely strong, and 1t is not unusual
for them to turn man eater. Both in
India and in Africa they have been
known to set up in this line as delib-
erately as any tiger. They have four
or five young at birth. The cubs can
he kept tame for some time and are
amusing pets, but it is extremely dan.
gerous to have them about.
In Hongkong an Englishman had
tame leopard. 1t was brought into the
dining room by coolie to be exhibit
ed TO the owners guests. Excited by
the smell of food. the leopard refused
to 20 out when one Of the women, who
did not like his looks, asked that it be
removed. The cooie took hold of Its
collar and began to haul it out. 1t
seized him by the neck. bit it through
and in "A minute the coolie was dying.
covered with blood, on the dining
| room floor.
The Chinese leopard ranges as far
north as the Siberian tiger and, like
the latter, seems to grow larger the
farther north it is found The color
OF these northern leopards is very pale.
the spots are large and the fur is very
long.
The natives of all countries are unan-
more dangerous than the lion or tiger.
They have no fear of the lion provided
they are not hunting for it, for it will
not attack unless provoked, but a
leopard is never TO be trusted.
In Africa a number of natives were
| firing the reeds along stream. One OF
them. boy. being thirsty and hot,
stopped down to drink He was imme-
diately seized by leopard. The boys
brother, with an admirable aim, hurled
his spear at the leopard while the boy
was in his jaws. The point separated
the vertebrae of the neck, and the
leopard fell stone dead. But the boy
could not recover The leopard's fangs
had torn open his chest and injured the
lungs. The latter were exposed to
view through the cavity of the ribs.
He died during the night.
Leopards are essentially tree living
and nocturnal animals. Sleeping In
trees OF caves by day. they are seldom
disturbed They do an incredible
amount of mischief among cattle
calves, sheep and dogs, being especial
iy fond of killing and eating the latter
They seize their prey by the throat
and cling with their claws until they
succeed in breaking the spine or In
strangling the victim. They have a
habit OF feeding on putrid flesh. This
makes wounds inflicted by their teeth
or claws liable TO blood poisoning
Nothing in the way of prey comes
amlss to them, from COW in the pas
ture to a fowl up mt roost.
In the great mountain ranges of cen
tral Asia the beautiful snow leopard Is
found. 1t is large creature, with
thick. woolly coat and a long tail like
n fur boa. The color is white, clouded
with beautiful gray. like that of an
Angora cat. The edges of the cloud
ings and spots are marked with black
or darker gray. The eyes are very
large. blush gray or smoke colored
1t lives on the wild sheep, ibex and
other mountain animals. In captivity
IL is far the tamest and gentlest of the
large carnivora. not excepting the pu
ma. Unlike the latter, it is sleepy
quiet animal. like domestic.
The West African leopard skin il
more handsome than the Asiatic, tn,
spots being very distinct and clear. Ill
and she-they usually go In couples
are fond of hunting environments an'
around native towns, where they picl
up goat and now and then a baby.
One night l was camped in nativ
town and after | had retired the ma
: tives, as was their custom, were sittin
/ about great fire asking my caravan
all sorts of questions, for the Africa'
savage is the greatest gossip In tn
world Suddenly a child's cry ran
, out, followed by great clamor. Rusf
. ing out to discover the cause of alarm
was informed that leopard ha
stolen from the darkness and quick n
fash had grabbed four-year-ol
child and made on with IT, The chill
g was seated In the midst OF the grow
| lANk