Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-08-18
the UCLYLEOPARD
He Is a Cattle Thief and Even a
Human Being Thief.
WORSE THAN LION OR TIGER.
seizes It's Prey by tho Throat and
Ciinas With It's Claws Until 1t
Breaks tho Spine Of It's Victim or
StranoIes 1t.

Stranglss It.
Less in size, but even more ferocious,
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 it is sometimes met with In
Tue 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 clear nut
brown. Others are jet black.
Wherever they live leopards are cat
tie thieves. sheep thieves. dog thieves
aud human being thieves. Though not
formidable III appearance. they are i'm
mense!y strong. and it is not unusual
for them To turn man eater Both IN
India and III Africa they have been
known to set up in this line as DELHI
erately as any tiger. They have four
or five young at Il birth. The cubs can
be kept tame for some time and are
amusing pets, but it is extremely dan
gerous to have them about.
In Hongkong an Englishnan had
tame leopard. 1t was brought into the
dining room by coolie 10 be exhibit
ed to the owners guests. Excited by
the smell Of food. the leopard refused
to 70 out when one Of the women. who
did not like his looks, asked that it he
removed. The coolie took hold Of its
collar and began to haul it out. 1t
seized him by the neck. bit 1t through
and in II 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-
imous in declaring that the leopard Is
more dangerous than the lion or tiger.
They have no fear Of the lion, provided
they are not hunting for 1t, for 1t will
not attack unless provoked, but
leopard Is never to be trusted.
In Africa a number Of natives were
firing the reeds along stream. One OF
them, a 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 or caves by day, they are seldom
disturbed They do an incredible
amount Of mischief among cattle.
calves. sheep and dogs. being especial
ly 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
habit of feeding on putrid 6esh. This
makes wounds inflicted BY thelr teeth