The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-08
THE EUCLYLEOPARD
He Is a Cattle Thief and Even a
Human Being Thief.
WORSE THAN LION OR TIGER.


Clinss With Its Claws Until II
Breaks the Spine of It's Victim or
Strangies It.
Less In size, but even more ferocious.
the leopard has worse character than
the tiger or lion. Living mainly ir
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
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 q 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
menseiy strong and it 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
br kept tame for some time and are
amusing pets, but 1t Is extremely dan
gerous to have them about.
In Hongkong an Englishman had q
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 go out when one of the women. who
did not like his looks, asked that it be
removed. The coolie 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 coolle 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 vs.
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 a
leopard is never to be trusted
In Africa a number of natives were
firing the reeds along a 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 or caves by day, they are seldom
disturbed. They do an incredible
amount of mischief among cattle,
calves, sheep and dogs, being especial
~ 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 flesh. This
makes wounds inflicted by their teeth
or claws liable to blood poisoning.
Nothing in the way Of prey comes
amiss to them. from a cow In the pas
ture to fowl up at roost
In the great mountain ranges Of cen
tral Asia the beautiful snow leopard Is
found. 1t is a large creature. with
thick, woolly coat and long tail like
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
1t Is far the tamest and gentlest Of the
large carnivora. not excepting the pu-
ma. Unlike the latter. 1t Is sleepy.
quiet animal. like q domestic.
The West African leopard skin is
more handsome than the Asatic, the
spots being very distinct and clear. He
and she-they usually go in couples
are fond Of hunting cantonments and
around native towns. where they pick
up goat and now and then a baby.
One night ] was camped in a native
town and after | had retired the ma
tves. as was their custom, were sitting
about great fire asking my caravan
all sorts Of questions. for the African
savage Is the greatest gossip In the
world Su1doplv phild,o crv ropo