The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-08-16
THE EUGEYLEOPARD|
He Is a Cattle Thief and Even a
Human Being Thief.
WORSE THAN LION OR TIGER.
Selxss It's Prey by the Throat and
ciinss With Its Claws Until II
Breaks the Spine Of Its Victim or
( Straneles II.

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 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 Ave young at birth. The cubs can
be kept tame for some time and are
amusing pets, but II Is extremely dan.
gerOus to have them about.
In Hongkong an Engllshman had
tame leopard. 1t was brought into the
dining room by a coolle 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 II be
removed. The coolie took hold Of its
collar and began to haul 1t out. 1t
seized him by the neck, bit 1t 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 1t 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 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 tine 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
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 COW In the pas.
ture to fowl up at roost.
In the great mountain ranges Of Gen.
tral Asia the beautiful snow leopard is
found. 1t is 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
It is far the tamest and gentlest OF the
large carnivora, not excepting the pu-
ma. Unlike the latter. 1t is u sleepy,
quiet animal, like a domestic.
The West African leopard skin is
more handsome than the Asiatic. 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 baby.
One night 1 was cAmped In q native
town and after had retired the ma.
tives. 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. Suddenly a child's cry rang
out. followed by a great clamor. Rush
ing out to discover the cause Of alarm,
y was Informed that leopard had
stolen from the darkness and quick as
a fash had grabbed a four-year-old
child and made off with 1t. The child
was seated In the midst Of the grown
men and women. The latter could |
only lament their loss. They knew 4, |
was useless to try TO pursue the beast
into the dense bush.
The leopard is so bold that even In |
daylight he will wander about town
or white mans premises. 1t Is not
at all unusual to get a good shot at a
laona ri frnn a hun 0a lntU varanda ~ L