The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-09-28

for them to turn man eater. Both in
India and In Africa they have been
known to set up In this line as DELHI
erately Us any tiger. They have four
or five young Mt a 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 Englishman had q
tame leopard. 1t was brought into the
dining room by a coolie to be exhibit
ed to the owners guests. Excited by
the smell Of food. the leopard refused
to 60 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 1t out. It
seized him by the neck, bit It through
and in n minute the coolie was dying.
covered with blood. on the dining
room floor.
The Chinese leopard ranges rs 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 II, for It will
not attack unless provoked. but a
leopard IS never to be trusted.
In Africa 4 number of natives were
firing the reeds along a 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 ut 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 leopart1'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 q
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 Gen.
trail Asia the beautiful snow leopard is
found. 1t is a large creature, with
thick. woolly coat and long tail like
a fur boa. The color Is white. clouded
with beautiful gray, like that Of an
Angora cat. The edges Of the cloud
inss 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 Tar the tamest and gentIest Of the
large carnivora. not excepting the pu-
ma Unlike the latter. it is a sleepy.
quiet animal. like domestic.
The West African leopard skin IS
more handsome than the Asiatic. the
spots being very distinct and clear. He
and she-they usually 60 in couples
are fond Of hunting cantonments and
around native towns. where they pick
up goat and now and then a baby.
One night 1 was camped in q native
town and after I had retired the ma
tives, as was their custom, were sitting
about n 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.
I was Informed that q leopard had
stolen from the darkness and quick as
q fash had grabbed 4 four-year-old
child and made OF wfth,it. The child
was seated in the midst of the grown
men and women. The latter could
only lament their loss. They knew It
was useless to try to pursue the beast
into the dense bush.
The leopard is so bolds that even in
daylight he will wandert about q town
Or n white mans premises. It Is not
1t all unusual to get a good shot at |
leopard from a bungalow veranda or |
a mud hut door.-PittsbuEgsDisp