Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-08-12
THE UGLYLEOPARD
He Is a Cattle Thief and Even a
Human Being Thief.
WORSE THAN LION OR TIGER.
seixes Its Prey by the Throat and
ciinss With Its Claws Until It
Breaks the Spine of Its Victim or
Strangles II.

lLC AEopdAu mas Il WI sc NLul uNltl Nlldu
the tiger or lion. Living mainly i'm
trees and very nocturnal. this fierce
ana 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 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 im-
mensely strong. and ii 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
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
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 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 it, 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 We're 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 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
amiss to them, from a COW in the pas
ture to fowl up at roost.
In the great mountain ranges of CEN
trail Asia the beautiful snow leopard is
found. 1t is 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
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, it is 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 environments and
around native towns, where they pick
up a goat and now and then baby.
One night l was camped in native
town and after l had retired the ma
tives, as was their custom, were sitting
about a great fire asking my caravan
all sorts Of questions, for the African
savage is the greatest gossip in cht
world. Suddenly a child's cry rams
out, followed by a great clamor. Rush
ing out to discover the cause of alarm
| was informed that a leopard haC
stolen from the darkness and quick az
fash had grabbed four-year-ol6
child and made off with it. The chilt
was seated in the midst of the growl
men and women. The latter coulC
only lament their loss They knew |
was useless to try to pursue the beas
into the dense bush.
The leopard is so bold that even II
daylight he will wander about tow
or white mans premises. 1t is no
at all unusual to get a good shot at
leopard from a bungalow veranda o
n mud hut door.-pittsburg Dispatch.