The leopard, or panther, is a species closely allied to the lion and tiger, from whom it is at once distinguished by its coloration and inferior dimensions. Two species of large spotted cats are recognized as inhabiting Africa and India, the smaller of which the name leopard is restricted, while the larger is known as the panther. Although there is an enormous amount of difference between the largest and the smallest of such spotted cats in point of size, the transition from one to the other is so gradual and complete that, in a large series of specimens, it is quite impossible to say where leopards end and panthers begin. Hence it is concluded that there is but a single species, for which the name leopard should b adopted. The spotted coat of the leopard being its most distinctive feature, the animal is known to natives of India as the chita (or cheetah), meaning spotted; the loepard, on account of its larger size being often distinguished as the chita-bagh, or spotted tiger.
The difference in the size of individual leopards is so great that while in the smallest examples the total length of the head, body, and tail does not exceed 5 feet, in the largest it reaches to as much as 8 feet. The leopard is one of three larger cats common to India and Africa; the other two being the lion and the hunting-leopard. Leopards occur over almost the whole of India. Next to the tiger in India, and to the lion in Africa, the leopard is the most formidable Carnivore (exclusive in India of bears) to be found in either country. In its habits it differs essentially from both the lion and the tiger in that it is thoroughly at home in trees, running up a straight-stemmed and smooth-barked trunk with the speed and agility of a monkey. Moreover, the leopard is a much more active animal than the tiger, frequently taking tremendous leaps and springs. It is a dangerous animal, roused with less provocation than the lion, and is more courageous in attacking those who disturb its repose. The favorite resorts of the Indian leopard are rocky hills covered with scrub, among which it seeks secure hiding in caves and under over-hanging masses of rock.
From their habit of lurking in the vicinity of the habitations of man, to prey upon cattle, ponies, donkeys, sheep, goats, and dogs, leopards are frequently brought into collision with Indian villagers. It is but rarely that leopards take to man-eating, but instances do occur. In Africa the general habits of the leopard appear to be very much the same as in India. Leopards prey largely upon the langurs and other monkeys which haunt the rocky hills. Indeed, few animals come amiss in the way of food; about the largest which he is capable of killing being the sambar deer, or an Indian bullock. In killing its prey, the leopard, seizes by the throat, and clings with tenacious claws to the animal's neck, until it succeeds in either breaking the spine or in strangling the victim, should the bone resist its strength. When the animal is dead, the leopard never attacks the hind-quarters first, according to the custom of the tiger, but it tears the belly open and drags out all the insides, making its first meal upon the heart, lungs, liver. It retreats to some neighboring hiding place, and, if undisturbed, it will return to its prey a little after sundown on the following day. In Africa, the leopard nearly always puts the remains of the kill up a tree, probably for the purpose of protecting it from the attack of hyenas. Many of the leopard's haunt are dry, unlike the tiger, but on occasion the leopard will take readily to water and swim as well as a tiger. Although usually found singly or in pairs, leopards, in Africa at least, may sometimes be found in parties comprising several full-grown individuals; probably, however, these are all members of a single family. The leopard is still more silent than the tiger, seldom giving vent to any sound, except when disturbed or charging an enemy , when it gives a short roar.
In India the female leopard gives birth to its young in the spring, during the months of February and March, two, three, or four cubs composing a litter. Young leopards are said to be more difficult to tame than either lions or tigers, and the adult when in captivity always displays an uncertain and morose disposition.
