The race of this wily and sanguinary animal, which is unsurpassed in all the terrible characteristics of its tribe, and yields to the tremendous and ferocious2 beasts, to the illustration of whose habits and manners our previous pages have been devoted3, in none of their dreaded4 attributes, excepting only in size and strength, is spread almost as extensively over the surface of the Old World as that of the Lion himself. From the shores of the Mediterranean5 to the immediate6 neighbourhood of the Cape7 he is familiar to every part of the monster-bearing continent of Africa; while in the east of Asia his fatal spring and murderous talons8 are equally known and[36] dreaded by the mild and timid Hindoos, the polite but still barbarous Chinese, and the fierce and savage9 Islanders of the great Sumatran chain. Throughout this immense tract10 of country he varies but in a trifling11 degree, and that merely in his comparative magnitude, in the size, shape, and disposition12 of his markings, and in the greater or less intensity13 of his colouring: in the more essential particulars of form and structure, as well as in character and disposition, he is every where the same.
It has already been mentioned that the Leopard1 is smaller than the Tiger; indeed he seldom exceeds from three to four feet from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail, which latter is somewhat shorter than the body. Perhaps the largest authentic14 measurement is that of an animal, spoken of under the designation of Panther, but in all probability truly a Leopard, which was killed by Colonel Denham’s party in the course of that zealous17 and successful traveller’s late expedition, and which is stated at eight feet two inches from the muzzle18 to the extremity19 of the tail. This savage creature, although twice impaled20 by the lances of his pursuers which he had snapped asunder21 in his rage, was still on the point of making a spring upon the foremost of the party, when a musket22 ball through the head completely deprived him of that vitality23 which his previous wounds, dangerous and fatal as they undoubtedly24 were, had not even appeared to diminish in any sensible degree.
The ground colour of the fur of the Leopard, which is eminently25 and beautifully sleek26, is a yellowish fawn27 above, which becomes paler on the sides, and is entirely28 lost in the pure white of the under part of the body. The top of the back, the head, neck, limbs, and under[37] surface of the body, are irregularly covered with larger or smaller, roundish or oval, perfectly29 black spots; while the whole of the sides of the animal and a portion of his tail are occupied by numerous distinct roses, formed by the near approach of three or four elongated30 small black spots, which surround a central area, about an inch or an inch and a quarter in breadth, of a somewhat deeper colour than the ground on which it is placed. There are some black lines on the lips, and bands of the same colour on the inside of the legs; two or three imperfect black circles, alternating with white, also occur towards the extremity of the tail, which is entirely white beneath.
It would be superfluous31 to enter into any detail of his habits, which correspond but too well with those of his fellow cats already described, and are only modified by his want of equal power. This deficiency is, however, in a great measure supplied by the extreme pliability32 of his spine33, which gives to his motions a degree of velocity34, agility35, and precision combined, that is altogether unequalled by any other quadruped, and to which the greater lateral36 compression of his body, the increased length and more slender proportions of his limbs, and the suppleness37 of all his joints38 must of necessity materially contribute. Equally savage, equally dastardly, and equally cruel, he closely imitates the manners of the Lion and the Tiger, on a somewhat reduced, but still formidable, scale. Antilopes, monkeys, and the smaller quadrupeds constitute his usual prey39, upon which he darts40 forth41 from his secret stand, and which he pertinaciously42 pursues even upon the trees where they may have taken refuge, climbing after them with surprising agility. Man he generally endeavours, if possible, to[38] avoid; but, when hard pressed, he fears not to make head against the hunter; and it frequently requires the exertion43 of no common share of skill and intrepidity44 in the latter to save himself from the deadly fangs45 of the infuriated object of his pursuit. Occasionally, indeed, the cravings of hunger stimulate46 the treacherous47 animal to attack the unwary woodcutter, or the lone15 traveller whose path has led to his secret haunts; but in this case he rarely, if ever, shows himself openly in the face of day, but watches with insidious48 glare for the fatal opportunity of springing upon his wretched victim from behind, and of annihilating49 his power of resistance before it could possibly be exerted in his defence.
In captivity50, however, especially if taken while yet young, his character frequently undergoes a change as favourable51 as that which takes place under the same circumstances in the generality of his tribe. The pair at present in the Tower are male and female; they are both Asiatic, and are confined in the same den16, but they differ very materially in temper and disposition. The female, which is the older of the two, and has been a resident in the Menagerie for upwards52 of four years, is exceedingly tame, suffering herself to be patted and caressed53 by the keeper, and licking his hands. Strangers, however, especially ladies, should be cautious of approaching her too familiarly, as she has always evinced a particular predilection54 for the destruction of umbrellas, parasols, muffs, hats, and such other articles of dress as may happen to come within her reach, seizing them with the greatest quickness and tearing them into pieces almost before the astonished visiter has become aware of the loss. To so great an extent has she carried this peculiar[39] taste that Mr. Cops declares that he has no doubt that during her residence in the Tower she has made prey of at least as many of these articles as there are days in the year. The agility with which she bounds round her cell, which is of considerable size, touching55 at one leap, and almost with the velocity of thought, each of its four walls, and skimming along the ceiling with the same rapidity of action, which is scarcely to be followed by the eye, is truly wonderful, and speaks more forcibly of the muscular power and flexibility56 of limb by which such extraordinary motions are executed than language can express.
The male, on the contrary, although he has been more than twelve months an inmate57 of the Tower, is still as sullen58 and as savage as on the day of his arrival. Notwithstanding the kind treatment which has been lavished59 upon him by the keepers, he yet refuses to become familiarised with them, and receives all their overtures60 at a nearer acquaintance with such sulky and even angry symptoms as plainly evince that it would be dangerous to tamper61 with his unreclaimed and unmanageable disposition. He is, as is usual in all these animals, larger than the female, and much richer and more beautiful in the style of his marking and depth of his colouring. The two animals, however, although differing so greatly in temper, agree together tolerably well, excepting only at meal times, when their usual harmony is in some measure broken in upon by the jealousy62 with which they regard each other’s share of the repast.
Their food consists of about five pounds of beef per day for each: this the keeper generally tosses up in front of their den, at the distance of nearly two feet from[40] the bars, and to the height of six or eight feet from the floor. The animals, who are on the alert for their dinner, immediately leap towards the bars, and, darting63 out their paws with incredible swiftness, almost uniformly succeed in seizing it before it falls to the ground. If, as it sometimes happens, the meat is thrown up at too great a distance, so as not to be fairly within reach, they remain perfectly stationary64 and make no attempt to spring upon it, but watch it with anxious avidity, apparently65 calculating and comparing the distance of the object and the extent of their own grasp. When they have, in this way, secured their meal, instead of ravenously66 falling to, like the other carnivorous animals in the collection, they stand growling67 over it for some minutes, leering upon each other with the most frightful68 contortions69. This growling attitude of mistrust in feeding was constantly maintained by the female, even before she had a companion in her captivity, and when consequently there existed no immediate object for the excitement of her selfish or envious70 feelings.
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1
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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2
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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4
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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6
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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7
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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10
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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12
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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13
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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14
authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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15
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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16
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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17
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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18
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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19
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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20
impaled
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| 钉在尖桩上( impale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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22
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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23
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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24
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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27
fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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28
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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29
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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30
elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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32
pliability
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| n.柔韧性；可弯性 | |
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33
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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34
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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lateral
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| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
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37
suppleness
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| 柔软； 灵活； 易弯曲； 顺从 | |
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38
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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39
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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40
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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42
pertinaciously
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| adv.坚持地；固执地；坚决地；执拗地 | |
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43
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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44
intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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45
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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46
stimulate
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| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
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47
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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48
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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49
annihilating
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的现在分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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50
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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51
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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52
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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53
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
predilection
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| n.偏好 | |
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55
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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56
flexibility
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| n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性 | |
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57
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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58
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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59
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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61
tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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62
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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63
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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64
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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65
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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66
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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67
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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68
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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69
contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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70
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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