File:Brehm's Life of animals - a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia (1896) (20419340681).jpg

English: THE LONG-TAILED PANTHER. The merest glance at this picture shows that the animals it represents is aptly named. It is spotted differently from other Panthers, and its head is less round and its neck proportionately longer. It is one of the boldest and fiercest of the animals infesting the forests of Sumatra and Java, and its strong limbs and muscular development make it an assailant to be feared. (Felis variegata).
[Locally known as the "harimau kumbang"]

Title: Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia
Identifier: brehmslifeofanim1896breh (find matches)
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884; Pechuel-Loesche, Edward, 1840-1913; Haacke, Wilhelm, 1855-1912; Schmidtlein, Richard
Subjects: Mammals; Animal behavior
Publisher: Chicago : Marquis
Contributing Library: Internet Archive
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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118 THE BEASTS OF PREY. instance where a Panther had developed into a systematic Man-eater, like Tigers do; but in some parts of India this complaint is made in regard to these animals. Blanford writes that they occasionally get into the habit of eating Men, and then are more terrible than Tigers with the same propensities. Difficulties The hunting of Leopards is attended of Leopard with greater difficulties than the hunt- Hunting. ing of Tigers. They are much more numerous than the latter, but they are harder to find, for they are not so dependent on water or on particular localities; and they can hide themselves in a
Text Appearing After Image:
THE LONG-TAILED PANTHER. The merest glance at this picture shows that the animal it represents is aptly named. It is spotted differently from other Panthers, and its head is less round and the neck proportionately longer. It is one of the boldest and fiercest of the animals infesting the forests of Sumatra and Java, and its strong limbs and muscular development make it an assailant to be feared. (Felis variegata) marvelous way. All writers are agreed in ascribing to them greater courage than the Tigers possess. Sanderson relates the story of a Panther which, hedged in by fences, jumped at the barriers, threw them down, charged at a guard standing by, lacerated his left arm, and was gone before anybody could come to the rescue. He was pursued and found hidden in a bush. Once more he was surrounded by nets, but obstinately refused to leave the thicket, in spite of the clubs and stones thrown at him. The pursuers were too excited to wait patiently, and Sanderson, accompanied by a band of armed Men, entered the enclosure and made for the thicket. We know that the Tiger is afraid of such a compact body of Men; hut this Panther suddenly rushed out of the bush, threw down and badly hurt with his claws the third. Man to the left of Sanderson; the two Men at his side and back fared equally badly, and then the animal disappeared, without having been touched by bullet or spear. Thus one Panther disabled four of his pursuers in one day and himself escaped unscathed. Mother The breeding season of the Leopard falls Leopard in the months preceding spring in the dif- and Cubs. ferent latitudes that he inhabits. Captive females give birth to from three to five cubs at a litter. The little ones are blind for ten days after birth, and are charming little animals, as well in respect to their markings as in their conduct, and they are as playful as Kittens. In the wild state, the mother hides them in caverns, under roots of large trees, or in thick bushes. When they have attained the size of a large Cat, they accompany their mother on her nightly hunts, and owing to the excellent training she gives them, they are soon able to cater for themselves. A nursing Leopard is a plague to the whole neighborhood. Her depredations are accomplished with the utmost boldness, yet with still greater caution than usual, and it is seldom that one can catch either the mother or cubs. The Leopard During my in stay in Af- Captivity. rica I kept a male Leopard for a long time, but I could not make our mutual relations friendly. Whenever I approached the cage he expressed his dissatisfaction by grinning, showing his teeth and sometimes hissing. Whenever I approached an inch nearer than usual, he would watch for an unguarded moment and try to give me a blow with his paw. Like all the other Beasts of Prey which I kept, I had him fastened to an extra long chain, so I could let him out of his cage once in a while. As soon as he entered the yard, he began to act as if mad; he jumped, stretched himself, hissed and looked wildly around. The longer I made his chain the greater was his rage. His eyes threatened danger and death to all the rest of the animals. The Monkeys would fly up the walls, pillars and poles, and utter their gurgling sound of terror; the Goats would bleat, the Ostriches would run to and fro like creatures possessed, and the Lion would gaze with a growl at this raving Orlando Furioso. With all his might and main the Leopard would try to break his chain, and I must confess that several times we were afraid he would succeed. The most difficult task was to get him back into his cage. He would not go of his own accord, and we could not compel him to do so. Threats were of no avail; when we showed him the whip, he showed us his jaws; when we shouted at him, he hissed back; when we attempted to approach him he crouched down ready for a jump. We had to>

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