LEOPARD HUNT – On Monday last a strange-looking animal having been seen in the fields near Wheathamstead, Herts, a small party went in search,supposing that it was a deer which had been scared out of Brocket-hall-park by the gloomy looks of its noble occupier. Great was their surprise at finding in a hedge a large leopard, which stole away, followed at a respectful distance by the sportsmen, who were only armed with fowling-pieces loaded with swan shot. As it was endeavouring to escape it met a labourer at work in the fields whom it attacked and dangerously wounded, but his life was saved by a mastiff fastening on the leopard, and enabling Mr Norman Thrale to approach within a few yards, and disable it with a discharge of swan shot. It was shortly afterwards destroyed, and was found to weigh 14 stone. It had breakfasted off a dog, whose head was found. It is not known where the beast had escaped from. (1)
The Blackburn Standard June 8th 1836.
QUERY: Does anyone know about a “phobia of butterflies” I have recently come across and if so, please can they tell me more?
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1 comment:
A great find Richard, I have numerous, similar articles on record, and very much proof that leopard were in the countryside long before the introduction of the 1976 Dangerous Wild Animals Act! My upcoming MYSTERY ANIMALS OF...LONDON showcases numerous reports of animals which probably escaped from menageroies during the Victorian era.
Cheers, Neil.
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