Leopard

The leopard is the ultimate cat. It makes the lion and the tiger appear overblown, and all the other members of the cat family look puny. Whereas lions hunt in the open and then share their kill, the leopard is solitary, stealthy, and selfish.

This cat ambushes its prey and then carries it high into a tree where it can dine alone. In Leopard, renowned zoologist Desmond Morris shows all sides of the animal's character: its athletic elegance, its predatory skill, its wary shyness, its cunning intelligence, its parental devotion, and its preference for solitary living, even its capacity to seek revenge.

Morris traces the evolution of leopards, their role in circuses, and how we are now making strides in their conservation. He also describes their rich symbolism, and looks at the leopard print in fashion, both haute couture and downmarket, as well as the leopard in art, literature, film, and popular culture.