This book contains the following story:
"How the Leopard Got His Spots" is a short story by Rudyard Kipling, part of his collection "Just So Stories," published in 1902. This story offers a whimsical explanation for the distinctive spots on a leopard's coat. Here's a plot summary of "How the Leopard Got His Spots":
The story begins with the introduction of the High Veldt, a region in Africa where the animals roam freely across vast, flat plains. In this land, there are animals of all shapes and sizes, including the giraffe, the zebra, the rhinoceros, and the baboon.
At the heart of the story are the leopard and the Ethiopian, two beings who once had plain, unadorned coats. They were perfectly camouflaged against the yellow grass of the High Veldt, making them almost invisible as they hunted.
However, as time went on, the animals of the High Veldt became tired of their plain appearances. They felt that they were missing out on the excitement and adventure of the world because they were too easily seen by their prey.
The leopard and the Ethiopian approached the Ethiopian's uncle, the Parsee, who was a magician. They asked him to give them spots to make them more interesting and better hunters. The Parsee agreed but warned them that they would have to work for their spots.
The Parsee proceeded to apply spots to the leopard and the Ethiopian, but it was no easy task. They had to hide in the forest and the tall grass, hunting prey that was also camouflaged. As they hunted, they gradually acquired spots from the dirt and vegetation they rubbed against, which became permanent.
In the end, the leopard and the Ethiopian were covered in spots of various shapes and sizes, making them almost invisible against the High Veldt's grass. They had worked for their spots and were now better equipped to hunt.
The story concludes by emphasizing the importance of hard work and adaptation in the animal kingdom. The leopard's spots serve as a reminder of their efforts to become better hunters and blend in with their environment.
"How the Leopard Got His Spots" is a delightful and fanciful tale that combines elements of folklore and imagination to explain a natural phenomenon—the spots on a leopard's coat. It highlights the idea that adaptations in the animal world are often the result of necessity and effort.
