Pards
Pards were feline creatures only mentioned in Hobbit poetry. Apparently the pards lived in wooded lands of the East (perhaps referring to the lands beyond Rhûn, the Uttermost East). The beast, "fleet upon feet", leaped on its prey from above.
Inspiration
At the Bodleian Library in Oxford are kept several manuscripts of medieval bestiaries containing descriptions of the legendary pard. The animal is described as very swift, killing its prey with a single leap. It was believed that the mating of a pard and a lion produced the leopard. In 1962 Tolkien published the poem "Cat", which, carrying many similarities with this medieval notion, shows that he was likely familiar with these manuscripts.
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 29/05/2026.
