The Leopard and Panther 147 



The panther described by Forsyth set at naught quite a 

 number of favorite theories. His conduct was indeed 

 very different from that which might have been expected 

 if the main features of character common to his family are 

 like those which are said to exist. The relations of cause 

 and effect were not set aside for his benefit, and therefore, 

 instead of being at once prepared to do the things he is 

 known to have accomplished, there must have been some 

 period of preparation. Of all things it is the most im- 

 probable that this animal set out on an expedition at hap- 

 hazard. Perception, foresight, comprehension, judgment, 

 resource, were not suddenly conferred upon him when he 

 arrived at his destination and taken away when he left. 

 He must have added observation and training to his in- 

 nate qualities. How easily or to what extent this was 

 done we cannot decide ; for to imagine that a wild beast 

 could come out of the forest, and instantly become an 

 experienced master of an entirely new set of circum- 

 stances and have the ability to take advantage of every 

 opportunity and overcome all opposition, is preposterous ; 

 is nothing less than to suppose an effect without a cause. 

 The brute in question gave terribly convincing proofs that 

 it understood the situation in its entirety, and how this 

 could have been the case unless it was known, in what way 

 known without being learned, and how learned without a 

 mind passing through ordinary processes, does not appear. 



To isolate the traits of an animal and consider them 

 separately is a mistake. It is to fall into the same error 

 that Stallo and the transcendental school in physics have 

 made with reference to the attributes of matter. These 



