184 THE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN PANTHER. 



Tiger ; and its thick and compact limbs and form, 

 independent of the difference in marking, at once dis- 

 tinguish it from the spotted or ringed Cats of the 

 old world ; yet it is only within these few years that 

 the distinctions have been pointed out, the quo- 

 tation of the plates of Buffon, the copies that were 

 afterwards made from them, gave rise to consider- 

 able confusion between it and the Leopard. 



The markings of this animal vary very much, as 

 may be seen from the accompanying illustrations ; 

 and after much research in America, Major H. 

 Smith has come to the conclusion, that there are in 

 reality two varieties, which he characterises under the 

 titles of the Great and Lesser Jaguar, the large spe- 

 cies measuring about 2 feet 10 inches in height at 

 the shoulder, the smaller one about 2 feet 2 inches. 

 The lesser variety, of which Major Smith has given 

 a figure, was of a paler almost ashy colour, the spots 

 few and very distinct. 



We shall now notice the illustrations which ac- 

 company our description. The first (Plate X.) was 

 taken from a very fine and beautifully marked skin, 

 for which we are indebted to Mr L'ry, furrier in 

 Hanover Street, and who obligingly displayed to us 

 his whole extensive stock of furs. It was a veiy large 

 animal ; the markings were of a very deep chocolate- 

 brown, upon a rich yellowish ground, and were re- 

 markable for their clearness. Along the centre of the 

 back there was almost a line of open spots only oc- 

 casionally interrupted, and the next two lines were 



