OF NORTH CAROLINA. 195 



hollows like a man in the woods when killed, 

 which is by making him take a tree, as the least 

 cur will presently do ; then the huntsmen shoot 

 him ; if they do not kill him outright, he is a dan- 

 gerous enemy when wounded, especially to the 

 dogs that approach him. This beast is the grea- 

 test enemy to the planter of any vermine in Car- 

 olina. His flesh looks as well as any shambles 

 meat whatsoever ; a great many people eat him 

 as choice food, but I never tasted of a panther, so 

 cannot commend the meat by my own experience, 

 His skin is a warm covering for the Indians in 

 winter, though not esteemed amongst the choice 

 furs. This skin dressed, makes fine women's shoes 

 or men's gloves. 



The mountain cat, so called, because he lives in 

 the mountainous parts of America. He is a beast 

 of prey, as the panther island nearest to him in 

 bigness and nature. 



This cat is quite different from those in Europe ; 

 being more nimble and fierce, and larger ; his tail 

 does not exceed four inches. He makes a very 

 odd sort of cry in the woods, in the night. He is 

 spotted as the leopard is, tho' some of them are 

 not, (which may happen, when their furs are out 

 of season) he climbs a tree very dexterously, and 

 preys as the panther does. He is a great destroy- 

 er of young swine. I knew an island, which was 

 possessed by these vermine, unknown to the plan- 

 ter, who put thereon a considerable stock of swine ; 

 but never took one back, for the wild cats destroy- 



