THE PANTHER. 157 



bary to the remotest parts of Guinea: it is absolutely 

 untameable, and when kept under confinement, 

 growls almost continually. 



The panther is extremely ferocious, but happily 

 prefers the flesh of brute animals to that of the human 

 species; although when pressed with hunger, it at- 

 tacks every living creature without distinction. It 

 takes its prey by surprise, either lurking in thickets, 

 or creeping on its belly until it come within its reach : 

 it will even climb trees in pursuit of monkies, and 

 other small animals, so that nothing is perfectly se- 

 cure from its attacks. 



The colour of the panther is yellow, of a deep tint 

 on the back, but growing paler towards the belly, 

 which, together with the chest, is white : on the back, 

 sides, and flanks, it is beautifully marked with black 

 spots, disposed in circles of four or lire each, with a 

 single spot in the centre : its ears are short and point- 

 ed ; its eyes fierce and restless; and its whole aspect 

 is marked with the most untameable ferocity. 



The ancients were well acquainted with the pan* 

 -iier; and the Romans obtained from the desarts oi* 

 Africa great numbers of these animals for their public 

 shews. Scaurus exhibited a hundred and fifty of 

 them atone time; Pompey, four hundred and ten ; 

 Augustus, four hundred and twenty. Panthers must 

 have been at that time extremely plentiful in the 

 northern parts of Africa, and they still swarm in the 

 tropical regions of that continent. 



That I may not weary you with too long a letter, I 

 will refer to another opportunity a description of the 

 tyger and the lion, those sovereigns of the forest, and 

 tyrants of the animal world. For the present I shall 

 bid you adieu, professing myself with 'sincere affec- 

 tion, 



Dear Sir, 



Your's, &c 



