THE CAT KIND. 



305 



it, as well above as below, they cause a vast 

 destruction. Of all other animals, these are 

 the most sullen, and, even to a proverb, un- 

 tameable. They still preserve their fierce and 

 treacherous spirit ; and at those places where 

 they are exposed to be seen among others, we 

 often observe that while their keeper is fa- 

 miliar with the lion or the bear, yet he is ap- 

 prehensive of the large panther, and keeps it 

 bound with the shortest chain. 



As the ounce differs from these in figure and 

 size, so also it seems to differ in disposition, 

 being more mild, tractable, and tame. These 

 we often see as harmless and innocent as cats; 

 and there is one at present in the Tower with 

 which the keeper plays without the smallest 

 apprehension. I own I was not a little uneasy, 

 at first, for the man, when he put his hand 

 through the bars, and called the animal by its 

 name ; but I was a good deal surprised to see 

 the creature, which one might suppose irritated 

 by long confinement, come gently up to him, 

 stroke his hand with its face, in the manner of 

 a cat, and testify the utmost gentleness of dis- 

 position. The ounce, therefore, is remarkable 

 for being easily tamed ; and, in fact, it is em- 

 ployed all over the East for the purposes of 

 hunting. Not, indeed, but the panthers them- 

 selves are sometimes used for this purpose, but 

 they are never thoroughly subdued like the 

 former, being usually brought to the field in a 

 carriage, and kept chained and caged until 

 they are shown the gazelle, or the leveret, 

 which is their prey. This they pursue rather 

 by three or four great springs than by running. 

 If they seize it by this sudden effort, it finds no 

 mercy; but if it escapes from this first effort, 

 they never attempt to pursue, and appear 

 quite disappointed and confounded at their 

 mischance. It sometimes happens that they 

 are so much enraged at it, that they attack 

 even their employer, and his only resource to 

 avoid their fury is to throw them some small 

 pieces of meat, which he has brought with him 

 for that purpose. 



The ounce, however, is not so dangerous ; 

 and is treated with more confidence and 

 familiarity. It is usually brought to the field 

 hood-winked behind one of the horsemen. 

 When the game appears, the ounce is instantly 

 uncovered, and shown where it lies ; upon 

 which the fierce creature darts like an arrow 

 to the place, and seizes it at once, or, missing 



it, remains motionless on the place. It would 

 be vain to attempt retrieving its disgrace, by 

 continuing the pursuit ; for, although it bounds 

 with greater agility than most other animals, 

 yet it is slow and awkward in running, and 

 has no means of finding the animal it pursues 

 by the smell, as is common among these of 

 the dog kind. From hence, therefore, it 

 appears how much superior the European 

 method of hunting is to that of the Asiatic ; 

 since whatever amusement this exercise affords 

 must arise from the continuance of the chase, 

 and from the fluctuation of doubt and expecta- 

 tion, which raise and depress the pursuers by 

 turns. All this an Asiatic hunter is deprived 

 of; and his greatest pleasure can scarcely be 

 more than what among us is called coursing, in 

 which the dog pursues the animal, and keeps 

 it constantly in view. 



But it must not be supposed that it is from 

 choice the Asiatics use this method of chase ; 

 for, no doubt, were dogs serviceable among 

 them as they are in Europe, they would be 

 employed for the same purposes. But the fact 

 is, that the extreme heat of the tropical cli- 

 mates produces such universal putrefaction, 

 and sends up such various and powerful scents, 

 that dogs are at first bewildered in the chase, 

 and at last come to lose the delicacy of their 

 scent entirely. They are, therefore, but little 

 used in those warm countries ; and what could 

 they avail in places where almost every other 

 animal of the forest is stronger and more rapa- 

 cious ? The lion, the tiger, the panther, and 

 the ounce, are all natural enemies to the dog, 

 and attack him wherever he appears with un- 

 governable fury. The breed, therefore, in 

 those places, would quickly be destroyed ; so 

 that they are obliged to have recourse to those 

 animals which are more fitted to serve them ; 

 and thus convert the ounce to those purposes 

 for which dogs are employed in Europe. 



The CATAMOUNTAIN, or OCELOT, is one of the 

 fiercest, and, for its size, one of the most de- 

 structive animals in the world. It is, as was 

 before observed, a native of South America, 

 and by no means capable of the same educa- 

 tion as the ounce, which it more approaches 

 in size than in disposition. Two of these, 

 from whom Mr. Buffon has taken his descrip- 

 tion, were brought over from Carthagena, and 

 having been taken from the d*un when very 

 young, were afterwards suckied by a bitch. 



