THE DOG KIND. 



307. 



ago sent over from the East Indies, but it was 

 not able to endure the change of climate, and 

 it died in a very short time after it was brought 

 to the Tower. Whether consumed by disease 

 or not I cannot tell, but it seemed to be much 

 slenderer than the cat or the lynx, and its ears 

 were much longer; however, it is a very strong 

 creature for its size, and has been known to 

 kill a large dog in single combat : a neverthe- 

 less, it is, like all of the cat kind, except the 

 lion, rem irkable for its cowardice, and will 

 never, except in cases of necessity, attack an 

 animal that is its equal in strength or activity. 

 For this reason, when brought into the field, 

 and put upon a service of danger, it obstinately 

 refuses, and is alert only in the pursuit of ani- 

 mals that are too feeble for resistance, or too 

 timid to exert their strength. 



From what has been said of this capacious 

 tribe, we perceive a similitude in the manners 

 and dispositions of them all, from the lion to 

 the cat. The similitude of their internal con- 

 form ition is still more exact ; the shortness of 

 their intestines, the number of their teeth, and 

 the structure of their paws. The first of this 

 class is the lion, distinguishable from all the 

 rest by his strength, his magnitude, and his 

 mane. The second is the tiger, rather longer 

 than the lion, but not so tall, and known by 

 the streaks and the vivid beauty of its robe ; 

 including also the American tiger or cougar ; 

 distinguishable by its size, next (hat of the tiger, 

 its tawny colour, and its spots. The third is 

 the panther and the leopard. The fourth is 

 the ounce, not so large as any of the former, 

 spotted like them, but distinguishable by the 



cream-coloured ground of its hair, and the 

 great length of its tail, being above the length 

 of its body. The fifth is the catamountain or 

 tiger cat, less than the ounce, but differing 

 particularly in having a shorter tail, and being 

 streaked down the back like a tiger. The 

 sixth is the short-tailed kind ; namely, the 

 lynx, of the size of the former, but with a short 

 tail streaked, and the tips of its ears tufted 

 with black. The seventh is the siagush, 

 differing from the lynx in not being mottled 

 like it, in not being so large, and in having the 

 ears longer, though tipped with black, as be- 

 fore. Ihe eighth is the serval, resembling the 

 lynx in its form, and the shortness of its tail ; 

 streaked also like it, but not having the tips of 

 his ears tufted. Lastly, the cat, wild and 

 tame, with all its varieties ; all less than any 

 of the former, but, like them, equally insidious, 

 rapacious, and cruel. 



This whole race may be considered as the 

 most formidable enemy of mankind; there arc 

 others indeed stronger, but they are gentle, and 

 never offering injury till injured : there are 

 others more numerous, but they are more 

 feeble, and rather look for safety by hiding 

 from man, than opposing him. These are 

 the only quadrupeds that make good their 

 ground against him ; and which may be said 

 to keep some kingdoms of the earth in their 

 own possession. How many extensive coun- 

 tries are there in Africa, where the wild beasts 

 are so numerous, that man is deterred from liv- 

 ing amongst them ; reluctantly giving up to the 

 lion and the leopard extensive tracts, that seem 

 formed only for his delight and convenience ! 



CHAPTER LI. 



ANIMALS OF THE DOG KIND. 



THE second class of carnivorous quadru- 

 peds may be denominated those of the dog 

 Kind. This class is neither so numerous nor 

 so powerful as the former, and yet neither so 

 treacherous, rapacious, or cowardly. This 

 class may be principally distinguished by their 



* Buffon. 

 No. 27 & 28. 



claws, which have no sheath, like those of the 

 cat kind, but still continue at the point of each 

 toe, without a capability of being stretclied 

 forward or drawn back. The nose also, as 

 well as the jaw, of all the dog kind, is longer 

 than in the cat; the body is, in proportion, 

 more strongly made, and covered with hair 

 instead of fur. There are many internal dis- 

 3 C 



