548 PANTHER. 



into circles, consisting of four or five separate 

 spots; and there is commonly, but not always, a 

 central spot in each circle ; in which particular, 

 as well as in its superior size, and deeper colour, 

 the Panther differs from the Leopard, which has 

 very rarely any central spots in its circular mark- 

 ings. On the face and legs the spots are single, 

 and along the top of the back is a row of oblong 

 spots, which are still longer as they approach the 

 tail. The breast and belly are white; the former 

 marked with transverse dusky stripes ; the latter 

 and the tail with large irregular black spots. The 

 Panther is principally found in Africa, and is to 

 that country what the Tiger is to Asia, with this 

 alleviating circumstance, that it is supposed to 

 prefer the destruction of other animals to that of 

 mankind. Its manner of seizing its prey resem- 

 bles that of the Tiger; lurking near the sides 

 of woods, &c. and darting forward with a sudden 

 spring. It is of a highly ferocious nature, and 

 scarce to be tamed. These animals and the Leo- 

 pard were the Varil and Pardi of the ancients; 

 and one would think (says Mr. Pennant) that the 

 Romans would have exhausted the deserts of 

 Africa by the numbers they drew from thence for 

 their public spectacles. Scaurus exhibited at one 

 time a hundred and fifty Panthers; Pompey the 

 Great, four hundred and ten ; and Augustus, four 

 hundred and twenty. It has been doubted whe- 

 ther the Panther and the Leopard were natives 

 of America as well as of the old continent; but 

 this question seems now to be decided in the ne- 



