T H E C A T K I N D. 73 



Thefc animals are common in Guiana. Tliey formerly fwam over in 

 great numbers to the ifland. of Cayenne, to ravage the flocks and herds, 

 and were a terrible fcourge to the infant colony; bur, by degrees, were 

 repulfed. They are found in Brazil, in Paraguay, in the country of the 

 Amazons, and in other pans of South- America. They often climb trees 

 in queft of preyj or to avoid their purfuers. 



THE PANTHER. 



THE Panther has been by many naturalifts miflraken for the tiger, 

 which it approaches in fize, fiercenefs, and beauty ; but is diftin- 

 guilhcd by being /p<?//^^, notftreaked.. The panther is to Africa, what 

 the tiger is to Afia; with this alleviation, that it prefers the fle(h of 

 brutes to that of man ; but when hungry, makes no diftindtion. hs man- 

 ner of taking its prey is equally infidious as the tiger, by furprife^ 

 crouching in thickets, creeping on its belly till it can fpring at once on 

 its mark. Will climb up trees in purfuit of monkeys and lelfcr animals. 

 The Romans exhibited this creature and the leopard in their public 

 fhews : Pompey Ihewed four hundred and ten j Aiiguftus, four hundred 

 and twenty. But they ftiil fwarm from Barbary to Guinea. 



Next to the great panther, is the LEOPARD, which is often called 

 the Leopard, or Panther of Senegal, where it is chiefly found. Their 

 principal differences are as follow : The large panther is often fix or 

 feven feet long, from the tip of the nofe to the infertioa of the tail ; the 

 leopard of Senegal is not above four. The panther is marked with five 

 or fix fpots, making a kind of circle, and a large one in the middle j 

 except on the face and legs. The leopard is more beautiful, his yellow 

 coat more brilliant, his fpots fmaller, not difpofed in rings, but in cluf- 

 ters. They are both whitilh under the belly ; the tail of the firfl: three 

 feet, of the fecond two and a half, confequently rather longed in pro- 

 portion. 



The JAGUAR, or Panther of South-America, refembles thefc 

 two, except in the difpofition of its fpots, and that its neck and head are 

 rather ftreaked than fpotted ; and the creature is faid to be lower on its 

 legs. There is fometimes feen a combat between this animal and the 

 crocodile, which is extraordinary. When the jaguar comes to drink, 

 the crocodile, who has been long watching to furprife any animal that 

 No. 23. O approach- 



