72 PANTHER. LEOPARD. 



THE PANTHER. 



From the near resemblance which the panther, the leo- 

 pard, the ounce, and the jaguar, bear to each other, zoolo- 

 gists have been at a loss to discriminate these animals with 

 precision. The distinctions have sometimes been taken 

 from their size, and sometimes from their colour and spots. 

 I am inclined to lay the greatest stress on the latter, as the 

 former appears to be rather an uncertain criterion. The 

 panther, properly so called, approaches to the tiger in size, 

 beauty, and ferocity. It is covered with short smooth hair, 

 of a bright tawny colour : the back, sides, and flanks, are 

 elegantly marked with black spots, disposed in circles of 

 four or five in each ; the chest and belly are white ; the 

 former being marked with transverse dusky stripes, and 

 the belly and tail with large irregular black spots. This 

 animal inhabits Africa, in the countries stretching from 

 Barbary to the remote parts of Guinea. Like the tiger, it 

 seizes its prey by surprise ; but prefers the flesh of other 

 animals to that of men, whom it seldom devours, unless 

 when pressed by the extremity of hunger. 



THE LEOPARD. 



The principal differences between the leopard and the 

 panther, which have frequently been confounded by na- 

 turalists, are the following : The large panther is some- 

 times six feet long ; the leopard seldom more than four. 

 The former is marked in different places with five or six 

 spots, forming a kind of circle with a large one in the 

 centre ; the latter has a more beautiful coat ; and the spots 

 are smaller, and disposed in clusters on a brilliant yellow 

 ground. 



The leopard, in the chase of its prey, spares neither man 

 nor beast. When it cannot obtain a sufficient supply in 

 its native solitudes, it descends from the internal parts of 

 Africa, and makes terrible devastation among the numerous 

 herds that cover the rich meadows of Lower Guinea. It 

 is also a native of several parts of India, China, and Arabia 

 where it is hunted for its flesh, as well as its skin. 



