THE LEOPARD. 53 



the following day, when a dog, properly trained, is sent 

 forward to traek the animal to its retreat. If it be still 

 alive, the dog generally falls a victim, and saves the hun- 

 ter from exposing himself, until he is satisfied that the 

 beast is no longer capable of mischief. 



The OUNCE of Buffon, (Felis Uncia), is another raembei 

 of the cat tribe, and resembles the Leopard. It is proba- 

 bly a variety of the same species ; such was the opinion of 

 Cuvier, and it is now generally supposed that, the animal, 

 so often described under this name by travellers, is no 

 other than the felisjubata. It is about three feet and a half 

 long from the nose to the tail, strong, the back long, and 

 the legs short. The hair is long, and of a light gray color, 

 tinged with yellow, and paler on the breast and belly ; the 

 head is marked with small round spots, with a larger spot 

 of black behind each ear ; the back is beautifully varied 

 with a number of oval blotches rather darker, and sur- 

 rounded with a margin of black dots ; the spots on the 

 sides are more irregular, and those on the legs and sides 

 small, scattered, and few in number ; the tail is long and 

 full of hair, and is irregularly marked with large black 

 spots. In June, 1837, an animal answering to the OUNCE 

 of BUFFON was brought before the notice of the Zoological 

 Society of London, by Mr. Gray, who pronounced it a dis- 

 tinct species, easily known by the thickness of its fur, the 

 paleness of its color, the irregular form of the spots, and 

 especially by the great length and thickness of its tail. 

 This opinion is controverted by Cuvier, Temminck, and 

 most succeeding authors, who regard the animal as a 

 Leopard. 



The Ounce, according to most writers, is trained to the 

 chase, like the hunting Tiger, and the Cheetah or hunting 

 Leopard ; theFelis Jubata of SCHREBER, a.n interesting 

 variety of the tribe. 



The Cheetah is of a bright yellowish fawn color above ; 

 nearly pure white beneath ; covered above and on the sides 



