436 ANIMALS OF THE 



all kinds of domestic animals. They very seldom 

 attack man, even though provoked by him j. they 

 ratlier seem desirous of finding safety by flight, or 

 by climbing trees, at which they are very expert. 

 In this manner also they often pursue their prey j 

 and being expert at seizing it as well above as 

 below, they cause a vast destruction. Of all other 

 animals these are the most sullen, and, even to a 

 proverb, untam cable. They still preserve their 

 fierce and treacherous spirit ; and at those places 

 where they are exposed to be seen among others, 

 we often observe, that while their keeper is fami- 

 liar with the lion or the bear, yet he is apprehen- 

 sive of the large panther, and keeps it bound 

 with the shortest chain. 



As the ounce differs from these in figure and 

 size, so also it seems to differ in disposition, being 

 more mild, tractable, and tame. These we fre- 

 quently see as harmless and innocent as cats ; and 

 there is one at present in the Tower, with which 

 the keeper plays without the smallest apprehen- 

 sion. I own I was not a little uneasy, at first, for 

 the man, when he put his hand through the bars, 

 and called the animal by its name ; but was a 

 good deal surprised to see the creature, which 

 one might suppose irritated by long confinement, 

 come gently up to him, stroke his hand with 

 its face, in the manner of a cat, and testify the 

 utmost gentleness of disposition. The ounce, 

 therefore, is remarkable for being easily tamed, 

 and, in fact, it is employed all over the East for 

 the purposes of hunting. Not, indeed, but that 

 panthers themselves are sometimes used for this 



