J'HE PANTHER, PUMA, CAMEL. 



THE PANTHER. 



FROM the near resemblance which the panther, the 

 leopard, 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 the size, and sometimes from the colour and the 

 spots. We incline to lay the greatest stress on the 

 latter, as the former appears to be rather an uncertain 

 criterion. The Panther, properly so ca'lled, in size, 

 beauty, and ferocity, approaches pretty nearly to the 

 tiger. 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 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 PUMA, OR COUGA, 



Is about two-thirds the size of the lion, has a small 

 head, is very nimble, and feeds upon deer, sheep, and other 

 animals. In North and South America he is called a 

 lion, in Europe the American lion ; but he has little 

 resemblance to that animal, except in colour and voice ; 

 being without a mane. 



THE CAMEL. 



THERE are two varieties of this useful animal, both of 

 which may be considered as essentially serviceable to the 

 natives in the parched deserts of Africa, Arabia, and 

 ther tropical countries. The one, which is called the 

 camel, has two hunches on its back ; the other, which 

 obtains the name of the dromedary, has only one, and is 



E 2 



