332 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



, ' 



Observations. 



is not sufficient to make a distinction among 

 them ; and that those who called them all three 

 "by the indiscriminate names of the leopard and 

 panther, if not right, were at least excusable." 



The spots, with which the skins of the above 

 animals are diversified, are so various, and their 

 size so equivocal, that it is a difficult matter to 

 distinguish the species; particularly as \vc have 

 little else but the spots and the size to guide us, 

 in making the distinction. If we regard the 

 figure and diversity of the spots, we shall find 

 many varieties, not taken notice of by any natu- 

 ralist: if we were Jed by the size, we should find 

 an imperceptible gradation from the cat to the 

 tiger. It would be vain, therefore, to make as 

 many varieties in these animals as we see differ- 

 ences in spots or stature; it will he sufficient to 

 notice the most general distinctions, and leave 

 the rest to such as are fond of more miflute dis- 

 quisitions. 



M. le Brim had a female jaguar sent him ii> 

 the year 1775. It appeared very young, mea- 

 suring only twenty-three inches in length. The 

 ground colour of the body was a dirty grev, 

 mingled with red ; the spots were yellow, edged 

 with black, and the ears were black, with a white 

 spot on the external part. 



M. Sonini de Alanoncom informs us, that In- 

 had the skin of one of these animals, which mea- 

 <nred nearly live feet from the nose to the inser- 

 tion of the mil. lie describes them a frequently 



