CARNIVOROUS QUADRUPEDS. 15 



No. XIII. 



This is what one might call a domestic, or family, group; but they seem here to be 

 meditating- prey, and by no means so good-humoured as in the former instance, where they might 

 be fancied to be quietly enjoying themselves after a sufficient repast. The two groups, when 

 viewed together, seem very much to assist our perceptions of the capability of this animal of 

 gentle, as well as of savage, expression. They are contrasted, indeed, though without the direct 

 opposition of violent brutal action, to calm repose : the eye being the chief seat of the difference. 

 But neither the gentle, nor the more- ferocious and malignant-looking, Panthers, or Tigers, will 

 bear any comparison for commanding- majesty of appearance with the regal Lion, whether in a 

 calm or an excited state as the vignette of our title-page is ready to bear Avitness. 



There is good chiaroscuro in both of the above groups ; and the scene of rocky wildness in 

 which the latter are placed, as well as the rich colouring of the fur of the animals, are ably 

 indicated. 



The reader may perhaps not be displeased to attend here for a moment, to a short epitome of 

 what the Naturalists have said concerning the distinctive marks of this interesting- quadruped, the 

 Panther: nor to be informed or reminded of the strong resemblance which he bears to the 

 Leopard. 



DR. SHAW observes that LlNNJSUS himself has confounded the Panther with the Leopard ; 

 but adds, that <c a true distinctive mark between them, is by no means easy to communicate either 

 by description or even by figure." He thinks that the Leopard is the smaller of the two species 

 of animals, and its colour a paler yellow : and MR. GRIFFITH, in his " Carnivora," says, " A very 

 fine animal is now exhibiting at Exeter 'Change under the name of Leopard, which is much 

 larger as well as brighter than any other Leopard in that Menagerie, and should, therefore, 

 according to SHAW, seem to be the Panther. But I am informed that the animal in question was 

 taken in India, and that all those which come from Asia, are much brighter in colour than those 

 from Africa, which is confirmed ' by inspection of the African specimens there ; and that the 

 females have more white about them than the other sex : and MR. CROSS, who has had opportu- 

 nities of inspecting probably some hundreds of specimens, insists that he has never observed any 

 specific difference between those brought from Asia and Africa, among themselves, except that the 

 Asiatic are generally larger and brighter." 



LICHTENSTEIN, in a note communicated to MAJOR SMITH, describes the Panther as 

 resembling' the Jaguar, in having the same number of rows of spots, but different in having no 

 full spots, on the dorsal line. If this be correct, then is the existence of the Panther established 

 as being distinct from the Leopard : but I do not find that full spots on the dorsal line always 

 make a specific difference of the Jaguar. When, therefore, it is said, that the Panther much 



