Order 3. 



CARXAPJA. 



83 



below : the upper carnivorous tooth threc-lobed, with a broad heel on its inner side ; the inferior with 

 two pointed and cutting lobes, and without any heel : finally, they have only one very small upper 

 tubercular, and no corresponding one in the lower jaw. [These animals creep unawares upon their prey, 

 and seize it with a sudden spring, in which they expend their energy.] The species are exceedingly 

 numerous, and vary much in size and colour, but they are all nearly similar in structure. We can 

 only subdivide them by characters of trivial import, as size, and the length of fur. 

 At the head of this genus ranks 



The Lion (Felu leo, Lin.), the most powerful of the beasts of prey ; distinguished by its unitorm tawny colour, 

 the tuft of black hair at the end of the tail, and the flowing mane which clothes the head, neck, and shoulders of 

 the male. Formerly inhabiting the three divisions of the ancient world, it appears to be now confined to Africa, 

 and the neighbouring parts of Asia. Its head is squarer than in the following species. [The Liou is subject to 

 considerable variation, chiefly as regards the quantity of mane, and lengthened hair on other parts : those of 

 Guizerat are almost destitute of any ; the Lions of Africa present the gieatest quantity, in many of which there is 

 a median line of long hair extending along the belly ; but even these difier one from another : there is also con- 

 siderable difterence of physiognomy between the African and Asiatic Lions, and the latter are always paler, and 

 reputed to be less courageous ; but there is no difterence of size and apparent strength. Those who distinguish 

 the Lions of Asia and AfriCi as different species, might change their opinion on seeing the various adults now 

 living in London.] 



Tigers are large species with short hair, and commonly exhibiting vivid markings. [We may here observe that 

 it is quite impossible to subdivide the genus Felis into definite sections, and that every attempt of this kind 

 hitherto made has consequently proved a complete failure : the transition into the Lynxes is most gradual; and 

 the spotless species (as the Lion, Puma, &c.) are marked Uke the rest when young. Those species, however, 

 which aflect the open country, as the Lion and Leopard, have the pupil of the eye contracting to a point ; Whereas 

 in those which inhabit forests, as the Tiger and domestic Cat, the pupil closes to a vertical hne, permitting thus, 

 when least dilated, of a full range of vision, in the direction in which these animals chiefly watch for prey. A few 

 of the more conspicuous may be briefly indicated.] 



The Tiger (F. tigris, Lin.)— As large as the Lion, but with the body longer and head rounder ; of a bright red- 

 dish-buft" above, with irregular black transverse stripes, and pure white underneath ; [the hair suriouuding the 

 head elongated] : the most cruel of quadrupeds, and the scourge of the East Indies. Such are the strength and 

 the velocity of its movements, that during the march of an army it has been known to seize a soldier while on 

 horse-back, and bear him ofif to the jungle, without aftbrding a chance of rescue. [This species also occurs, 

 sparingly, in northern Asia. Its markings vary much in difterent individuals.] 



The Jaguar {F. onca, Lin.) of America.— Nearly as large as the preceding, and scarcely less dangerous: it is 

 beautifully spotted with rings more or less complete, and containing smaller spots [on a deeper ground-tint : the 

 space included within the annulations of all the spotted Cats being deeper coloured than the rest of the body.] 

 Black individuals sometimes occur, which have the spots more intense, and visible only at particular angles, 

 [the fur of the spots diff'ering in texture : the same has been obsened of the Tiger and Leopard, and albino 

 individuals of the former have likewise been noticed. Jaguars also difl"er much one from another]. 



The Panther (F. pardits, Lin. : Pardalis of the ancients.)— [Covered with annular series of irregular small spots.] 

 It is widely spread over Africa, the hottest region of Asia, and also the Indian archipelago. 



The Leopard (F. leopardus, Lin.) — [Very like the 

 Panther, but with the markings less broken into 

 small spots : it varies, however, considerably, and 

 the two sides of the same animal do not Jilways 

 resemble : from Asia and Africa.] These two spe- 

 cies are smaller than the American Jaguar [and 

 are very doubtfully separable from each other. 



The Ounce of Buft'on (F. uncia, Gm.) is a long- 

 haired mountain Cat, as large as a Leopard, with 

 tail longer than the body : also similarly spotted, 

 but more obscurely, and on a paler ground-tint. 

 It inhabits the Asiatic mountains, and a fine spe- 

 cimen of it has lately been deposited in the British 

 Museum. 



Of the other spotted Cats, may be mentioned 

 the F. chalybeata, Herm., from the north of India ; 

 &nA. F . viverrina, Ben., from Sumatra*: also the 

 R>Tnau-dyan (Fig. 33), or gigantic Tiger-cat of 

 Sumatra (F. macroscelis), and the nearly allied but 

 smaller Marbled Cat (F. marmorata), from the 

 same locality, which are remarkable for length of 

 tad. The Ocelot of South America {F. pardalU, 



Fig. 33. — Tiger-cat of Sumatra. 



* Notwithstanding its name, this speciss presents no real approKcn to yivcrra its cranium, for instance, being strictly that of a/V/u» 



