28 



CLASS MAMMALIA. 



ORDER S A R C O P H A G A. 



from the Lion in the smallness gf the head and want of mane, and tufted 

 tail ; it measures about five feet in length, and the tail is two feet long and 

 trailing ; its limbs are strong but short, and therefore it stands low. It is 

 a native of America, both of the South and North. The Indians employ 

 its coat, which is soft, for clothing, and from it also are made gloves and 

 shoes. It is sometimes called the Poltron Tiger. 



2. Cats of large size, and striped transversely with black : In this divi- 

 sion we find the Royal Tiger (F. Tigris), which in size nearly resembles 

 the Lion, but the body is more slim, and the head rounder and smaller : it 

 stands about three feet in height. 



The Tiger is found only in Asia, extending as high as Chinese Tartary, 

 but is more common in India, and lives in ravines and jungles. Cowardly, 

 cunning, and cruel, it is a dreadful scourge to the countries which it inhabits, 

 as it does not hesitate to attack almost every kind of animal, not excepting 

 man : for these it lurks in ambush among the thick cover, and with a dreadful 

 roar, springing upon it with a bound from an almost incredible distance, 

 quickly drags it into its retreat, from which there is no chance of recovery ; 

 should he however fell in his aim, he slinks off till a more fitting opportu- 

 nity. Like the Lion, the Tiger if taken young will occasionally become very 

 docile. Tiger skins are considered of great value throughout the East, and 

 especially in China, where they are used to cover the seats of justice for the 

 mandarins. 



The Rimau Dahan (F. Macrocelis), a native of Bencoolen, seems to con- 

 nect the Tiger with the Leopard, possessing the strong legs and thighs of 

 the former, with the more cylindrical form of the body belonging to the 

 latter. 



3.. Cats of large size, marked with round dark spots : The Jaguar, or 

 American Tiger (F. Onca), the Great Panther of the furriers, is nearly as 

 large as the Tiger, but of heavier proportions. It is found in various parts 

 of South America, passing the day in caves amongst the marshy forests, 

 but at night it sallies forth in quest of prey, and will attack Oxen and 

 Horses, the latter of which it is said to carry off as a Wolf does a Sheep : 

 it does not fear Dogs, and will even attack men in the desert. 



The Panther (F. Pardus), about four feet in length, and the tail when 

 reflected reaches the tip of the nose ; the general colour deep fulvous yellow 

 on the upper part and sides of the body, and ashy beneath. 



Panther. 



The Cape Cat (F. Serval), not quite so large as the Panther, is a native 

 of the Cape of Good Hope, where it is called Tyger-bosch hat, and of all 

 the southern parts of Africa. 



The Leopard (F. Leopardus) is rather smaller than the Lioness ; its tail 

 as long as the body, and when reflected extending only to the shoulders ; 

 general colour yellow above and white beneath. Native of Southern 

 Africa. 



The Hunting Leopard (F. Jubata) is somewhat less than the Panther, 

 and is very remarkable in having the claws non-retractile, by which circum- 

 stance it connects this genus with Dogs. This animal is found in India, 

 where it is trained to hunt Antelopes. 



4. Cato of moderate size, spotted with yellow, edged with black : The 



Brazilian Tiger (F. Mitis), more than two-thirds the length of the Hunt- 

 ing Leopard. It is a native of Paraguay, win-re it is common, and known 

 as the Chibigouazou ; it lives in the forests, but steals out at night to attack 

 the domestic animals : when taken it becomes familiar and docile ; its voice 

 resembles that of the Cat, but is deeper tonr-d. 



The Ocelot (F. Pardalis), a native of Mexico, much resembles the habits 

 of the other species, and climbs trees. 



The Oceloid Cat (F. Macroura) very nearly resembles the Ocelot: it is 

 three feet eight inches in length ; tail nineteen inches. 



5. Cats of moderate size, standing high on the legs ; ears large, and not 

 nnfrequently tipped with a tuft of long hairs ; tail rather short : The Lynx, 

 measuring rather more than two feet from the nose to the tail ; tail seven 

 inches ; skin very soft. It is a native of the forests of central Europe, but 

 never found in India ; it was formerly found in France, and but lately has 

 disappeared in Germany. 



The Muscovite Lynx (F. Cervaria), about the size of a Wolf ; its fur 

 is very long and thick. The skins of this species are highly valued, and 

 adult skins with very black spots will fetch 100 to 120 or 130 francs. 



The Canadian or Swedish Lynx (F. Borealis), in size between the Wolf 

 and the Fox ; the Bay Lynx (F. Rufa), a native of America, is smaller 

 than the common Lynx ; the Caspian Lynx (F. Chaus), about two feet 

 long, and its general figure is that of a Cat ; the Booted Lynx (F. Caligata), 

 about the size of a Cat, a native of Lybia and Barbary ; the Persian Lynx 

 (F. Caracal) measures about two feet and a halflong, and sixteen inches lii.u'li, 

 a native of Persia, India, and Barbary ; the Portuguese Lynx (F. Pardina), 

 the Lynx of the furriers, is in size equalling the European Badger, but 

 standing high on the legs ; tail short, but longer in proportion to its size 

 than that of the European Lynx ; the skin is not very valuable. 



Besides the above there are the Fasciated Lynx, the Mountain Cat, the 

 Florida Lynx, and the Golden Lynx, all natives of America. 



6. Cats of moderate or small size and short legs CATS properly so 

 called: The Common Cat (F. Catus) measures about two feet eight inches, 

 and some large males three feet, of which one foot is the length of the tail ; 

 it varies much in size, according to the countries it inhabits ; those of the 

 south are not larger than our Domestic Cat, whilst those of Asia and the 

 midland forests of Europe are much larger. The fur is soft, very long ; 

 the silky hairs few, but also very long. The Wild Cat is found in all the 

 large forests of Europe ; those of Hungary and Russia, and the Asiatic 

 provinces, are of a larger kind, their fur much finer, and more valuable. 



The Booted Cat of Egypt (F. Maniculata) resembles in form the last 

 species, except in being a third less in size, and having the tail longer and 

 more slender ; the fur is short and silky, but the woolly hair sparing. 



Much difference of opinion has existed among zoologists as to the stock 

 whence our Domestic Cat proceeds. It was formerly supposed to have 

 sprung from the Wild Cat (F. Catus) ; and Schreber has very properly dis- 

 tinguished it from that animal by its smaller size, and the comparative 

 shortness and thickness of its hair. 



The value of Cats seems in time past to liave been well understood ; for 

 during the reign of Howel Dda or Hoel the Good, a Prince of Wales, who 

 died A. D. 948, laws were in existence for its preservation ; any person who 

 destroyed a Cat belonging to the Prince's granary was to be fined one milch 

 ewe, her fleece and lamb, or as much wheat as would cover the tip of the 

 Cat's tail when she had been hung up by the tail with her head tom-hiiii: 

 the ground. The intrinsic value of the animal depended on its age : a 

 kitten before it could see was prized at a penny ; till it had caught a Mouse 

 twopence, and after that time fourpence, which at that period were, large 

 sums ; the seller forfeited a third of its value, however, if the Cat had not 

 its claws whole, was not a good mouser, and, if a female, not a good nurse. 



There are several varieties of the Domestic Cat : the Chartreux Cat ; the 

 Spanish Cat, or Tortoiseshett Cat, as it is commonly called ; and the Angora 

 Cat, remarkable for the great length and silkiness of its hair. 



We merely name the other secies: the Peruvian Cat (F. Celidogaster), 

 the Eyra Cat, and the Jaguarondi, natives of Paraguay ; the Pampa Cat 

 (F. Pajeros), and the Cayenne Cat (F. Tigrina), natives of South America; 



