FELIS. 



taken in fit-falls by the negroes, who 

 highly value their flesh, which in appear- 

 ance, is not a little like that of veal ; 

 their teeth are arranged in fanciful dispo- 

 sitions by the women of the country, and 

 hung- about their necks and arms, both as 

 amulets and ornaments ; and their skins 

 are exported to various parts of Europe, 

 where they are particularly admired, and 

 are sold for corresponding prices. There 

 is in India a variety of this species trained 

 with great success to hunt the antelope 

 and other beasts. It is conveyed in a 

 small vehicle to the spot of its intended 

 exertions, and chained and hooded till it 

 is let down as near to the herd as is 

 thought convenient ; it then makes every 

 effort to reach them unobserved, advanc- 

 ing with extreme vigilance and caution, 

 and when it perceives itself in a proper 

 situation, it rushes with a succession of 

 amazing bounds, five or six in number, 

 towards its destined object, and is almost 

 uniformly successful in securing it. On 

 failure it returns to its owner, and after 

 a short interval recommences its efforts. 

 See Mammalia, Plate XIV. fig. 1. 



F. uncia, or the ounce, is about three 

 feet and a half in length, and has a skin 

 beautifully varied with single spots, or 

 oval collections of them, on a light-grey 

 ground-colour. It is a native of China, 

 Persia, and Barbary. Its sense of smell 

 is not extremely acute, but its eye pos- 

 sesses exquisite discernment, on which 

 account it is disciplined to the chase with 

 wonderful success ; and so gentle are its 

 manners, that it is taken to the hunt on 

 the crupper of the horse, behind its own- 

 er. It is not remarkable for speed in 

 running, or at least for a continuance of 

 rapid exertion, and is, indeed, incapable 

 of it ; but it seizes its prey by a few rapid 

 bounds, in which it displays astonishing 

 nimbleness and dexterity. It frequently 

 ascends trees, from which it may dart on 

 any animals leisurely and fearlessly pass- 

 ing beneath. 



F. onca, the jaguar, is the most formi- 

 dable of all the animals found in the new 

 continent, and abounds particularly in the 

 D eserts of Guiana ; in passing which the 

 Indians, who have an extreme dread of 

 this animal, always kindle fires to keep it 

 at a distance. In some of its manners 

 and habits, it strongly resembles the ti- 

 ger. It sucks the blood previous to de- 

 vouring the flesh of its prey, in pursuit of 

 which it is very swift, and will ascend 

 trees of the loftiest and smoothest kind 

 with astonishing facility ; its howl is ter- 

 rific. The female is said to produce two 



young at a birth. Its ground colour is a 

 light brownish-yellow, which is varied 

 with streaks and open spots of black. It 

 is rather larger than a wolf, but is said to 

 find a formidable, and often fatal, antago- 

 nist in the ant-eater, which, on being at- 

 tacked by the jaguar, throws itself on its 

 back, and with its long claws fixes on his 

 throat, and kills him by suffocation. 



F. concolor, the brown tiger, puma or 

 cougouar. The body is tawny, immacu 

 late, thin and long, beneath whitish, 

 been called the American Hon. It is 

 the largest of the American beasts 

 prey, and is extremely fierce and raven- 

 ous. It inhabits -in many parts from 

 Canada to Florida, and is found also in 

 Mexico and Brazil. In the warmer cli- 

 mates it possesses its greatest perfection 

 in vigour and courage, and will frequent- 

 ly cross rapid torrents to seize cattle 

 grazing in inclosures near the habitations 

 of man. It has been known to attack 

 a wolf. It is a formidable enemy to the 

 moose-deer, and others of that tribe; and 

 will often mount trees to watch the ani- 

 mals that pass beneath, selecting the vic- 

 tims of its rapacity, and quittingthem on- 

 ly after having exhausted their last drop 

 of blood. This fierce animal, strange as 

 it may appear, if taken young, is trained 

 to become as inoffensive nearly as the 

 common cat, like which animal also it 

 purs ; and will permit, without rage or 

 resentment, all the rough caresses and 

 violent gambols of boys. When satiated 

 with food, it conceals the remainder. 



The fur is used in the dress of the 

 Aborigines, and the flesh is much es- 

 teemed by them as an article of food. 



F. discolor, or the black tiger, is con- 

 sidered by many only as a variety of the 

 former species. It is exceedingly strong 

 in its limbs, and attains the size of a heifer 

 of a year old. It is found in Brazil and 

 Guiana ; and is rapacious and savage in 

 its disposition; and fortunately, therefore, 

 not abundant. It eats the buds of the In- 

 dian fig occasionally, but more frequently 

 the eggs of turtles deposited on the shore. 

 Lizards, fishes, and young alligators, are 

 all made prey by it. It swims with great 

 rapidity. In quest of the alligator it em- 

 ploys the stratagem of lying down on its 

 belly at the edge of the water, and strik- 

 ing it with its paws ; the noise and mo- 

 tion induce the alligator to lift its head 

 above the surface, when the claw of the 

 black tiger is instantly fixed in its eye, 

 and drags it to the lard. 



F. pardalis, or ocelot, is about four 

 times the size of a domestic cat, the shape 



