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VERTEBRATA. 



tian England, the lion is the presiding genius of the national insignia. Such are the types 

 of despotism : and republican America has followed the example. When it was proposed in 

 Congress that the beaver, or some peaceful and worthy animal should he placed upon our 

 national crest, the suggestion was laughed to scorn. Nothing could content that innate wor- 

 ship of might without respect to right, which belongs to men of all times and all climes, but the 

 great feathered thief, robber, butcher, and scavenger — the Bald-Headed Eagle! 



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THE LEOPARD. 



The Leopard, Feli.t leopardus, is about half the size of the tiger, being two feet high and four 

 long, and is distinguished alike for the elegance of its form, the grace of its movements, and the 

 beauty of its skin. The latter is of a pale yellow color, marked with small tawny spots, united in 

 circular or quadrangular or triangular groups, these groups being arranged nearly in rows, and 



•overing the whole body. The habits of these animals in a state of nature are little known. 

 They are yery active, and climb with such facility as to be called Tree-Tigers by the natives. 

 Nothing can be more beautiful than the elegant and active manner in which the leopards sport 

 among the branches of the trees: at one time they will bound from branch to branch with such 

 rapidity that the eye can scarcely follow them ; then, as if tired, they will suddenly stretch them- 

 selves along a branch, so as to be hardly distinguishable from the bark, but start up again on the 

 slightest provocation, and again resume their graceful antics. They feed on antelopes, deer, and 



specially monkeys, which abound in the countries where the leopard is found. Those that 

 dwell near the settlements of man make sad havoc among the sheep and pigs. It is said that 

 when pressed by hunger they will attack a man by stealing upon him from behind. The leopard 

 is easily tamed, and expresses great fondness for its keeper, and will play with him like a eat. 

 although it cannot be fully trusted. A remarkably beautiful one in an English menagerie was 

 exceedingly fond of playing with the tuft at the extremity of a lion's tail, and from the familiar 

 manner in which he patted and bit it, he evidently considered it as manufactured for his own 

 particular entertainment. 



8 ime years ago Mrs. Bowditch brought a tame leopard over with her to England from Africa. 

 This animal was called Sai. One day, at Cape Coast Castle, he found the servant appointed to 

 attend <>n him. sitting asleep, resting his back against a door; Sai instantly lifted up his paw, and 

 gave the sleeper a tap on the side of the cheek, which knocked him over, and when the man 

 awoke he found Sai wagging his tail and seeming to enjoy the fun. Another day, when a 

 woman was scrubbing the floor, he jumped on her back; and when the woman screamed with 

 flight, he sprang off, and began rolling over and over like a kitten. When put on board ship, 

 he was at first confined in a cage ; and the greatest pleasure he had was when Mrs. Bowditch gave 

 him a little twisted cup or cornet of stiff paper with some lavender-water in it, and with this he 



