210 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



were also the throat and insides of the legs: a 

 white space, spotted with black, surrounded each 

 eye; and on each cheek, a stripe of the same colour 

 extended from the ears to the throat. It was nearly 

 the same height as the Lion, and was of the largest 

 species of the Tiger, which is called the Royal 

 Tiger. The smallest of them is not above two feet 

 high, said to be extremely cunning, and delights in 

 human flesh. The second kind is about three feet 

 high, and is fond of Deer, Wild Hogs, &c., which it 

 frequently takes by the sides of rivers, as they come 

 down to quench their thirst. 



The skin of this animal is much esteemed all over 

 the East, particularly in China. The Mandarins 

 cover their seats of justice with it ; and during the 

 winter, use it for cushions and pillows. 



We have now described the two great heads of 

 this mischievous family, which are eminently dis- 

 tinguished from the rest in size, strength, and 

 colour. 



The three succeeding species have been fre- 

 quently confounded with each other ; and although 

 there is some difference in their size, and in the 

 disposition of their spots, yet these have been so 

 indiscriminately defined, as to make it difficult to 

 form a true criterion, so as accurately to distinguish 

 each species. Strikingly similar in the form of 

 their bodies, in the beauty of their skins, as well 

 as in their dispositions and habits, which seem to 

 be equally formed for rapine and cruelty, there is 

 much room to conjecture, that commixture may be 

 one great cause of producing the slight differences 

 observable in them. If we regard the figure and 

 diversity of the spots, we shall find many varieties 



