240 



THE BLACK JAGUAR. 



One of this black variety, a female, which was exhibited in 

 Wombwell's travelling menagerie, devoured her young on two 

 different occasions. 



THE LEOPARD. (Felis leopardus, Linn.)* 

 Tree-Tiger. 



The leopard is found in Africa, from the shores of the 

 Mediterranean to the immediate neighbourhood of the Cape ; 

 and in Asia it is equally common and dreaded in the East 

 Indies, China, and Sumatra. 



Contrasting it with the tiger, the leopard will be found to 



* There has been much discussion respecting the precise species of animal 

 which the ancients termed panther, and whether there existed any real 

 difference between it and the leopard. M. Lesson states the number of 

 vertebrae in the tail of the panther to be eighteen ; Cuvier says it has twenty- 

 four ; and Temminck says it has twenty-eight. Both Lesson and Temminck 

 concur in stating the number in the tail of the leopard to be twenty -two. As 

 far as regards the panther, therefore, the statements are nugatory ; and we 

 have the choice of supposing, either that the number of caudal vertebrae 

 differ in different individuals, or that different feline species have been 

 examined for the panther, or that there are typographical errors in the 

 published accounts. 



