FELINES OF THE OLD WORLD. 



169 



over this light-coloured garment; smaller 

 angular complete spots, and larger circular, 

 or rather ring-shaped ones, surrounding a 

 rose-coloured or yellowish-red centre. But 

 in the African form the complete spots, which 

 are crowded together, are found only on the 



sides, and on the back are replaced by the 

 ring-shaped spots, while in the Asiatic form 

 the latter kind of spots are not so closely 

 crowded together, and cover the whole body 

 except the head and lower part of the legs. 

 These differences are certainly too slight to 



Fig. 75,— The Clouded i iyci (/<// 



suffice for the distinction of two different 

 species. 



In Plate X. one of these felines is re- 

 presented sitting erect on the branch of a 

 tree, underneath which her young ones are 

 playing, while she herself keeps watch all 

 round with eager attention. Her beautiful 

 eyes are staring steadfastly in one direction. 

 Is she looking for prey? Does she spy any 

 danger? One may be sure that she would 

 dart with lightning-like rapidity on any 

 enemy or any careless traveller that might 

 venture to approach, that she would know 

 neither fear nor mercy if it were a matter of 

 protecting her brood. 



Panthers do not attain the size of the tiger, 



but they are nevertheless terrible enemies 

 for every creature, even for man. Nothing 

 equals the grace, the elegance, the lightness 

 of the panther, when like a serpent he winds 

 through the bush crawling on his belly. He 

 shows wonderful skill in hiding himself amidst 

 the branches of trees, and for hours together 

 he will lie stretched out his whole length 

 upon a branch, with his legs hanging down on 

 both sides, patiently and quietly waiting 

 without any other movement than a gentle 

 vibration of the tip of Tiis tail, ever on the 

 watch for an animal to make his prey or an 

 enemy to attack. In those parts in which he 

 has made acquaintance with firearms he tries 

 to avoid man when he can, without, however, 



