107 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE BULL AND PANTHER. PANTHER HUNTING. REN- 

 COUNTER. — THE DEATH. ANECDOTE. CURIOUS INCI- 

 DENT. 



T^HE carnivorous beasts of Central America 

 are in general very inferior, both in size 

 and strength, to those of Africa or Asia ; the 

 only exception to the relative species of the 

 old world is the panther, who is by far the 

 most ferocious and boldest beast in America. 

 There is a good specimen of a moderate sized 

 one in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park : 

 he is a fair sample of the massive build of the 

 panther, and is a remarkable contrast to the 

 lengthy appearance of the Asiatic tiger next 

 to him. 



No animal springs more quickly, and no 

 wild beast attacks man more audaciously than 

 the panther when pressed, and he is equally 

 bold and resolute towards other animals when 

 hunting for his food ; but he is free from one 

 peculiarity or vice that distinguishes the Puma 

 lion, as well as the lion of Africa, and that is, 

 that he never follows or dodges the footsteps 



