10 
The leopard varies considerably in size, but large 
specimens do not exceed 7 or 8 feet in length. He 
is a tree-climbing animal, and feeds on birds, mon- 
keys &c. 
The largest and most formidable of the American 
Felidaw is the Jaguar (Felis onca, Plate VII. fig. d). 
He inhabits the whole of South America, except 
perhaps the extreme south; as well as Mexico, and 
some of the bordering districts of North America. 
He prefers thick forests, especially in the neighbour- 
hood of rivers, where he feeds on animals which 
come to drink. He much resembies the Leopard in 
his markings, but considerably exceeds him in size. 
He is a very destructive animal, and is much dreaded 
by the inhabitants in neighbourhoods where he is 
common. 
The Puma (feds concolor, Plate VIII. fig. b) 
is sometimes called the American Lion on account 
of his tawny colour, but he is white beneath, and 
has no mane. He 1s a sleek slenderly-formed animal, 
with a comparatively small head with greyish mark- 
ings, strong paws also varied with white, and a slender 
tail, without a tuft. He is a much smaller and weaker 
animal than the Jaguar, which is sometimes not much 
inferior in size to the Tiger of the Old World. He 
feeds chiefly on small animals, but is very destructive 
to sheep, of which he will destroy a large number 
in a single night. 
The Lynxes, which some writers consider to 
form a separate genus, are distinguished from the 
other Cats by their short tail, and the peculiar tufts 
on their ears. They are found in many parts of the 
world, but in Europe they are now restricted to 
thinly-populated and mountainous regions. 
The European lynx (feds lynx, Plate VIII. 
fig. c) inhabits the greater part of Europe and Northern 
and Central Asia, as far as the Himalayas. Its fur 
is soft and thick, and it varies very much in colour, 
but is usually of a more or less reddish grey, with 
darker spots; the undersurface of the body is generally 
white. The head is surrounded with thick greyish- 
brown hair, varied with white, and the ear-tufts are 
black, It hides itself in woods among the trees and 
rocks, and feeds on small animals and birds. When 
it attacks a flock of sheep or goats, it is often as 
destructive as the American Puma. 
The true Cats are the smallest of the family 
felida, to which they have given their name. Their 
ears are not tufted. They are not found in America 
or Australia. 
The Wild Cat (Feds catus, Plate VIIL fig. d) 
is distinguished from the domestic cat by its generally 
larger size (about three feet from the tip of the nose 
to the end of the tail); its thicker fur, and especially 
by its short thick tail. The male is grey, and the 
female yellowish. A black stripe runs down the back, 
from which dark stripes descend on the sides and 
tail. The undersurface of the body is paler; and the 
throat is yellowish white. 
The Wild Cat is a fierce and untameable ani- 
mal, which inhabits forests throughout Europe and 
Northern Asia; in Southern Asia it is replaced by 
other allied species. It feeds on small animals and 
birds. In the British Isles it is very nearly extinct; 
for though the Common Cat often runs wild, it is 
not the same species as the indigenous Wild Cat. 
The Common Cat (felis domestica, Plate VIIL. 
fig. e) is too well known to need description, and 
varies very much in size and colour. Some specimens 
equal if not exceed the Wild Cat in size. The Cat 
is a very sociable and intelligent animal, and is com- 
monly supposed to be more attached to its abode 
than to the family with whom it resides. 
Family Hyenide. (Hyzenas.) 
(Plate IX.) 
The Hyznas have a large head and thick neck, 
oblique eyes, and a bristly body, with a stiff mane 
on the back. The front legs are longer than the 
hind ones; and this causes the body to slope from 
front to back. All these peculiarities combined render 
the Hyena a peculiarly repulsive-looking animal. 
There are three very similar species, which inhabit 
Asia and Africa. They are cowardly, skulking crea- 
tures, but very greedy, and they feed on the flesh 
of animals which they find dead, as well as on those 
which they are able to kill for themselves. 
The commonest species is the Striped Hyzna 
(Hyena striata, Plate IX. fig. a). It is common in 
Northern Africa, and throughout South-Western Asia 
to India. It measures about five feet in length, of 
which the tail occupies 18 inches. It is of a yellowish 
white or grey colour with dark transverse stripes; 
its ears are naked and erect. It lives chiefly on 
carrion, and when it attacks living animals, it always 
avails itself of the darkness of night. 
The Spotted Hyzna (Crocuta maculata, Plate IX. 
fig. b) is a larger and stronger animal than the last, 
and when pressed by hunger, far more dangerous, 
although carrion forms its ordinary food. The colour 
of its bristly hide is a dirty yellowish grey, with 
brown spots on the sides and legs. This animal 
is abundant throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. 
Family Viverride. (Civets.) 
(Plate V.) 
The Civet Cats and Ichneumons are all com- 
paratively small animals, differing from the true Cats 
in their shorter legs, longer body, and more pointed 
muzzle. 
The Common Genet (Plate V. fig.a) is a yellowish 
grey animal, with dark patches, which is domesticated 
in Southern Europe like a cat to destroy rats and 
mice &c. It measures 18 inches in length, without 
the tail. 
The Ichneumon (Herfestes Ichneumon) was one 
of the sacred animals of the ancient Egyptians. It 
preys upon small mammals and birds, but also de- 
stroys snakes and crocodile’s eggs. Its dark colour 
harmonises well with that of dry reeds and grass. 
It measures upwards of three feet in length, including 
the tail. We have figured a similar but rather larger 
species, Lehneumon galera, the Swamp Ichneumon 
(Plate V. fig. b) which is also a native of Africa. 
; Several species of Ichneumon are. found in India 
and the adjacent islands, where they are generally 
termed Mungooses. They are considerably smaller 
than the African species, but render equal service to 
man by destroying rats, snakes and other vermin, 
and are easily tamed. They are said to derive their 
name from a plant called “Mungo”, which they seek 
out as an antidote when bitten by snakes; but this 
story is now generally regarded as a fable. One 
species of Mungoose, //erpestes avanicus, a native 
of Java, is figured on Plate V. fig. c. 
Family Canidae. (Dogs.) 
(Plates IX. X.) 
Most dogs have a rather small head, a pointed 
snout, a slender body, contracted at the loins, slender 
legs, and small paws, the fore paws furnished with 

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