188 MAMMALIA—TIGER...PANTHER. 
contre, was so much ashamed of acknowledging it, that he suffered a morti 
fication sooner than expose the wound, although he was well aware the 
women possessed a salve that would cure him. 
THE -BLACK. Pi GR 
Tus animal is a native of South America, and is generally considered as 
a very ferocious and destructive beast. It is about the size of a heifer of a 
year old, and is entirely of a deep brownish black color on the upper parts, 
and of a pale gray, or whitish hue underneath ; the upper lip and paws are 
also whitish, but the tail is of the same dusky appearance as the body. 
PE PAN Da 







RESEMBLEs the tiger in its habits, and the leopard in its skin. Like the 
tiger, it has an insatiable thirst of blood, and an untamable ferocity; 
like the leopard, its skin is spotted, but is less beautiful than the skin of 
that animal. It seems, in truth, only a large variety of the leopard. The 
panther is usually more than six feet long, independent of the tail, which 
is about three feet in length. In Africa, one was killed by Major Denham, 
which was more than eight feet in length. His hair is short, sleek, and 
mossy, and his color is, in general, of a bright tawny yellow, elegantly 
marked with black spots, disposed in circies of four or five each, with a 
single spot in the centre: his chest and belly are white. He has short and 
pointed ears, fierce and restless eyes, a strong, harsh ery, and a savage 
aspect. So rapid are his movements that few animals can escape him, and 
such is his agility, that he climbs trees in pursuit of his prey, and is sure 
of seizing his victim. The flesh of animals is said to be his favorite food 
but when pressed by hunger he makes his attacks without discrimination. 
Jn the time of the Romans, panthers appear to have been very numerous, 
and at present the species is said to extend from Barbary to the remotest 
parts of Guinea. 

} Felis nigra, a variety of the preceding. 2 Felis pardus, Lin, 
