112 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



specimens of what is called the leopard, are in the 

 Zoological Gardens, and one has been figured in the 

 book so entitled; but Mr. Bennett has not made the 

 slightest attempt to investigate the subject., or to throw 

 any light upon this difficult question. In this dilemma 

 we shall therefore repose on the opinions of major 

 Hamilton Smith, whose long experience and accuracy 

 of observation are well known, and whose authority in 

 this department of nature deservedly ranks above that 

 of any other naturalist of this country. 



The Leopard, as defined by major Smith, when com- 

 pared with the jaguar and the panther of naturalists, is 

 uniformly of a paler yellowish colour, rather smaller, 

 and the dots rose-formed, or consisting of several dots 

 partially united into a circular figure in some instances, 

 and into a quadrangular, triangular, or other less de- 

 terminate forms in others : there are also several single 

 isolated black spots, which more especially occur on the 

 outside of the limbs. 



The Panther, according to professor Lichtenstein of 

 Berlin, '' resembles the jaguar in having the same 

 number of rows of spots, but is distinguished by having 

 no full spots on the dorsal line." But, as major Smith 

 observes, it does not appear that full spots on the dorsal 

 line always make a specific character of the jaguar; and 

 the Asiatic leopard is sometimes distinguished by this 

 peculiarity, though it does not in other respects resemble 

 the American animal. When, therefore, it is said that 

 the panther much resembles the jaguar, it is always 

 to be strongly suspected that the type, whence the 

 observations have been taken, is (in reahty) an American 

 animal. 



On the habits of the leopard, both in a state of 

 nature and in confinement, we have no precise inform- 

 ation otherwise than as relates to those traits common 

 to the whole family ; but we may hope that the ob- 

 servations of Mr. Burchell and Dr. Andrew Smith, as 

 yet unpublished, on the quadrupeds of Africa, will supply 

 us with some authentic facts. 



