462 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



well to refer to the passage more particularly, and by the 

 whole context of the quotation from this writer subjoined, 

 it appears probable, that the moderns have been incorrect 

 in applying the word Pardus specifically, as it was originally 

 used only to denote a sexual distinction in the whole genus. 

 " Panthera et Tigris macularum varietate prope solse bes- 

 tiarum spectantur, caeteris unus ac suus cujusque generis 

 color est leonum, tantum in Syria niger. Pantherus in 

 candido breves macularum oculi. Ferunt odore earum mire 

 solicitari quadrupedes cunctas, sed capitis torvitate terreri. 

 Quamobrem occultato eo, reliquas dulcedine invitatas cor- 

 ripiunt. Sunt qui tradunt in armo iis similee lunae esse 

 maculam, crescentes in orbes, et cavantem pari modo cor- 

 nua. Nunc varias, et pardos, qui mares sunt, appellant in 

 eo omni genere, creberrimo in Africa Syriaque. Quidam 

 ab iis pantheras solo candore discernunt, nee adhuc aliam 

 differentiam inveni." Plinii Nat. Hist. lib. x. 



In another passage mention is made of the Pardi, Pan- 

 thers, Leones, et similia. Now, unless Pardi and Pantherae 

 were applied to the two sexes of the Spotted Cats, they 

 could not have been synonymous, as the moderns have made 

 them. 



If we turn to modern zoologists prior to the time of our 

 author, we shall find that they have fallen into so many 

 certain errors in describing these species as distinct, that 

 the probability of their identity is rather strengthened by 

 applying to their authority on this subject. To select a few 

 instances. 



Linnaeus gives as the specific characters of the Panther, 

 " Felis, cauda elongata, corpore maculis superioribus orbi- 

 culatis, inferioribus virgatis." With a long tail, the upper 

 part of the body covered with orbicular spots, the lower part 

 with stripes. This short description, it has been well 

 observed, is inapplicable to any known species of the genus. 

 Perhaps it is nearer to the Servals than to any other. His 



