THE OUNCE. 



143 



insult, so the Leopard improved his amusement by lying on the bracket in such a manner, that 

 both its fore paws were at liberty. As the lion passed and repassed below, the Leopard struck 

 the tail-tuft first to one side, and then to the other, so that it enjoyed two blows at the lion's 

 tail instead of one. The lion, however, disdained to take the least notice, and the Leopard 

 continued its amusement until the keeper put an end to the game by entering the cage, and 

 commencing the performances afresh. 



There are two titles for this animal ; namely, the Leopard, and Panther, both of which 

 creatures are now acknowledged to be but slight varieties of the same species. The Ounce, 

 however, which was once thought to be but a longer haired variety of the Leopard, is now 

 known to be truly a separate species. 



In general appearance it bears a very close resemblance to the leopard, but may be distin- 

 guished from that animal by the greater fullness and roughness of its fur, as well as by some 

 variations in the markings with which it is decorated. Prom the thickness of its furry gar- 

 ment, it is supposed to be an inhabitant of more mountainous and colder districts than the 



OUNCE. — Leopardus uncia. 



leopard. The rosette-like spots which appear on its body are not so sharply defined as those 

 of the leopard ; there is a large black spot behind the ears. The spots exhibit a certain ten- 

 dency to form stripes, and the tail is exceedingly bushy when compared with that of a leopard 

 of equal size. The general color of the body is rather paler than that of the leopard, being a 

 grayish white, in which a slight yellow tinge is perceptible, and, as is usual with most animals, 

 the upper parts of the body are darker than the lower. The Ounce is an inhabitant of some 

 parts of Asia, and specimens of this fine animal have been brought from the shores of the 

 Persian Gulf. In size, it equals the ordinary leopard of Asia or Africa. 



The feline animals which have hitherto been described belong to the African and Asiatic 

 continents, with their neighboring islands. Passing to the New World, we find the feline 

 races well represented by several most beautiful and graceful creatures, of which the Jaguar 

 is the largest and most magnificent example. 



Closely resembling the leopard in external appearance, and in its arboreal habits, it seems 

 to play the same part in America as the leopard in the transatlantic continents. It is a larger 

 animal than the leopard, and may be distinguished from that animal by several characteristic 

 differences. 



