8 



The panther, though smaller than the jaguar, F. onca, stands higher, 

 owing to the greater relative length of its legs. 



In color the panther is not unlike' the Virginia deer. The back and 

 sides are of a tawny brownish color, darker on the dorsal line, the under 

 parts dirty white. The only dark markings are a black patch on the 

 upper lip, and on the convexity of the ears; the tip of tail is dusky. The 

 body of the kittens is densely spotted, as usual in this family, and the 

 tail is ringed. 



The hair is short, compact, close pressed to skin. The head is small, 

 the ears large, and rounded above ; the whiskers are in four horizontal 

 series. 



This species is common in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, and 

 ranges from fifty to sixty degrees north latitude to the south extreme of 

 the American continent. 



In certain localities of New Mexico and Arizona it wages a terrible 

 warfare upon wild turkeys, destroying hundreds of them, and depopulat- 

 ing their former breeding places to such an extent that in a few years 

 the race will have become almost extinct in this region if measures are 

 not taken to prevent the wholesale slaughter. — [Coues and Yarrow.J 



In Dr. Kirtland's list of mammals (Ohio Geological Survey for 1838) is 

 the following : 



"Felis Conoolor" and "Felia Montana," Monntain Tiger and Monntain Cat, both 

 known to hnnters under the name of 'Catamonnt.' They both formerly inhabited the 

 State, but have now disappeared. Mr. Dorfeuillo has in his mnsenm at Cincinnati well 

 prepared specimens of both species that were taken in Ohio." — [Italics mine. Dorfenille 

 and his mnsenm are not in existence now, and have not been for years. — Langdon.] 



Mr. Frank W. Langdon, of Madisonville, Hamilton county, Ohio, has 

 given me a series of notes on the mammals of Ohio, chiefly selected from 

 the early histories of the State. From them I select the following : 



" The first board of connty commissioners offered a bonnty of three dollars for wolf 

 and panther scalps under six months old, and four dollars on those over six months 

 old. This bounty was discontinued in 1818." [History of Athens county, Ohio, page 

 130.— C. M. Walker, 1869.] 



The following panther anecdote is taken from the Centennial History 

 of Licking county, Ohio, published at Newark, Ohio, by Isaac Smucker : 



" In the autumn of 1805 Jacob Wilson, liTing within a mile of Newark, was suddenly 

 called to the door of his cabin by the commotion among his swine and pigs. A huge 

 panther had just seized a pig, and when in the act of making off with it was pursued and 

 treed by the dogs not far from the cabin. The pioneer at once seized his trusty rifle and 

 brought it to bear upon the ferocious beast, which at the first fire fell at the root of the 

 tree among the dogs."' 



