taliercular, and no corresponding one in tlic lower jaw. [These animals creep unawares upon tlieir prey, 

 and seize it with a sadden spring, in which they expend their energy.] The species are exceedingly 

 numerous, and vary much in size and colour, but they are all nearly similar in structure. We can 

 only siihdividc them by characters of trivial import, as size, and the length of fur. 



At the head uf this genus ranks 



The Lion {Feli.s leo, Lin.), the most powerful of the beasts of prey ; distinguished by its uniform tawny colour, 

 the tuft of black hair at the end of the tail, and the flowing- mane which clothes the head, neck, and shoulders of 

 the male. Formerly iidiabitinij; the three di\isions of the ancient world, it appears to be now confined to Africa, 

 and the neighbouring parts of Asia. Its head is squarer than in the following species. [The Lion is suhji.-ct to 

 considerable variation, chiefliy as reK"ards the quantity of mane, and lengthened hair on other paits : tliose of 

 Guizerat are ahuost destitute of any ; the Lions of Africa present the g"reatest quantity, in many of which there is 

 a median line of long hair extending alon^; the belly ; but even these dilVer one from another ; there is also con- 

 siderable difference of physiognomy between the African and Asiatic Lions, and the latter are always paler, and 

 repnted to be less couraf^eous ; but there is no diflerence of size and apparent strength. Those who distinguish 

 the Lions of Asia and Africa as ditTercnt species, might change their opinion on seeing the various adults now 

 livinj:;' in London.] 



Tigers are large species with short hair, and commonly exhibiting vivid markings. [We may here obsen'c that 

 it is quite impossible to subdivide the genus Felis into definite sections, and that every attempt of this kind 

 hitherto made has consequently proved a complete failure : the transition into the Lynxes is most gradual ; and 

 the spotless species (as the Lion, Puma, &c.) are marked like the rest when young. Those species, however, 

 which artect the open country, as the Lion and Leopard, have the pupil of the eye contracting to a point ; whereas 

 in those which inhabit forests, as the Tiger and domestic Cat, the pupil closes to a vertical line, permitting thus, 

 when least dilated, of a full range of vision, in the direction in which these animals chiefly watch for prey. A few 

 of the more conspicuous may be briefly indicated.] 



The Tiger {F. t'lgria, Lin.)— As large as the Lion, but with the body longer and head rounder ; of a bright red- 

 dish-buff above, with irregular black transverse stripes, and pure white underneath ; [the hair surrounding the 

 liead elongated] : the most cruel of quadrupeds, and the scourge of the East Indies. Such are the strength and 

 the velocity of its movements, that during the march of an army it has been known to seize a soldier while on 

 borse-back, and bear him off to the jungle, without affording a chance of rescue. [This species also occurs, 

 sparingly, in northern Asia. Its markings vary much in different individuals.] 



The Jaguar {F. onca, Lin.) of America.— Nearly as large as the preceding, and scarcely less dangerous : it is 

 beautifnlly spotted with rings more or less complete, and containing smaUer spots [on a deeper ground-tint : the 

 space included within the annutations of all the spotted Cats being deeper coloured than the rest of the body.] 

 lilack individuals sometimes occur, which have the spots more intense, and visible only at particular angles, 

 [the fur of the spots differing in texture ; the same has been observed of the Tiger and Leopard, and albino 

 individuals of the former have likewise been noticed. Jaguars also difler much one from another]. 



The Panther {F. pardus, Lin. : Pardalls of t\\^ ancients.)— [Covered with annular series of irregular small si lOts.] 

 It is widely spread over Africa, the hottest region of Asia, and also the Indian archipelago. 



The Leopard (7^. leopardu^, Lin.) — [Vci-y like the 

 Panther, but with the markings less broken into 

 small spots : it varies, however, considerably, and 

 the two sides of the same animal do not always 

 resemble : from Asia and Afiica.] These two spe- 

 cies are smaller than the American Jaguar [and 

 are very doubtfully separable from each other. 



The Ounce of Buff'on {F. iiitcki, Gm.) is a long- 

 haired mountain Cat, as large as a Leopard, with 

 tail longer than the body: also similarly spotted, 

 ut more obscurely, and on a paler ground-tint, 

 it inhabits the Asiatic mountains, and aliuespe- 

 I linen of it has lately been deposited in the British 

 .Museu)n. 



Of the other spotted Cats, may be mentioned 

 the F. c/iali/beata, Herm., from the north of India; 

 and F. vivcrrina, Ben., from Sumatra*: also the 

 Ryraau-dyan (Fig. 33), or gigantic Tiger-cut of 

 Sumatra (/■'''. macroscdls), and the nearly allied but 

 smaller Marbled Cat {F. marmorafa), from the 

 same locality, which are remarkable for length of 

 tail. The Ocelot of South America {F. pardalis, 



Fig. 33.— l'ij,'tr-cat of iuinatri 



■ Kotwithstftnciinfi Us nun 



, (his species presents no real npproacti to riverrn : its err 



, being strictly iliat of a Fclis. 



