THE PANTHER. A 87 



THE PANTHER. 



IN THE MENAGERY OF MR. CROSS, ROYAL MEWS, CHARING CROSS. 



It is a very difficult point to determine whether the leopard and the panther be, in reality, distinct 

 species, their generic characters being so exactly similar, and the only existing difference appearing 

 to be in the greater or less degree of ferocity which the two animals exhibit, and, in some instances, 

 the greater degree of magnitude, the panther being in general larger than the leopard. Gesner, speaking 

 of the panther, says, " It is the name of the greater pardall, and the leopard of the lesser, which the 

 Arabians call alnemer and alfhead. Alnemer is bigger than a linx, but like a leopard, having greater 

 and sharper nailes and feete, blacke and terrible eies, and therefore stronger, fiercer, and bolder than 

 the leoparde, for it setteth vppon men and destroyeth them." Oppianus describes both kinds in the 

 following manner : " There are two kinds of pardals, a greater and a lesser : the greater (that is, the 

 panther) are broader backt, and bigger in quantity ; the lesser (that is, the leopard) being lesse in 

 quantity, but not inferior in strength. Both of them have the same shape and colour of body, except 

 in their taile, for the greater pardall hath the lesser taile, and the lesser the greater : either of them 

 have solid and sound thighs, a very long body, bright seeing eies, the apples whereof do glisten under 

 their eyelids, which are gray and red within, like to burning coales ; their teeth pale and venomous ; 

 their skin of diuers colours, yet bright and pleasant, the spots standing like so many black eies upon 

 it." In later times, Linnaeus, not perceiving any grounds of distinction between the two animals, 

 referred both names to the same one, and Buffon added a third, that of the ounce, and increased the 

 confusion by describing, as the panther of the ancients, an animal of the old continent, the jaguar, 

 which is now known to be peculiar to the new. It is, however, remarkable that later naturalists, 

 especially Temminck, have fixed upon the comparative length of the tail, as observed above by 

 Oppianus, as affording the only certain means of discrimination. 



The length of the panther is usually more than six feet, exclusive of the tail, which is about three 

 feet long. The colour of the upper parts of the body is bright fawny yellow, with numerous black, 

 roundish, or somewhat annular marks, several of which have in the centre of each a black spot. The 

 under parts of the body are white. 



In nearly all its habits of bfe the panther resembles the tiger. Like that ferocious beast, it lurks in 

 ambush amongst bushes or verdure, on the borders of the forest, and springs with a sudden and 

 tremendous leap on such animals as pass by. So prompt, so rapid, and so well-timed are its move- 

 ments, that few escape. In vain may the wretched victim seek for refuge even in the trees ; the 

 panther, notwithstanding the size and weight of its body, still pursues with an agility which seems 

 almost incredible, and then despatches its victim. The ancient writers describe the panther as 

 possessing more art and cunning than any other of the species. Volateranus especially makes mention 

 of the stratagem which the panther uses to catch the monkies in Mauritania. Having driven them to 

 the top of a tree, the panther stretches itself out at the foot, as if it were dead, holding its breath, 

 shutting its eyes, and showing every other symptom of sudden death. The monkies behold their 

 adversary from on high, but still they dare not descend. At last they choose one amongst them, 

 whom they send down as a spy, who approaches the panther with every token of distrust. At last he 

 ventures close to it, examines its eyes, ascertains whether it breathes, and being now confirmed in the 

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