102 THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



we are inclined to believe is the chacal. Lucian and Pliny were the first who made use of the word 

 pardus ; and in regard to the name panthera, it is a word which the Latins derived from the Greek 

 but which the Grecians themselves never used. 



All the animals of this genus have a muscular body, having their members extremely supple and 

 robust. This numerous species exhibit very slight shades of difference in their organization and their 

 exterior form, but, on the other hand, the difference is very striking in their make and the distribution 

 of the colour of their skin. The cat-tribe are the most vigorous of all the carnivorous mammiferse, and 

 they are invested with such weapons, that they attack and seize their prey with the greatest facility. 

 The greater species attack the buffalo, rhinoceros, and the elephant, whilst they make their sport of 

 the gazelle, the antelope, the deer, the goat, and other ruminating animals. The lesser species ascend 

 the trees to surprise the birds in their nests, or to seize upon the smaller kinds of mammiferous 

 animals. All have the same manner in hunting their prey, svhich consists in concealing themselves in 

 ambush, and then springing at once upon their victim when it comes within their reach. They spring 

 with an almost irresistible force, and, by fixing their hold upon the back of their victim, often render 

 unavailable those weapons of defence with which nature may have endowed them. By means of their 

 retractile claws they ascend trees with the greatest facility and celerity ; but they are far inferior 

 to the canine genus in the quickness and duration of their flight. It is only the most pressing hunger 

 that can induce them to devour corrupted meat, and for this reason nature has providentially regulated 

 it, that the track of the lion, the leopard, and the panther is generally followed by the hyaena, the 

 vulture, and other creatures of disgusting appetites, who devour the remains of the lion's food, and thus 

 purify the air from those putrescences with which it would be charged were the food to remain long 

 under such a burning climate in a state of exposure to the heat. The panther, like all others of the 

 genus, may be considered more a nocturnal than a diurnal animal, which is evinced by the 'peculiar 

 construction of its eye, the pupil of which is contracted during the day, and assumes a rotund form in 

 darkness. 



Amongst the organs of sense, the most perfect amongst the cat genus is that of hearing. The eyes 

 are also remarkable for their size, their anterior direction and their slight obliquity ; for the extent and 

 sensibility of the iris, and the unusual number of nerves which it receives, and finally for the yellow 

 golden colour of the ground of the choroides, all of which are qualities which announce an organ 

 constituted to see in almost profound darkness, and therefore possessing too much sensibility for the 

 light of day. 



The organ of taste is not very delicate ; in fact, the greater part of its seat or of the tongue has its 

 papillae covered with rough protuberances like little nails, with forked, sharp, and hard points, which 

 give it the appearance of a kind of rasp. 



The whole of the organs of locomotion do not indicate a prompt and rapid pace, because the trunk 

 of the body, which is very elongated, is borne on very short members, especially in the state of flexion 

 in which they generally exhibit themselves. On the other hand, the whole of the skeleton is evidently 

 constructed for the execution of sudden leaps, which are one of the peculiar characteristics of these 

 animals. 



The panther is often kept by the great men of the country for the purpose of hunting bucks, goats, 

 and other animals; but great care is necessary in training him, and still greater in conducting him. 

 If he happens to miss his aim, he becomes mad with rage, and sometimes falls on his master, who, to 

 prevent such accidents, generally carries along with him pieces of flesh, or perhaps a lamb or a kid, 

 which he throws to him in order to appease his fury. 



