THE LEOPARD. 



which are wild, are infufficient to fatiate his cruel appetite, he defcends with 

 great numbers from their lurking places, and makes dreadful deftrudlion 

 among the numerous herds of cattle, which adorn the fertile meadows of the 

 lower Guinea. He tears his prey both with teeth and claws, and although 

 he is conftantly devouring, his appearance is always thin (a.) 



The method generally ufed by the negroes to take this animal, is to dig 

 pits and cover them flightly over with {lender hurdles, on which a piece of 

 flem is placed as a bait. 



The flem of the Leopard is eaten by the negroes, and is faid to be as white 

 as veal, and as well tailed. 



The Ikins are brought into Europe, and held in high eftimation; fome of 

 the moll beautiful being fold for eight or ten guineas each. 



The Leopard inhabits Senegal, Guinea, and moft parts of Africa. He 

 delights in the thicker! forefts, and frequents the borders of rivers, to wait for 

 animals which come there to quench their thirft. 



An ingenious French philofopher (b) remarks, that nature employs clalhing 

 oppolitions of colour, and other omnious ligns to exprefs the characters of 

 favage and dangerous animals of all kinds, and to warn man of their 

 approach or prefence. Thus, the Lion announces his vicinity by tremendous 

 roarings, which refemble thunder, and by the vivid and inftantaneous flames 

 which proceed from his eyes in the dark: the Tiger, Panther, &c. are 

 rendered confpicuous by their beautiful colour and markings; the cries of 

 birds of prey are lhrill and piercing; the Gnat hums, and the Wafp is 

 fpeckled like the Tiger, with black ftripes on a yellow ground. If there be 

 any truth in this obfervation, it is in no inftance more remarkable than in the 

 animal we have juft been treating of, the beautiful yellow colour of whofe 

 fkin, adorned as it is with elegant black markings, forms a contrail which 

 renders him confpicuous at a conliderable diftance, and gives the object of his 

 purfuit fome chance of efcaping from his fury. 



A variety of this animal is found in the Eaft Indies, which has been called 

 the LefTer Leopard. Its general colour is much paler than that of the Leopard 



(a) Pennant. (b) De Saint-Pierre. 



