AFRICA. 



817 



The Leopard. 



and Denham and Clapperton brought home a skin froni Central Africa. Bruce describes it as 

 of a dirty-white color, and about 10 inches long. During the day, it was inclined to sleep, but 

 was exceedingly unquiet as night came on. It builds its nest on trees. The Ichneumon [Man- 

 gusta Ichneumon) , is domesticated in Egypt, where it is serviceable in destroying rats and mice. 

 It attacks almost every living creature, and feeds entirely on animal flesh ; it hunts alike birds, 

 quadrupeds, serpents, lizards, and insects. It is said to swim and dive occasionally. 



The Leopard (Felis leopardus). This for- 

 midable and sanguinary animal, is found nearly 

 throughout the whole of Africa, and in eastern 

 and southern Asia. He usually measures aboui 

 3 feet in length, exclusive of llie tail, but some- 

 times reaches 4 feet. His appearance indi 

 cates his natural disposition. He has a rest- 

 less eye and a sinister countenance, and all his 

 motions are hasty and abrupt. In rapidity, 

 agility, and precision of motion, he is unrival- 

 ed by any other animal ; an advantage which 

 he owes to the strength of his nuiscles, the 

 suppleness of his joints, the exti enie pliability 

 of his spine, the greater lateral compression 

 of his body, and the slender proportions of 

 his limbs. His prey, on which he darts from 

 his hiding-place, and even pursues up the trees, 

 consists of antelopes, inonkeys, and the smaller quadrupeds. Usually, he shuns man ; but, 

 when closely pressed, he turns upon the hunter, and hunger will drive him to attack, though by 

 stealth, the human race. 



The Caracal or Siya Gush (F. caracal) is larger than the fox, 

 and is remarkably fierce and strong. He generally feeds on what 

 is left by the lion, but sometimes attacks and devours hares, rab- 

 bits, and birds. The Booted Lynx {F. caligala)^ and Serval (F. 

 serval), are found in different parts of Africa. The Tiger Cat of 

 Africa or Cape Cat (F. capensis). This beautiful animal was er- 

 roneously supposed, by Buffon, to be the same as the Serval of 

 India ; but we have recently seen a living specimen in Boston, 

 from which the accompanying accurate likeness was taken, and 

 which enables us to testify to the accurac}' of the following descrip- 

 tion from Shaw. " This animal is extremely brilliant in color, it 

 being of the brightest fulvous yellow, with jet black 

 stripes and spots ; the chin, throat, and breast, pale 

 ash color ; along the back are black stripes ; on the 

 sides of the neck, and on the breast, numerous small 

 crescent-shaped spots, pointing upwards ; on the legs, 

 numerous roundish spots ; and the tail very strongly 

 and distinctly annulated with black and yellow." 



The specimen of the Cape Cat to which we have 

 referred, was certainly one of the most beautiful ani 

 mals we have ever seen. Its motions were exceed 



F. caracal. 



Jifrirnn Cat 



103 



Hycp-na Dag. 



