i 9 o HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



which is called the Royal Tiger. The fmalleft of them k 

 not aboye two feet high, faid to be extremely cunning, 

 and delights in human flefh. The fecond kind is about 

 three feet high, and is fond of deer, wild hogs, &c. 

 which it frequently takes by the fides of rivers, as they 

 come down to quench their thirft. 



The {kin of this animal is much efteemed all over the 

 Eaft, particularly in China. The Mandarins cover their 

 feats of juftice with it j and, during the Winter, ufe it 

 for cufhions and pillows. 



We have now defcribed the two great heads of this 

 mifchievous family, which are eminently diftinguifhed 

 from the reft in fize, ftrength, and colour. 



The three fucceeding fpecies have been frequently con- 

 founded with each other; and, although there is fome 

 difference in their fize and in the difpofition of their 

 fpots, yet thefe have been fo indifcriminately defined, as 

 to make it difficult to form a true criterion, fo as accu- 

 rately to diftinguifh each fpecies. Strikingly fimilar in 

 the form of their bodies, in the beauty of their fkins, as 

 well as in their difpofitions and habits, which feem to be 

 equally formed for rapine and cruelty, — there is great 

 room to conjecture, that commixture may be one great 

 caufe of producing the flight differences obfervable in 

 them. — If we regard the figure and diverfity of the fpots, 

 we fhall find many varieties not taken notice of by na- 

 turalifts; if we be led to judge by the fize, we fhall find 

 an almoft imperceptible gradation from the Cat to the 

 Tiger. It would be vain, therefore to make as many 

 varieties in thefe animals, as we fee differences in fpots 

 or ftature : It will be fuflic;ent to point out the moft ge- 

 neral diftindtions. 



