348 PANTHER. 
into circles, consisting of four or five separate 
spots ; and there is commonly, but not always, a 
central spot in each circle ; in which particular, 
as well as in its superior size, and deeper colour, 
the Panther differs from the Leopard, which has 
very rarely any central spots in its circular mark- 
ings. On the face and legs the spots are single, 
and along the top of the back is a row of oblong 
spots, which are still longer as they approach the 
tail. The breast and belly are white; the former 
marked with transverse dusky stripes ; the latter 
and the tail with large irregular black spots. The 
Panther is principally found in Africa, and is to 
that country what the Tiger is to Asia, with this 
alleviating circumstance, that it is supposed to 
prefer the destruction of other animals to that of 
mankind. Its manner of seizing its prey resem- 
bles that of the Tiger; lurking near the sides 
of woods, &c. and darting forward Avith a sudden 
spring. It is of a highly ferocious nature, and 
scarce to be tamed. These animals and the Leo- 
pard were the Varii and Pardi of the ancients; 
and one would think (says Mr. Pennant) that the 
Romans would have exhausted the deserts of 
Africa by the numbers they drew from thence for 
their public spectacles. Scaurus exhibited at one 
time a hundred and fifty Panthers; Pompey the 
Great, four hundred and ten; and Augustus, four 
hundred and twenty. It has been doubted whe- 
ther the Panther and the Leopard were natives 
of America as well as of the old continent; but 
this question seems now to be decided in the ne- 
