266 
TRAVELS IN 
circular fpots j upper part of the tail fulvous, with oblong black 
fpots ; under part barred acrofs with alternate black and white 
bands ; vibriflae or ftrong briftles about the mouth, filvery 
white ; a black line along the fore part of the fhoulders to the 
cheft ; length from the nofe to the end of the tail feven feet 
four inches ; length of the tail two feet ten inches. The de- 
fcription anfwers very nearly to that of the leopard, of which I 
believe it to be a variety only. The tiger of the plains is evi- 
dently the fame fpecies, the only difference being in the fize, 
which is a little larger than that of the former, and in the color 
of the ground which is a little lighter, both of which probably 
may arife from local circumftances. To another fpecies of the 
feline tribe they give the name of leopard. It is not fo long, 
but thicker, taller, and much ftronger than thofe defcribed 
above : the color is cinereous, with fmall black fpots ; the neck 
and temples covered with long crifp hair like that of the mane 
of the lion ; tail two feet, flat, vertical, fpotted half way from 
the root, and the other half annulated ; a thick black line from 
the interior angle of the eye extends to the opening of the 
mouth. Of this fpecies we procured a young one ; it became 
inftantly tame, and as playful as the domeftic kitten. Moft 
beafts of prey, if taken young, may almoft- inflantly be ren- 
dered tame. The fierce lion, or the tiger, is fooner reconciled 
to a ftate of domeftication than the timid antelope ; and the 
cadaverous crocuta^ the wild dog, has lately been domefticated 
in the Sneuwberg, where it is now confidered as one of the beft 
hunters after game, and as faithful and diligent as any of the 
common fort of domeftic dogs. 
Birds, 
