140 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
After labouring for some time in this way, I requested my 
companion to procure me a pole much stouter than the first, 
so that, when the animal seized it, he could not press it be- 
hind the rock; and must of necessity keep its head in view. 
The pole, though not answering my expectations exactly, 
enabled me, nevertheless, to discharge my piece at the 
monster. I was exceedingly desirious of making a fatal 
shot, and as an hour had elapsed since I entered the den, I 
determined, at all hazards, to fire. Possibly I might hit — 
eight chances out of ten were in my favour of doing so — or 
that in case I missed, I could, with one spring, clear the 
mouth of the cave. Under these impressions, I thrust the 
pole once more at the Panther, and the moment it was 
seized, levelled my rifle and fired; at the next instant 
I made a spring at the opening; my feet slipped on 
the ice, and I slid backwards into the cave again. My 
friend, who was on the alert, seeing me fall, and apprehen- 
sive lest the Panther had seized me, let Lion looserme 
sprang over me in an instant, and made an attack upon the 
common enemy, whose fury was now aroused to the highest 
pitch by the ineffectual shot: the odds were fearfully great, 
as a single blow of the monster’s paw was sufficient to hurl 
the poor dog with violence against the rocks, and fortu- 
nately, beyond the reach of another, or his career would 
have ended on the spot. It may be supposed that I quit the 
cave with all convenient despatch; for had I remained, my 
condition might have been even worse than poor Lion’s, 
whose shoulder and side exhibited three frightful scratches, 
of some fourteen inches long, which left four of his ribs 
entirely bare. Our efforts to dislodge the Panther, proved, 
thus far, unavailing; and having spent much time and labour, 
and the day being excessively cold, we thought of blocking 
him up until we could procure assistance, and the means 
necessary to accomplish his destruction, for we felt unwil- 
ling, after all our toil, to suffer him to escape. I recollected 
at this instant, that whilst in the cave, I thought I saw a 
ray of light or small aperture at the extreme end, when the 
Panther altered its position. I mentioned this circumstance 
to my companion, who proposed an examination of the back 
part, or outer side of the cavern, and I was to remain at 
the mouth, whilst he proceeded to examine. This cavern 
(as we have stated) was at the termination of the ledge of 
rocks, and jutted out considerably from the mountain, 
against which a great number of hemlock trees had fallen, 
and these being covered with snow at the time, prevented 
our seeing the exact conformation of the ledge, until I men- 
tioned the circumstance of my seeing the light. My friend 
proceeded there instantly, and soon returned with the infor- 
mation, that there was a small aperture in the rock about 
six inches wide and a foot long; that the Panther had com- 
pletely jammed up the hole with his rump; whilst his tail 
projected outside nearly its whole length. Here was a dis- 
covery. I shall never forget the expression of my friend’s 
countenance, when he exclaimed, with great emphasis, “my 
gracious! I can take him by the tail! and I have a great 
mind to do so. I can then say, that I caught a full grown, 
live Panther by the tail.” He might, indeed, have done 
so with impunity; but whether the measure would have 
been politic, was another consideration — One thing how- 
ever, was certain, that was, his destruction, for which we 
had been toiling in the midst of peril — it was now an easy 
task; the bullet might be driven through his very vitals, 
without incurring any personal risk. Would it, I thought, 
be an act of cruelty to destroy this cruelest of animals in his * 
fancied security? or would it not rather be considered a 
service rendered to the community at large ? This animal 
might, if suffered to escape, prowl around the settler’s habi- 
tation, and carry off, in its unguarded moment, the helpless 
infant; for when hunger presses, it becomes bold and dar- 
ing, and nothing in the shape of food comes amiss. I accord- 
ingly placed my rifle near his rump, and fired, the ball 
coming out near his throat. It made one spring, and roared 
tremendously; bit the rocks, and with its claws attempted 
to enlarge the aperture, and get at us; but the wound was 
mortal, and it fell dead in the cave. We then entered, and 
fastening a withe around its neck, dragged it out: it proved to 
be a male of the largest size. We took it with us to our village 
(Deposit) from whence it was taken to Delphi, in the same 
county; and although Panthers were numerous there; yet 
the circumstance of his having been “caught by the tail,” 
excited the astonishment of all who witnessed the magni- 
tude of the monster. T. M. H. 
ANECDOTE OF A CROW. 
The following circumstance was lately told me by an old 
gentleman, a member of the Society of Friends, and one 
in whose veracity I place the utmost reliance: About 
ten years ago as he was riding in his carriage from this city j 
to his residence near Darby, passing a spot of marshy 
ground, he observed a Crow hover over it, presently dart 
down, and immediately ascend, bearing in its claws a Wood- J 
cock, held oddly enough by one wing, and struggling vio- !j 
lently. As the direction in which the crow passed was j 
directly across the road along which the gentleman was tra- | 
veiling, he formed the design Of compelling his rapacious j 
Crowship to releasff the captive. With his whip he struck 
several blows sharply upon the top of the carriage, and at 
the same time, raising a shout, the Crow dropped his bur- 
den, and flew screaming to the woods, and the Woodcock to 
his marsh, without having received any apparent injury. j 
Believing the foregoing to be an unusual occurrence, I !j 
submit it for the speculation of the curious. A. B. 
May , 1831. 
