Asia, with this alleviating circumstance, that it is sup- 
posed to prefer the destruction of other animals, to that 
of mankind ; its manner of seizing its prey resembles that 
of the Tiger, lurking in thick forests, and by the sides of 
rivers* ready to spring forward upon its prey, from its 
place of concealment. Like most others of its genus, it is 
of a highly ferocious nature, scarce ever much subdued 
even by long confinement* As population and civilization 
increase, the number of the more ferocious animals gra- 
dually diminishes, and their abode is now removed far from 
the habitation of man. It is in the burning deserts of A- 
frica, and the extensive forests of the hotter regions of A- 
sia, seldom or ever trod by human feet, that the Lion, the 
Tiger, and the Panther, rule with despotic and uncon tro tiled 
sway. One would think, says Mr Pennant, that the Ro- 
mans would have exhausted the deserts, by the numbers 
they drew from thence to their public spectacles ; Scaurus 
exhibited at one time 150 Panthers, Pompey the Great 
41c, and Augustus 420. 
( 
;S 
I 1 
