42 
CARNIVORA. 
has never observed any specific difference between 
those brought from Asia and Africa among them- 
selves, except that the Asiatic are generally larger 
and brighter; and except also, that some indivi- 
duals constantly carry their long tail curved out- 
wards, and others inwards, the latter of which they 
call ring-tailed leopards. It seems probable, there- 
fore, that Dr. Shaw’s leading specific distinctions 
of size and colour, apply rather to the Asiatic and 
African varieties, than to distinct species found in 
both those continents. The figures, however, in 
the General Zoology, neither illustrate the author’s 
position on this subject, nor throw any light on the 
question ; for they are merely copied from Buffon, 
and that which is called the panther is properly 
' referable to the jaguar. 
Lichtenstein, in a note communicated to Major 
Smith, describes the panther as resembling the jaguar 
in having the same number of rows of spots, but dif- 
fering in having no full spots on the dorsal line. If 
this be correct, then is the existence of the panther 
established as distinct from the leopard ; but I do 
not find, that full spots on the dorsal line always 
make a specific character of the jaguar; and the 
Asiatic leopard here figured is distinguished by this 
peculiarity, though it does not in other respects re- 
semble the American animal. When, therefore, it 
is said, that the panther much resembles the jaguar, 
it is always to be strongly suspected, that the type, 
whence the observations are taken, is an American 
animal. If the contrary be clearly established, and 
