46 
CARNUVORA. 
THE OUNCE. l’oNCE^. 
Felis uncia. 
In Dr. Gmelin’s e^tion of the Systema Naturm 
the ounce is described with the following specific 
characters : Felis cauda elongata, corpore albido ; 
maculis irregularibus nigris:’^ which accord pretty 
well with the figure here given. Buffon also de- 
scribes the ounce at some length, and gives a figure 
of it ; but Cuvier seems to doubt the existence of 
this animal as a distinct species. After taking much 
pains to ascertain the truth, he states his opinion to 
be, that the once of Buffon is no other than a va- 
riety of the panther, because he has never been able 
to meet with an animal of a skin corresponding with 
Buffon’s description ; he therefore omits it in his 
catalogue of cats, both in the ossemens fossils^ and in 
the regne animal. 
The figure of the ounce here represented is from 
a specimen brought from the shores of the Gulf of 
Persia, which was in the Tower ^of London.^ It is 
very distinct from all the other species in make, 
marks, and general appearance ; and corresponds 
with Buffon’ s figure, which has been copied"' by 
* Bufifon says, the word once is a corruption from /ywx or lunx^ 
and that he retained the name because the animal in question has 
some affinity to the lynx. 
