OEDEE OE CAENIYOEA. 
375 
also be seen for a space of more than three inches ; with regard 
to my poor nose, which was formerly aquiline, it was flattened, 
lacerated, and smashed in a fearful manner. 
“ Those who surrounded me were very sad, and less composed 
than myself. I read in their faces that they thought me a dead 
man ; but I tried to reassure them, by telling them that the heart 
was still sound and cheerful. Previous to this I had often said 
that the happiest day of my life would be that on which, armed 
only with my hunting-knife, I should encounter a wounded Pan- 
ther or Lion, so much did I reckon on the vigour of my arm. 
Oh, St. Hubert, pardon this foolish prayer ! 
“ Now when I read, or am told, of the larger Carnivora 
being killed with hatchets and daggers, I can scarcely forbear 
laughing. Is it possible to attack successfully with any other 
weapon than a gun such a powerful and agile animal as a 
Panther, a brute weighing from two to four hundred pounds, 
and whose weight is more than quadrupled by the length and 
impetuosity of its bound; a brute that falls upon you with 
the rapidity of lightning,, and before there is time to make a 
movement of defence ? Where is the Hercules capable of resisting 
such a shock P 
“ Notwithstanding the providential chance that placed me on 
the slippery margin of the ravine, and also notwithstanding the 
other favourable circumstances that protected me, if my late foe 
had not been deprived of the use of his fore feet, I must have been 
lost. Even in the condition in which it was, if I had been able 
to seize my knife, I could not have prevented it retaining hold of 
me. On the one hand, I could not have had strength to push 
it off; and, on the other, I should not have been able to kill it 
quick enough to prevent its terrible jaws from mangling me. It 
will be seen, then, how fortune favoured me. If from such a 
fearful struggle I came off with my life, it is because I was as 
desperate in defending myself as the animal was savage in attack- 
ing me ; but, above everything, I owe my preservation to God 
and St. Hubert.” 
The portrait of Bombonnel given above (Fig-- 141) is accom- 
panied by the head of the terrible Carnivore whose exploits and 
death we have just recorded. 
Ounce and Serval . — The Ounce (Leopardus uneia) 7 Fig. 143,. is 
