THE PANTHER. 
153 
it was generally held to he a true lion, and 
is mentioned under that name by the early 
historians and travellers, who considered it 
a formidable animal. It is described by Law- 
son as ‘about the height of a large grey¬ 
hound, of a reddish colour, the same as a 
lion. It is very active, climbs trees with 
the greatest agility imaginable, and is very 
strong-limbed. His tail is exceedingly long, 
his eyes fierce and lively, large and of a 
grayish colour. His prey is swine’s flesh, 
deer’s flesh, or any thing else he can take. 
“‘Fo animal is so nice and cleanly in his 
eating. When he has caught his prey, he 
fills himself with the slaughter, and carefully 
lays by the remainder, covering it very neatly 
with leaves, which if any thing touches he 
never eats any more of it. It purrs as cats 
do, and even if taken young is never to be 
reclaimed from its wild nature. He halloos 
like a man in the woods when killed,—which 
is by making him betake himself to a tree, as 
the least cur will presently do. There the 
hunters shoot him. If not killed outright, he 
is a dangerous enemy, especially to the dogs 
who approach him. His flesh looks as well 
as any shambles-meat about town. A great 
