HE HO ft OF CUVIER.

J
v*~

CONTENTS

PAQB

MEMOIR OF CUVIER, I/

JSfltural History of the Felinae, .... 59
The Lion, Senegal.

Felts Leo. Plate I. ...... 87

The Lion, Barbary. Plate II 118

Lioness and Cubs. Plate III 120

The Lion, Asiatic. Plate III. « .... 120

Maneless, ...... 122

The Puma, or American Lion.

Felis cvncolor. Plate IV 124

The Black Puma.

Felis nigra. Plate V. , , . . . 135
The Yaguarundi.

Felis Jaguarondi) ...... 136

TLe Eyra.

Felts Eyra, 138

The Tiger.

Felis Tigris. Plate vi J3.0

The Hybrid between a Lion and Tigress. Plate VU. 155

t 8667

CONTENTS.

PAGB

The Leopard.

Felis leopardus. Plate VIII 150

The Rimau-Dahan.

Felis macrocelis. Plate IX. . . . 172

The Jaguar, or American Panther.

Felis onoa. Adult. Plat* X . . . 183

The Jaguar of Frederic Cuvier. Male. Plate XL 185
The Jaguar. Young. Plate XII. . . . 186

The Ounce.

Felis uncia. Plate XIII 191

The Chati.

Felis mitis. Female. Plate XIV. . . 194

The Hunting-Leopard.

Felis jubata. Plate XV. . . . . 3?;

The Maneless Hunting-Leopard.

Felis venatica, 198

The Ocelot.

Felis pardalis. Plate XVI 206

The Ocelot. Plate XVII 211

The Linked Ocelot.

Felis catena ta, . . . . . . . 211

The Long-tailed Ocelot.

Felis macrourus, 212

The Margay.

Felis tigrina, 214

Sumatran and Javanese Cats.

Felis minuta. Plate XVIII. 215

Felis Javanensis. Plate XIX. . . , 216
The Bengal Cat.

Felis Bengalensis. Plate XX. . , „ 219
Diard's Cat.

Felis Diardii. Male. Plate XXI. . . 221

Felis Diardii. Female. Plate XXII. . 222

CONTENTS.

PJttfcl

Nepaul Cat.

FeKs Nepalensis. Plate XXIII. ... 224
The Serval.

FelisServal. Plate XXIV. . 227

Himalayan Serval.

Felis Himalayanus. Plate XXIV. •. . . 230
Servalina Cat.

Felis Servalina. Plate XXV. ... 232

The Colocolo.

Felis Colocolo. Plate XXVI. ... 234

The Egyptian Cat. ^

Felis maniculata. Plate XXVII. . . . 237
The Angora Cat.

Felis Angora. Plate XXVIII. ... 246
The Common Wild Cat.

Felis Catus. Plate XXIX 248

The Caracal.

Felis caracal. Plate XXX 251

The Booted Lynx.

Felis caligata. Plate XXXI 254

The Chaus.

Felis chaus. Female. Plate XXXII. . . 256
The Canada Lynx.

Felis canadensis. Plate XXXIII. . 259

The European Lynx.

Felis Lynx. Plate XXXIV 262

SYNOPSIS, .265

GENUS I. LEO, 265

II. PUMA, 266

III. FELIS, 267

IV. CYNAILURUS, ..... 273
V. LYNCHUS, 274

MEMOIR OF CUVIER *,

IN every department of Science we have occa-
sionally seen " bright minds" appearing, which seem-
ed as it were to have condensed the information and
discoveries of their predecessors, and, by one great
bound, to have left them immeasurably distant, re-
moving a gloomy covering from some portion which
at once acted as a key to the rest ; while the labours
of the next half century would make little farther
advance, and the facts which had been accumulating
would remain to be again simultaneously employed
in penetrating yet deeper into the mechanism and
design of this world, arid its many living inhabitants.

Until the commencement of the present century,
Natural History may be said to have been the most
backward of the sciences, being more cultivated by
the enthusiasm of a few, than directed practically to
the benefit of mankind, by its connexion with neces-
saries, comforts, or luxuries. Those sciences which
had already been found of importance in the economy

* We have to acknowledge our obligations for the prin-
cipal facts and details in the present sketch, to the elo-
quent memoir from the pen of Baron Pasquier, translated
for the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, and an in-
teresting volume lately published by Mrs Lee.

18 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

of man, or which could be brought to assist in the
prosperity of their advocates, advanced much more
rapidly, and we have examples of splendid disco-
very in Medicine. Chemistry, and Astronomy. But
in Natural History, though many illustrious names
could be mentioned from the times of Aristotle
to those of Linnaeus and Buffon, forty years have
scarcely elapsed, since the living works of creation
were studied with a view to the relation between
their internal and external organs, and the facts which
had been so long in collecting were reduced to any
arrangement. Linnaeus and Buffon, whose works
we have endeavoured to review rapidly in our for-
mer volumes, were contemporary, and each in his
own way assisted more than any of their predeces-
sors to give an additional zeal and zest, and practical
utility, to Natural History.

The individual to whom we shall devote our pre-
sent sketch, thus well compares these his forerunners
in research : — " Linnaeus and Buffon seem to have
possessed, each in his own way, those qualities which
it was impossible for the same man to combine, and
all of which were necessaiy to give a rapid impulse to
the study of nature. Both passionately fond of this
science, both thirsting for fame, both indefatigable in
\*heir studies, both gifted with sensibility, lively imagi-
nations, and elevated minds, they each started in their
career armed with those resources which result from
profound erudition. But each of them traced a dif-
ferent path for himself, according to the peculiar

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 19

bent of his genius. Linnaeus seized on the distin-
guishing characters of beings, with the most remark-
able tact ; Buffon, at one glance, embraced the most
distant affinities. Linnaeus, exact and precise, cre-
ated a language on purpose to express his ideas
clearly, and at the same time concisely ; Buffon,
abundant and fertile in expression, used his own
v/ords to develope the extent of his conceptions.
No one ever exceeded Linnaeus in impressing every
one with the beauties of detail, with which the Crea-
tor has profusely enriched every thing to which he
has given life ; none better than Buffon ever painted
the majesty of Creation, and the imposing grandeur
of the laws to which she is subjected. The former,
frightened at the chaos or careless state in which bis
predecessors had left the history of Nature, contrived
by simple methods, and short and clear definitions,
to establish order in this immense labyrinth, and ren-
der a knowledge of individual beings easy of attain-
ment ; the latter, disgusted at the dryness of ante-
cedent writers, who, for the most part, were con-
tented with giving exact descriptions, knew how to
interest us for these objects, by the magic of his har-
monious and poetical language. Sometimes the
student, fatigued by the perusal of Linnaeus, reposed
himself with Buffon; but always, when deliciously
excited by his enchanting descriptions, he returned
to Linnaeus, in order to class this beautiful imagery,
feeling that, without such aid, he might only preserve
a confused recollection of its subject ; and doubtless

20 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

it is not the least of the merits of these two authors,
thus incessantly to inspire a wish to return to each
other, although this alternative seems to prove, and
in fact it does prove, that in each, something was
wanting."* Let us now see if he who could so well
compare, could mould his feelings and observations,
to remedy some of the defects of these illustrious
men.

GEORGE LEOPOLD CHRETIEN FREDERIC DA-
GOB ERT CUVIER was born at Montbeliard,f a town
in France, on the 23d of August 1769. His family
was of Swiss descent, but, in consequence of pro-
fessing the reformed religion, was obliged to retire
to a remote province in Germany, in which his uncle
was a Lutheran clergyman. His father was an offi-
cer in a Swiss regiment in the service of France,
where he distinguished himself, and, after a faith-
ful service of forty years, was appointed comman-
dant of the artillery at Montbeliard, with a small
pension from government. He married very late in
life, and had three sons, of whom George became
the eldest, a brother having died only a few months
previous to his own birth. This event preyed so
heavily upon the feelings of his mother, that the in-
fant was scarcely expected to survive ; but the ten-

* Prospectus to Diet, des Sciences Naturelles, quoted
from Mrs Lee's Memoir, p. 135.

•f- At the time of Cuvier's birth, Montbeliard belonged
«"* the kingdom of Wurtemberg.

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 21

cler solicitude of his parents succeeded in rearing
him to maturity, and the recollection of his mother's
anxieties made an indelible impression on his mind.
By her he was instructed in the rudiments of his
education, she assisted him in his Latin lessons, su-
perintended his geography and drawing, for hoth of
which he shewed an early predilection, and she in-
stilled into his young mind the principles of religion,
and resignation to the will of God, which he found
a source of so much consolation in the family be-
reavements to which he was afterwards subjected.
At the age of ten he was far advanced, and was
placed at the public gymnasium, where he remained
for four years, with great credit to himself and his
early preceptress, bearing off the palm in his classes,
and victory in his boyish sports and recreations.

His taste for Natural History was at this time
shewn by his selection of books from the Gymna-
sium. A coloured copy of Gesner attracted his at-
tention, and was eagerly looked over ; and the glow-
ing pages of Buffon delighted his fancy, while the
plates made him familiar with a greater number of
animals than existed at that time in the collections
of his country. Little did he then imagine that one
day would see him filling the place of that illustrious
naturalist. Among his companions he had also in-
stituted a juvenile academy, in which he acted as pre-
sident, gave regulations, and dictated the work or
subject that was to be read or discussed, and con-
cluded the meeting with observations and his own

22 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

opinion, a duty which he afterwards for many years
performed with great clearness, in the more matured
Academy of Paris. In this simple trait of youth was
marked the ability which he afterwards so eminently
possessed, of condensing any subject under discus-
sion, and seizing only upon the important points.

The circumstances of his parents were such, that
the young Cuvier could neither follow his own in-
clinations to study Nature, and the sciences allied to
her, nor was he at liberty to choose one profession in
preference to another. The connexion of his uncle
with the church allowed a hope that he might there
succeed in obtaining preferment, and it was arranged
that he should be placed at a free school in Tubingen,
arid commence his ecclesiastical studies, — when a
fortunate circumstance changed the tide of his af-
fairs, and placed him for a time in a situation, where
talent would raise him, and his choice of a profession
would be free.

Prince Charles of Wurtemberg, being on a visit
to Montbeliard, heard from his sister high enco-
miums of the abilities of Cuvier ; he sent for him,
and, pleased with his answers and performances, re-
solved to enrol him in the University of Stutgard at
his own expense, and to place him in the Academic
Caroline. At the age of fourteen, Cuvier, for the
first time, left his home and mother's care ; and ne-
ver, writes Mrs Lee, did he forget the three days
journey from Montbeliard to Stutgard. " He was
seated between the chamberlain and secretary of the

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 23

Duke, both entirely unknown to him, and who spoke
nothing but German the who)e way, of which the
poor child could not understand one word." On the
4th of May he entered the academy, and nine months
after, bore off the prize for the German language
from four or five hundred students.

His progress in the other branches corresponded,
and he successfully devoted himself to the study of
administration, which embraced the various branches
of law and finance, as well as agriculture, and some
departments of mechanics. The hours of relaxation
were employed in the more direct study of Nature,
in perusing the works of some of his illustrious pre-
decessors, in making drawings, and in the formation
of a herbarium of the plants growing in the neigh-
bourhood. In these pursuits he found a willing as-
sistant in one of his teachers, M. Abbe, professor of
Natural History, who perceived his abilities and loved
to encourage them. At this Academy he finished his
career with as great honours as at Montbeliard, car-
rying off the highest prizes, and, with one or two
others of deserving abilities, having an order of Chi-
valry conferred upon him.

Cuvier had now completed what is generally called
education. He however, daily studied with increas-
ing perseverance, and during his whole life never
willingly lost an opportunity of acquiring what he
previously did not know. Upon leaving the Acade-
mic Caroline, it had been intended that he shoul *
enter some branch of the administration, to be pro-

24 MEMOIR OF CUVJEK.

';ured by the interest of his benefactor. The events
of the times prevented the immediate accomplish-
ment of this object, and his pecuniary circumstances
would not permit him to follow the employment of
o naturalist, which, as yet, could yield him no emolu-
ment. Contrary to the opinions and advices of his
companions, he determined to seek the situation of
a tutor ; they thought that the high abilities which
he had already shewn would be degraded, and his
information thrown away ; but M. Cuvier entertained
a different opinion regarding the responsibility of an
instructor of youth, and preferred a secluded but ho-
nourable independency — a step which he ever after-
wards looked back upon with pleasure, as the means
and commencement of an intercourse with those
men, to whom he was indebted for the first rise ill
his afterwards brilliant career.

In 1788, at the age of nineteen, he received an
introduction to a protestant family, residing near
Caen in Normandy, that of the Count d'Hericy, and
was entrusted with the guidance of the Count's only
son. Here he saw all the nobility of the surround-
ing country, acquired the form and manners of the
best society, and became acquainted with some of
the most remarkable men of his time. Nor was the
maritime situation of the place without its advan-
tages : he had facilities of examining the productions
of the sea, particularly the Mollusca, which gave
him new ideas, and led to the research and develop-

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 25

ment of those views which he afterwards extended
to the whole animal kingdom.

He appears to have remained with the family of
the Count d'Hericy for nearly seven years, and du-
ring that period to have devoted a great portion of his
time to the examination of the lower native animals,
without receiving much assistance from books, and
making drawings and observations only for his private
use. Here he also discovered that friend who intro-
duced him to the savans of Paris. An agricultural
society met in the village of Valmont, in which Cuvier
had been intrusted with the office of Secretary : in
this society, he discovered by his ability in the de-
bates, the author of the articles on Agriculture ic
the Encyclopedie Methodique *, who, being sus-
pected in Paris, had secretly removed to Caen, to
wait in seclusion for more settled times. An inti-
macy and friendship were the consequences of this
discovery, and M. Tessier introduced him to the
notice of Olivier, De la Cepede, Geoffroy St Hilaire,

* M. Tessier. Mrs Lee relates Cuvier's discovery of the
agriculturist in the following manner. " He (M. Tessier)
spoke so well, and seemed so entirely master of the subject,
that the young secretary of the Society recognised him as
the author of the article on agriculture, in the Encyclope-
die Methodique. On saluting him as such, M. Tessier,
whose title of Abbe had rendered him suspected at Paris,
exclaimed, * I am known then, and consequently lost!' —
Lost!' replied M. Cuvier; 'No! you are henceforth the
object of our most anxious care.' This circumstance led to
an intimacy between the two."—. Mem. of Baron Cuvier,
by Mrs Lee, p. 22.

26 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

and Millin de Grand Maison ; by them he was in-
vited to Paris, and in 1 795 he obeyed the invitation.
M. Cuvier was now in Paris, where his ambition
and insatiable love for research had often, in imagi-
nation, placed him ; he had long desired to be in that
capital, to which all Europe was already crowding,
from the reputation of her schools, and where that
of Natural History had been raised by the efforts of
Buffon and Daubenton. Surrounded here by the
savans of Paris, to whom he was well known by his
Memoirs on the Mollusca, who treated him with
kindness and without jealousy, and who even now
looked up with deference to his talents, he did not
remain long inactive ; and, by the interest of the pro-
fessors of the Jardin des Plantes, he was, soon after
his arrival, appointed a member of the " Commission
des Arts," and a professor in the Central School of
the Pantheon. It was for the use of the latter that
he composed his Tableau elementaire de 1'Histoire
Naturelle des Animaux.

In the same year, a new chair of Comparative
Anatomy was created in the Jardin des Plantes. M.
Mertrud was appointed to fill it ; but being aged and
infirm, and hardly able to perform the duties, he was
induced, at the request of his colleagues, to receive
M. Cuvier as an assistant. Thus, in a few months
after his leaving Normandy, Cuvier saw one of his
most ardent desires fulfilled, and reaped some of the
fruits of his previous studies. He was settled in the
Garden of Plants, surrounded by all the riches of

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 27

Nature which Paris could then present, his mind at
ease, and occupied with his favourite pursuits, and he
was conscious that he had won all honourably by his
own exertions. His next desire was to show him-
self worthy of the confidence which had been re-
posed in him: he laboured incessantly to complete
the collection of Comparative Anatomy, which he
had commenced upon the basis of a few preparations
and skeletons left by Buffon ; while, at the same time,
his lectures and demonstrations were already spread-
ing his fame as a teacher widely over Europe. It
was in this same year of his appointment * that
he so conspicuously shewed his intimate knowledge
of comparative anatomy, in his memoir upon the
Megalonix of Jefferson, which had been considered
an immense carnivorous animal, the enemy of the
Mastodon. Cuvier beautifully demonstrated the huge
remains of this animal to belong to the family of the
Sloths, pointing out their structure, and deducing
his reasonings with a clearness which brought im-
mediate conviction, without leaving room for a doubt.
This was among the first of those papers wherein he
made use of the comparison of the recent with the
fossil species, and which commenced a totally new
era in our investigation of the structure of the world
From this period, Cuvier gradually, but surely,
rose in knowledge and in honours. The National
Institute was erected, and he became one of its ear-

* When referring to the dates of his works, we have
used the useful chronological list of them added to th«
conclusion of Mrs Lee's Memoirs of Baron Cuvier.

28 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

liest members. Soon after, he was requested to ac-
company the memorable expedition to Egypt, as one
of the scientific attendants ; but he respectfully de-
clined the appointment, conscious that he could do
more for science at home, in examining the collec-
tions which were to be remitted, than by attempting
to study amidst the turmoil of camps and war. The
return of that expedition found him Secretary to the
Institute — an annual office ; when Napoleon, as-
piring to every kind of glory, assumed the title of
President, and Cuvier was thus placed in immediate
contact with the First Consul. Napoleon early per-
ceived his worth and abilities, and, upon remodelling
the Colleges, and commencing the establishment of
schools in the different departments of France, called
in his assistance. This assistance he most willingly
gave, and, though new to the task, which was one
of great fatigue and difficulty, he performed it to the
satisfaction of his first as well as that of his subse-
quent employers, and successfully superintended the
establishment of the Lyceums of Marseilles and Bor-
deaux, which are now Royal Colleges.

During his necessary absence from Pans upon
this mission, the Institute was re-organized, and Per-
petual Secretaries were appointed for the several
branches. M. Cuvier found himself elected to fill
that office in the Class of Natural Sciences, with a
salary of 6000 francs *. This office he held till his

* When it was hinted to Napoleon that this sum was too
much, he replied, " The Perpetual Secretary must be en-
abled to receive at dinner all the learned foreigners who

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 29

death ; and it was his duty to draw up annually a
report of the proceedings and discoveries of the year
that had passed. These were written with great
clearness and impartiality, and now form a valuable
record of the Natural Sciences during a period of
thirty-six years. It was in the capacity of Secre-
tary, also, that he drew up his beautiful report upon
the progress of science posterior to the year 1 789,
which he read with so much applause before Napo-
leon in the Council of State- This was a task which
required great patience and research, from the mul-
titude of subjects which it embraced ; but he made
it a complete history of the period, and the accom-
plishment of it in such a manner, shewed how well
he had employed his former years of study. He was
aware himself of the magnitude of the undertaking
In a letter to M. Duvernon, he writes, " All labours
are nearly arrested by a work demanded by the Em-
peror, the greater part of which has devolved upon
me as Secretary to the Class (of Natural Sciences).
It is a history of the march and progress of the hu-
man mind since 1789. You may suppose to what
a degree this is a complicated undertaking, respect-
ing Natural Sciences. Thus, 1 have already written
a volume, without having nearly reached the end ;
but their history is so rich, there is such a beautiful
mass of discoveries, that I have become interested
in it, and work at it with pleasure *." The subject

visit the capital." — Mrs Lee's Memoirs of Baron Cuvicr,
p. 28.

* Mrs Lee's Memoirs of Baron Cuvier D. 132.

30 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

carried him through ; when once engaged, he be-
came enthusiastic, and it now remains a memorial
of his abilities and perseverance. There was yet
another duty which devolved on M. Cuvier, in hin
office in the Institute, that of pronouncing an elo^e
upon the illustrious members after their decease,
— a task at once melancholy and grateful — melan-
choly in its recollections, that the companion in re-
search, perhaps the intimate friend at home, had
now passed from his earthly career — but grateful in
the acquittal of a duty which was to place the la-
bours, and discoveries, and virtues, of a valued as-
sociate, among the records of science. These eloges
have been collected, and published in three volumes,
and form a useful and interesting companion to the
annual reports of the Institute *.

In 1800, he was appointed to another situation
in the Jardin, upon which he resigned the chair of
the Central School of the Pantheon. M. Dauben-
ton, the celebrated colleague of Buftbn, died far ad-
vanced in years, and Cuvier was nominated his suc-
cessor. His time was now sufficiently occupied ,
while the emoluments arising from the different of-
fices rendered him independent, and he sent for his
father and brother to reside with him. The former
meeting with a severe accident, was not long pre-
served to enjoy the still rising honours of his son ;

* Recueil des Eloges historiques, his dans les seances
publiques de Tlnstitut Royal de France. In 3 vols. 8vo.
1827.

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 31

but his brother entered at once into liis feelings and
pursuits, and rendered him every assistance in his
power. He still survives, and is well known to
science by his beautiful work on the Mammalia *.

A short while after his appointment to the chair
of Daubenton, M. Cuvier married. He chose for his
partner the widow of M. Duvaucel, Fermier-Gene-
ral, who fell a victim to the disturbances of 1 794.
She proved the excellency of his choice, and secured
to him domestic happiness, as far as it was in the
controul of an amiable temper and disposition, while
her strong mental endowments rendered her a com-
panion fitting for the mind of her husband.

His time was now exclusively spent in conducting
his various researches, particularly those which re-
lated to fossil osteology, which we shall notice when
»peaking of his great work. The results of these
researches were given in memoirs to the various so-
cieties of which he was member, almost as soon as they
were concluded, and, if collected, would form a se-
ries of volumes of great extent and interest. These
studies were, however, again for some time inter-
rupted by the commands of the Emperor. Cuvier
was appointed one of the Counsellors of the Imperial
University, and, as a part of the duties of this of-
tice, he was ordered to superintend the establishment

* M. Frederic Cuvier is now Keeper of the Menagerie
in the Jardin des Plantes. The " Histoire Naturelles dea
Mammiferes" is a splendid folio work in 6 volumes, con-
taining lithographic drawings of the animals in the Parisian
menagerie.

52 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

of Academies in those parts of the Italian provinces
which had been annexed to the French empire. He
was also ordered upon a similar mission to Holland ;
and in the year following went to Rome, to organize
a University there. These employments occupied
much time ; but he acquired information in his jour-
neys, unconnected with the establishments of instruc-
tion. The most difficult part of his task was that
which related to the Italian towns, and the University
in Rome : M. Cuvier was a Protestant, arid the bi-
gotry of the schools in Italy threw as many obstacles
as they durst in the face of any encroachment upon
their own methods ; but the respect which he shewed
to every belief, where it was conscientiously exer-
cised, oftentimes softened the prejudices which were
held against him, and, by adapting his arrangements
to the real necessities of the different towns, he
completed his business so perfectly, that, in many
instances, they were continued after the restora-
tion of their former sovereigns.

During his absence upon these missions, the Em-
peror shewed him another mark of his approbation,
And appointed him " Maitre de Requetes." Napo-
leon was too good a judge of mankind not to have
observed the abilities of Cuvier. He had discerned
them from the first, and it was part of his policy
never to lose sight of a talented individual, so long
as he could be of use in his extensive designs. For-
tunately, the purposes for which he wished to em-
ploy M. Cuvier were all honourable, either for the

MEMOIR OF CUVIER, *>o

advancement of science, or the instruction of Lji
subjects; and they were rendered still more beLfc-
ficial, by the judicious manner in which they were
pei-formed. Honours were thus heaped upon him ,
and in 1814, a still greater mark of confidence was
bestowed, in his appointment of " Counsellor of
State."

We have now reached the period when the affairs
and prosperity of his great master and patron were to
assume a more chequered train ; and nothing places
the upright conduct of our naturalist, in all his political
and official transactions, so high, as his constantly
retaining, not only his civil appointments, but be-
ing sought to take a part in the councils of each
monarch, as in their turn they succeeded to a tem-
porary rule of France. From this it might perhaps
be alleged that he was variable in his opinions, and
wavered with the feelings of the times ; it was the
reverse. He was a firm supporter of order and
subordination, but he saw that, alone, he could do
little to stem the torrent of revolutionary principles,
and he hoped that his assistance and advice might pal-
iiate some of its attending miseries. His abilities were
widely known, and it was known also that he would
use them only and conscientiously for the good of
his country. Upon the first ejection of Napoleon,
Louis XVIIL continued him in his office of Coun-
sellor, which had the same year been conferred oii
him by the Emperor. The return of Napoleon froaa
Elba for a time banished him from the Court ; but

34 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

he was retained in the Universities, and was con-
sul d and assisted in the changes which were thought
necessary there; while, after the second restora-
tion of the Bourbons, he was actively employed in
every sort of administration, connected with the Coro-
m:ttee of the Interior attached to the Council of
State. In 18*26, he officiated as one of the Presi-
dents at the coronation of Charles X. ; and, after the
last Revolution, he was not only named a Peer of
France by the Citizen-King, but, at the time of his
unexpected death, the appointment of President to
the entire Council of State waited for the royal sig-
nature. Thus, we see his early course of study use-
fully brought forward; for it must be recollected that
law and administration were the branches which he
entered upon from choice, in the University of Stutt-
gard, and that the study of Nature was employed as
a relaxation, from his more severe legal and literary
engagements. As, however, it is more with his ca-
reer as a naturalist than as a statesman that we have
now to deal, let us look back and trace his labours,
from his appointment in the Jardin des Plantes til!
the second restoration of the Bourbons.

We have seen the occupations of Cuvier since
the time of his arrival in Paris to the period to which
we have brought down his history, to have been al-
most more than sufficient for any ordinary mind,
The lectures which were to be delivered in his si-
tuations in the Garden, were of themselves an ar-
duous task ; but no part of the administration to

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 35

which he was attached was denied his assistance. Nor
was the business of the societies, in many of which
he held the office of secretary, neglected : their writ-
ten memoirs and reports were all drawn up with the
strictest care, and often contained a vast mass of in-
formation. Notwithstanding, in 1818 we find him
to have heen the author of no less than 127 me-
moirs, many of them of great extent, and contain-
ing information in every department of Nature.

The first memoir that he appears to have publish-
ed was in 1792, during his residence at Caen, " Sur
1'Anatomie de la Patelle," after which we find many
upon various Mollusca, which, for a few years about
this time, occupied a great part of his studies. We
mentioned previously, that, in 1796, his first me-
moir connected with Fossil Osteology was upon tne
Megalonix of Jefferson ; and the skill displayed in
the examination of this singular animal raised him
very high in the estimation of his colleagues. Be-
tween this period and 1811, a great portion of time
was devoted to the examination of the immense de-
posits of bones which had been discovered in various
parts of the world, and for which the quarries around
Paris afforded great facilities. In this manner were
the materials for the " Recherches sur les Ossemens
Fossiles des Quadrupedes" collected. The greater
part of these " Recherches" were published in the
Annales du Museum as their author completed his
discoveries, " that the singular results which he
had to communicate might instigate the possessors

36 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

of fossil bones, or those whose situation was favour-
able for collecting them, to lend their assistance to
his undertaking *." These memoirs were collected
and published in 1811, in four quarto volumes,
forming the great work above alluded to. It is il-
lustrated with numerous plates, and the first volume
is occupied by a Preliminary Discourse, and an ac-
count of the mineralogy around Paris. Six years
after, a second edition appeared, increased to five vo-
lumes. It is a work of great interest — a splendid
monument of the persevering research of the au-
thor.

From the nature of the above-mentioned work, it
is evident that a great deal of accessory research
was necessary. An antiquary of a new kind, he
had to decypher and restore these monuments — to
discover, and place in their primitive order, their
scattered fragments — to reconstruct the ancient be-
ings to which these fragments belonged — to repro-
duce them with their proportions and characters —
and, in short, to compare them with the beings at
present living upon the surface of our earth f . A great
portion of the intermediate time between its com-
mencement and publication, was therefore devoted
to the study of comparative anatomy; and the fruits
of that study we have in various memoirs, and in
the " Lemons d'Anatumie comparee," a work in five

* Advertisement to the 1st edition.
•f- Discours Preliminaire, p. 1.

MEMOIR OP CUVIER. 37

volumes, comprising a manual of nearly all that was
known at the time. There were a few errors in it,
many of which were from time to time corrected ;
and it yet continues a text-book for all those who
are engaged in similar pursuits. It is also the basis
of a great work, long in contemplation, whose com-
pletion an anxiety to render perfect retarded ; many
materials are left, partly arranged, with a very large
collection of drawings, which we trust will be pub-
lished at no very distant period.

His next important work appeared in 1817; it
was the " Regne Animal distrihue d'apres son Or-
ganization." It embraces the whole of M. Cuvier's
prior labours ; and, comprehending so much in a
space comparatively limited, it assumes somewhat
the character of an extended catalogue ; and he him-
self tells us, " is more for study than reading *."
The last edition, in five volumes, is now the best
and most comprehensive manual in our possession,
the researches of nearly thirty years are embodied
in it, and the experience of his extensive scientific ac-
quaintance lent their assistance to its completion.
He was anxious to establish general rules and prin-
ciples, for he found, that although many of his pre-
decessors had been employed in these researches,
and that Daubenton, Camper, and Pallas had sup-
plied some most important facts, they had neither
been generalised by themselves, nor made use of by
their contemporaries, to reduce the animal kingdom
• Preface to the First Edition, p. 18.

38 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

to a system *. He therefore thought, that, by com-
bining Anatomy and Zoology, and mutually calling
in the one to the assistance of the other, he would
produce a system founded upon proper principles :
the commencement and progress of this may be
traced from 1795, when a memoir was published upon
a new arrangement of animals, having white blood,
which was extended in 1798, in his " Tableau Elf-
mentaire des Ariimaux," and improved still farther,
two years afterwards, in the tables annexed to the
first volume of the " Le9ons d' Anatomic Comparee."
Cuvier appears to have considered the " Regne
Animal'* the most laborious of his works. " It was
not sufficient," he writes, "to have imagined new dis-
tributions into classes and orders, and then to place
the genera ; but it was necessary to examine every
species, to know if, in reality, they belonged to the
genera in which they had been placed f." He was
assisted by many of his colleagues ; their collec-
tions and researches were as open to him as those
collected by himself, and this assistance is most
gratefully acknowledged. One part is less exclu-
sively his own than any other — that devoted to
Entomology ; it is due to M. Latreille. " My friend
and colleague, M. Latreille, who has more deeply
studied these animals than any other man in Europe,
has given, in a single volume, the results of his ex-
tensive researches, with a table of the numerous ge-

» Preface to the First Edition, p. 6.
t Preface to the First Edition, p. 8.

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 39

nera which have been formed by entomologists."
In like manner does he acknowledge the parts and
interest which his colleagues took in his undertak-
ings.

At this period of the life of this illustrious natu-
ralist and statesman, Europe was at peace, France
enjoyed a temporary calm, after the distracting events
in which she had been for a long series of years en-
gaged, and M. Cuvier found leisure to visit England
with his family. He had two objects in view; the
one, to observe the influence of our constitutional
government ; the other, to pursue his favourite study,
and to examine the various collections of a scientific
or literary nature. He was already too well known
not to find easy access to all our institutions and
collections ; and he always expressed himself as highly
grateful for the attention and facilities which were
given to all his pursuits.* Among his scientific
friends, he was the frequent guest of Sir Joseph
Banks, Dr Leach, Sir Everard Home, and Sir
William Herschel. Upon his return to France, new
duties awaited him; he was appointed President of
the " Comite de 1'Interieur," an office which he
continued to hold under every change of ministry;
and, as a mark of personal esteem, Louis X\7IJI.
created him a Baron.

Now may be said to be the summit of Cuvier's
career. There is often one period of man's life
* Mrs. Lee.

40 MEMOIR OF CUVIEK.

when all around seems running on only for him.
The Baron Cuvier, with his country at peace, and its
princes and nobles all anxious for the progress of
science and the welfare and instruction of the peo-
ple, was placed as the leader of these great depart-
ments, enjoying the confidence of his sovereign, and
conscious, from his own integrity, that he deserved it.
He was zealously following his favourite departments
in science, surrounded with all which every quarter
of the world could produce, and seeing the informa-
tion which voyages of discovery brought from every
country. His saloons were crowded with the learned
of Europe, who came to receive his knowledge, and
leave the information they had gathered in return.
He was happy in that part of his family which had
been spared to him ; and lightness of heart, and con-
scious right, were the companions of his deepest
studies. But in one part of his enjoyments he had
yet to receive a bitter blow, which marked his fu-
ture years ; it chastened, as it were, the happiness
which had every where accompanied him, and threw
a deeper calm over his remaining life. He had
suffered severely by bereavements of his family.
Madame Cuvier brought him four children : two of
these died in early youth ; the third, a boy of pro-
mise, was taken from him about the age of thirteen,
during his journey to Rome, and when the son could
almost begin to enter into the pursuits of his father ;
the fourth, M. Clementine Cuvier, rich in attain-

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 4l

ments, and all that her parents could desire, had
reached her twenty-second year, the estate of wo-
man ; hut she also was taken away

In her first age's spring,
Whilst yet her leafe was greene, and fresh her rinde —

and the parent was left childless. The most insi-
dious of diseases had, in youth, given one or two
alarms, but for a few years no appearance had re-
turned; and it was fondly hoped, that, with her age,
she would gather strength. Some exposure, some
" slight cold," had renovated the lurking seeds.
They appeared in a rapid consumption, and termi-
nated fatally in five or six weeks.

The grief of the parents after this melancholy
event, was deep indeed ; but the high principles
which were early instilled into Cuvier by his excellent
mother, afforded him a sure resource, arid enabled
him to give that consolation to others which he knew
•; was his duty to administer; and the important
offices by which he was surrounded, with the know-
ledge that he lived not for himself alone, allowed
him to regain a quiet resignation. While his saloons
remained for a time closed, he returned to his studies
almost with increased energy ; and the conclusion of
the same year saw him earnestly engaged in his
great and long -projected work on Ichthyology.

In this new undertaking, Cuvier associated him-
self with M. Valenciennes, a well known naturalist ;
being conscious that even his own great industry and
perseverance could not accomplish all the details

42 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

It commences with a historical account of the pro-
gress of Ichthyology from the earliest ages to the
date of the commencement of the work, which is
itself an example of much curious research. The
science, in its progress, is divided into three great
eras ; the first commencing with Aristotle. Before
that period, all ohservers were partial ; that great
master observed for himself, and most of the writers,
to the middle of the sixteenth century, made use of
and copied his information. Rondeletius, Belon, and
Salvianus, commence the second era, also observers
themselves, who corrected and extended the works
of their predecessors, and gave them a positive foun-
dation, by descriptions and figures, of well-determined
species. The third era is placed at the end of the
seventeenth century, when Willoughby and Ray
attempted the first sub-division of species, and which
Artedi and Linnaeus completed, in the middle of the
eighteenth century, by the establishment of genera
founded upon well known species. The anatomy
and classification follow the history, and occupy the
whole of the first volume ; the second commence?
with the detailed description of species ; every great
group or family is preceded by a description of the
characters and distribution, and every species that
is known, or previously mentioned, is separately de-
scribed or commented upon. Each volume is ac-
companied with a fasciculus of beautiful plates, shew-
ing the most remarkable forms; while a folio number
contains the designs devoted to the anatomy. Kin*

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 43

volumes are now published ; the latter ones under
the superintendence of M. Valenciennes, and, when
completed, it will serve as a beautiful model, by
which the other branches of nature might be illus-
trated *.

The studies of Cuvier now proceeded in their
*vonted routine. The second edition of the " Regne
Animal" was superintended; in the entomological
part, he was again assisted by the now venerable
Latreille, and the labours of additional years are
added. Two volumes of the Ichthyology appear
yearly : discovery succeeded discovery, and various
memoirs and eloges were read in the academy. In
1830, a course of lectures was resumed at the Col-
lege de France ; and he gave a view of the history
and progress of science in all ages, a subject of great
extent and variety, and requiring a knowledge which
f1 ly of many years could only attain ; the in-

_.jst they excited was best testified by the nume-
rous attendance. In the same year, he became
anxious again to see England, and to trace the march
which science had there made since his last visit ;
his important offices in the State were, however, a
serious hinderance to this indulgence, and the ordi-
nances which Charles X. was then passing, were
Booked upon by the people as so vexatious and un-

* Copious notes are added to the Historical Chapter,
giving a short notice of the biography and works of Ich-
thyologists, with tables of the systems which each sup-
ported.

44 MEMOIR OP CUVIER.

just, that almost double employment was given to
the ministry, to enable them to maintain order, and
prevent open outrage. His leave of absence was,
therefore, several times delayed ; but the general
tranquillity in Paris appeared so perfect, that it was
at last given, and his passports signed. So much was
the foresight of the statesman this time at fault, that
the firing commenced in the capital before he had
been five hours absent. Near Boulogne, he and
his friends were overtaken by those that fled from a
scene of terror ; and in the deepest anxiety they
reached Calais. To return would have been impos-
sible, with passports dated nearly two months back,
arid signed by the discarded sovereign, and their first
communications brought them, at one and the same
time, " the details of the revolution, and of the resto-
ration to peace." The same communications brought
him assurances of perfect tranquillity in Paris, and of
the safety of Madame Cuvier;he determined therefore
to continue his journey, and again saw the collections
and institutions of London. His anxiety for the affairs
of his own country, however, prevented a long visit ;
and he returned again to Paris, having been only a
fortnight in England; "and, to the happiness of those
around him, M. Cuvier found himself, even under
the government of the Citizen King, in possession of
all his honours, his dignities, and his important func-
tions *."

Even new honours awaited him ; for, by the order
* Memoir of Baron Cuvier, by Mrs Lee, p. 47.

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 45

of Louis-Philippe, he was created a peer of France ;
but they did not diminish the intensity of his la-
bours, and two volumes of his great work on Com-
parative Anatomy are said to have been now pre-
pared for the press. On the 8th of May 1832, he
again opened the College of France, and gave his
third course upon the history of the Natural Sciences.
His concluding lecture in this course impressed
every one who heard him. It was a farewell to his
pupils — it was the last which he was spared to de-
liver as a public teacher. " He displayed," says his
eloquent eulogist,* "a calmness and justness of per-
ception, combined with a depth and seriousness of
thought, which led his auditors to think of that
book which speaks of the creation of all mankind.
This was the result of his ideas rather than his ex-
pressions ; for every thing, in the free exposition
which he made, breathed the feeling of the omnipo-
f '•- r a supreme cause, and of an infinite wisdom,
^dmed, as it were, by the examination of the vi-
sible world, to be led to the precincts of that which
is invisible, and the examination of the creature
evoked the Creator. At last these words fell from
him, in which it is easy to see a presentiment : —
" Such, gentlemen, will be the objects of our inves-
tigation, if time, my own strength, and the state of
my health, permit me to continue and finish them."
The closing scene of M. Cuvier's life, as a public

* Baron Pasquier, quoted from Jameson's Philosophical
Journal for July 1833, p. 174,

46 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

teacher, appears to me to be impressed with peculiar
beauty. Who could fail to be deeply affected at the
last accents of so pure an intelligence, disengaged
from the vanities and vexations of systems ? Who
could remain cold and insensible before the last look
thrown on creation, by him who had revealed &o
many of its mysteries ?" After this lecture, the first
symptoms of disease appeared ; he felt a slight pain
and numbness in his right arm, and his throat be-
came affected. Two days after, both his arms were
seized, and the power of swallowing was lost. He
nevertheless retained all his faculties, and the power
of speech ; he arranged his worldly affairs, by com-
pleting his will, and sent for M. Royer* to make a
note of the sums he had spent from his private funds,
in various outlays upon the collections in the garden.
These were attested by four witnesses, being him-
self too much paralyzed to sign the deeds. He was

* M. Royer held a situation in the Administration of the
Jardin des Plantes. He was a man of great worth, and
possessed an excellent disposition, and students or visitants
to the Garden will have to lament his decease. When a
boy, he spent some years in Britain, and became master of
the English language, which he afterwards recollected and
spoke so perfectly, as almost to escape detection. Many
letters of introduction were carried to him from Scotland,
and no one left him without feeling obliged by his atten-
tion ; and upon our own first visit to Paris, we carried one
from Mr Neill of Edinburgh, and the attention and kind-
ness which we received will always be gratefully remem-
bered.

M. Rover published an excellent account of the progress
and history of the Jard ties Plantce.

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 47

perfectly calm and resigned, much more so than
those around him, and he permitted his intimate
friends to be with him to the very last. " It was
thus," writes Baron Pasquier, " that I was a witness
of his dying moments. Four hours before his death,
I was in that memorable cabinet where the happiest
hours of his life had been spent, and where I had
seen him surrounded with so much homage, enjoying
his well-merited success ; he caused himself to be
carried thither, and wished that his last breath should
be drawn there. His countenance was in a state ot
perfect repose, and never did his noble head appear
to me more beautiful, or worthy of admiration ; no
alteration of a too sensible or painful kind had yet
taken place, only a little weakness and difficulty in
supporting himself being observable. I held the
hand which he had extended to me, while he said,
in a voice scarcely articulate, " You see what a dif-
ference tl uvveen the man of ^Tuesday and
the man of Sunday." From this time the paralysis
of the nerves of volition rapidly spread, and no re-
sources of his physicians could stay its progress.
Fever commenced, the lungs became too much af-
fected rightly to perform their functions, and he ex-
pired gradually, apparently without pain and with-
out a struggle.

So closed the noble career of this great naturalist,
deeply regretted by his relatives and nearer friends
for his private virtues, and leaving Europe deprived
of one of her brightest ornaments. It will be difficult

48 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

indeed to find one fitted to hold, with equal candour
and ahility, the various offices to which he had heen
appointed. He had asked to be buried without ce-
remony, but this was one of the few requests which
France denied to him ; she could not allow one of
such renown to pass away unnoticed, and without re-
ceiving the last homage of his admirers. His remains
were laid in the cemetery of Pere la Chaise ; and
the funeral procession was followed by deputations
from the Council of State, preceded by the Keeper
of the Seals ; from the Academies of Sciences, o
Inscriptions, of Medicine, of France ; by Members o
the two Chambers, the Ecole Polytechnique, &c,
His remains were alternately borne by pupils from
the laboratory of the Jardin des Plantes, from the
Schools d'Urfort, of Law, and Medicine, and first
taken to the Protestant Church in the Rue des Bil-
lettes. The pall was supported by M. Pasquier,
President of the Chamber of Peers, M. Devaux,
Councillor of State, M. Arago, Secretary of the
Academy of Natural Sciences, and M. Villemain,
Vice- President of the Royal Council of Public In-
struction. Monuments are to be erected to his me-
mory in the Garden of Plants, and at Montbeliard,
arid Louis- Philippe bas ordered marble busts by the
most celebrated sculptors, to be placed in the Insti-
tute and Gallery of Anatomy.

We have now finished a very rapid sketch of the
principal events in the active life of Baron Cuvicr.
and have noticed his greatest works, from which we

MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 4$

mav form some estimate of his character. In all his
in**Mtigatiotii of nature, lie was a strict observer of
tacts, — he pereeveringly tyrought till he had obtained
them, — never drew his conclusions till he had done
this, — and he never let slip an opportunity, even the
most trifling, of acquiring knowledge. It is to this
rigid search after truth, that we may attribute the
comparatively few errors which occur in his volumi-
nous writings, which at his death amounted to *2\2
published papers, memoirs, and separate works. He
never allowed himself to be carried away by the
power of his imagination, or by theories. Of the
latter he remarked, " I have sought and have set up
some myself, but I have riot made them known, be-
cause I have ascertained that they were false, as are
all those which have been published up to this day/' *
a sweeping dismissal to our modern systems and
system-makers. " I affirm still more," he continues.
41 for I say that, in tV»« present state of science, it is
impossible to any, and that is why I con-

tinue to observe, and why I openly proclaim my ob-
servations."

In his political and administrative duties, the same
course was pursued ; facts and the truth were acquir-
ed, and the subject was impartially handled for the
best interests of the community. Although often
obliged to yield to the impetuosity of the multitude,
he was an enemy to hasty changes made in comoli-
ance with tJue spirit of the times. " Give," says he,
* Mrs Lee, p. 263.

50 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

" schools before political rights ; make citizens com-
prehend what the state of society imposes on them ;
teach them what are political rights before you otfer
them for their enjoyment ; then all ameliorations will
be made without causing a shock ; then each new
idea, thrown upon good ground, will have time to ger-
minate, to grow, and to ripen, without convulsing the
social body."* Though he had so much intercourse
with royalty, and held high official situations, he
would not subserviently bow or hold a degrading
office, even at the expense of royal favour. Witness
the part he took in the discussion regarding the Pro-
testant Courts of France, his arguments against the
admission of the Jesuits to any sway in the univer-
sity, and his refusal of the Censorship of the press
after he had been in reality appointed, arid which
was taken highly amiss at court.

In private, he was kind, affable, and affectionate,
entered into conversation, and was always ready to
communicate his information, even upon the slightest
topics. To strangers and young people he was parti-
cularly attentive, and to those engaged in scientific
pursuits, he would point out the way, and shew where
the best information was to be found ; by his pupils
he was beloved, and as a teacher, he was most anxi-
ous for their improvement. Strictly devoted to order
and regularity, without which he could not have ac-
complished the manifold duties of his appointments,
he Disliked much to see the want of these properties in
* Mrs Lee p. 246, 247.

MEMOIR OF Ct VIER. 51

others, and his quick perceptions, on some occasions

betrayed him into hasty expressions, but which were

no sooner uttered, than they were regretted and

checked. In the allotment of his time during the

day, he was also regular, and he did not, on ordinary

occasions, suffer himself to be disturbed in those hours

which were set aside for study. He generally rose

about seven o'clock, when, in his dissecting dress, he

directed or assisted in the completions of the various

reparations of Natural History, before they were

laced in the proper departments of the galleries.

Vt breakfast he read the papers or some new perio-

ical, or looked over some of the elementary books

T the schools of public instruction, and saw some

f his most intimate friends ; he then dressed, and

et about the performance of his public duties. Af-

er dinner, he would occasionally spend an hour in

onversation before — ' ' r to his studies,* and did

ot again return to . v^awing-room till late in the

vening, when his great relaxation was in hearing

Vladame Cuvier or his daughter-in-law read from

some favourite author ; and many of the literary

works of the day were in this way perused and made

amiliar to him.

There is another accomplishment nearly indispen-
able to a naturalist, which we have almost omitted
o notice — he was an expert draftsman. Early in

* When in England, he was annoyed at the long time
spent after dinner, and often spoke of it as a great lore of

52 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

life he made it his study, as then one of the only me-
thods in his power, to transfer the rarities in other
collections to his own, and he became both an expert
artist himself, and a judge of the higher branches of
the art. Many of the plates for his works are drawn
by himself, and a large collection of designs has been
left, principally intended to illustrate his great work
on Comparative Anatomy. During his visits to Eng-
land, portions of his time were spent in taking down
the most remarkable species in our own collections,
and few of the exhibitions of art, which were at the
time open, were left unvisited.

The extensive correspondence which he main-
tained, would have been too laborious an undertak-
ing without some assistance, and Cuvier was fortu-
nate in securing that of M. Laurillard. Instead of his
secretary, he became his friend and companion, and,
enjoying his confidence, carefully guarded the trust
which was confided to him. He accompanied him
upon his journeys, and took charge of the arrange-
ment of his papers, books, and manuscripts.

At home among the latter there was constant and
sufficient employment. The valuable library con-
tained 19,000 volumes,* which were either pur-

* We add a note from Mrs Lee's interesting volume, re-
garding the distribution of this library. " To the books
purchased by himself, were added those published at the
expense of government, copies of which were always pre-
sented to him ; and the numerous gifts he received from
authors of all countries, who were universally anxious to j>ay

MEMOIR OP CUVIER. 53

chased from his private purse, or consisted of dona-
tions from his various friends. Those received in pre-
sents amounted to a very considerahle numher, and

him this mark of respect, even if their works did not treat
of Natural History. Altogether, they amounted to more
than 19,000 volumes, besides pamphlets, atlasses, &c. many
of which contained his own notes. It was very desirable
that this library should remain entire, for the use of stu-
dents ; and such being Madame Cuvier's wish, the legatees,
consisting of M. F. Cuvier, his son, M. Valenciennes, and
M. Laurillard, accepted the value of their portions as mere
books, and the government agreed to purchase the whole.
The sum was voted at the same time as Madame Cuvier's
pension ; and much is it to be regretted that the value of
books has of late years so much diminished in France; how-
ever, it is much more vexatious that no building can be
found to contain this collection, where it might be consult-
ed in its entire state by the public ; and it is therefore to
be divided between the schools of Law and Medicine, the
National School, and th I j Plantes, where many

volumes will enter as dupliu. . JL he apartments in which
these treasures were contained, were a continuation of M.
Cuvier's own dwelling, and had been originally used for the
forage of the menagerie. On this being removed to the
building called the Rotonde, Baron Cuvier asked permis-
sion of the Board of Administration of the Garden, to take
these granaries into his own hands, and convert them, at
his own expense, into a suite of rooms. This cost him
£ 1640, which gave him a right to ask for a dwelling for his
family after his death — a right which was graciously con-
firmed by his present Majesty. In these rooms the great
savant carried on his vast labours and meditations, work-
ing in each according to the subject on which he was em-
ployed. They made his house appear large ; but in reality
the habitable part of it was scarcely of sufficient extent for
his comfort, when it is considered how many visitors he was
there obliged by his situation to entertain."

54 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

there were few writers in his own country, especial-
ly in connection with science, who did not almost
consider it as a duty to present him with a copy of
their works. His library was arranged in different
rooms, according to the subjects, and in each of these
he wrote by turns, leaving his work when more im-
perious duties required, and again returning and re-
suming the subject at the place where he had left off.
His house opened into his libraries, and into the gal-
leries of Comparative Anatomy, which were indeed
made by himself out of some older adjoining buildings,
and in this way, without exposure, he could see and
consult any object or series of preparations, which
might illustrate the subject with which he happened
to be engaged.

Thus have we seen Baron Cuvier possessed of
all the qualifications requisite for a great naturalist, —
many of those which are required by a statesman,
while he was also rich in the virtues which adorn the
life of a good man. The union of the whole have
left sufficient to constitute a lasting memorial of his
great name.*

* Since the preceding sketch of the life of Baron Cu-
vier was put into the hands of the printer, we have recei-
ved, through the attention of Professor Jameson, Mon. G.
L. Duvernoy's historical review of his works and life, and
as it contains some notices which may be interesting to those
who are unacquainted with the career of this naturalist,
we have added a portion of them in a supplementary note.
M. Duvernoy knew the parents of Cuvier, and conse-
quently himself at a very early age, and, during his active
life, continued with him in habits of intimacy and friend-

MEMOIR OF CUVIKR. 55

ship His first acquaintance was when Cuvier was only six
or seven years of age : at this time he was said to have been
a boy of more than ordinary endowments, and to have pos-
sessed a steadiness and application beyond his years. M.
Duvernoy and his friends, whom he often visited, were
astonished when he read aloud and recited verses with as
much precision as a youth of twenty ; and they were much
struck at the clearness and beauty of his writing, his skill
as a draftsman, and the facility with which he cut out of
paper or card models and representations of any thing which
interested him.

Cuvier received his first instructions in the art of draw-
ing from his cousin M. Werner, an architect in the town of
Montbeliard, and grandfather to the zoological painter to
whom France is indebted for many of the designs for her
beautiful works upon natural history, and particularly that
of Frederic Cuvier upon the Mammalia. As we have be-
fore mentioned, he prosecuted this accomplishment with
the greatest success. Some of his earliest attempts were co-
pies from the plates of BufFon, which he coloured from the
descriptions ; and when that author did not accompany his
description with a figure, our young naturalist would make
a coloured drawing, according to his interpretation of it,
in a manner perfectly unique.

Many of the plates for his works ived from his

own drawings ; and for some of the illustrations to his pa-
pers in the Annales du Museum upon Fossil Osteology,
which became so numerous as to encroach seriously upon
his private funds, he not only made the drawings, but also
engraved them. These were afterwards published in the
last edition of the Ossemens Fossiles, and are chiefly con-
tained in the third volume.

In the Academie Caroline, where we have seen that Cu-
vier was placed at an early age, the course of instruction
was what was termed " generate ou speciale." The branch
" speciale" contained several divisions, and among them
that of Finance, to which he entered. The Science of Fi-
nance, according to the arrangements of the Academy, was
composed of the following sections, which will give some
idea of the variety of subjects which were to be studied

56 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

during the three years or curriculum allotted to the special
departments :— -" 1. Le Droit naturelle : 2. La Botanique :
3. La Geographic relative au Commerce : 4. La Ge'ometrie
pratique : 5. Le Dessein des Plantes : 6. L'Economie theore-
tique et pratique: 7. La Science des Eaux et Forets: 8. La
Zoologie: 9. La Mineralogie : 10. LaChimie: 1L La Science
de le Police: 12. Celle des Mines: 13. L'Hydrauliqtie : 14,
La Numismatique: 15. L'Architecture civile: 16. La Tech.
nologie: 17. La Science du Commerce d'Etat: 18. Le Droit
des Finances: 19. Le Style des Comptes:: 20. La Science
des Finances; et, 21. La Pratique de Chancellerie.1"

The section devoted to natural history was closed in the
very year which Cuvier entered the Academy, by the death
of its Professor, Kaestlin, and was not again filled up till
after his departure. In this part of his review M. Duver-
noy is anxious to trace the impression which the study of
the different branches had made upon the early mind of
Cuvier ; but he was unable to accomplish this, though he
thinks that his predilection for natural history was con-
firmed by his frequent study of Buffon ; while some bones of
Mammalia, which had already been discovered in the vici-
nity of Canstadt, directed his attention to the debris of a
former world.

Entomology and botany were favourite branches in the
early studies of Cuvier. The former he continued with suc-
cess, as may be seen in the different papers which he wrote;
but botany, as bearing less in its details upon zoologv, was
comparatively laid aside. Nevertheless, during his acade-
mic career, he made considerable progress,, and we have the
testimony of M. Kerner, professor of the section, for his
proficiency in that science. In the preface to his Flora
of the vicinity of Stutgard, he says, '* That he feels justi-
fied in expressing publicly his warmest thanks to M. Le
Chevalier Marschall and M. Cuvier, who have distinguished
themselves among the pupils of the Academic Caroline by
their knowledge of botany, and by having discovered, du-
ring the printing of this flora, many species of plants, of
whose existence in the vicinity the author was not aware,
and, among others a new species of Potentilla, and the
Avcna sesquitertia of Linnaeus.**

MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

We mentioned in our sketch, that Cuvier, whilst at
Montbeliard, formed a society of his young companions, to
discuss various subjects in literature and the arts. Among
his fellow-co-operators in this association were men who
have risen to eminence in the departments which they fol-
lowed; and, among others, M. Duvernoy mentions Iff. Mar-
schall de Bieberstein (the companion of his botanical re-
searches mentioned by Professor Kefner), known by his
botanical works, and now Minister of State to the Duke of
Nassau ; 31. Autenrieth, Chancellor of the University of
Tubingen, and celebrated for his works on physiology ; M.
Pfaff, Counsellor of State to the King of Denmark, Profes-
sor in the University of Kiel ; M. Jaeger, physician to the
King of Wurtemberg ; and M. Hartman, a physician, known
in entomology, for whose correction and advice Cuvier sub-
mitted many of his earlier papers in this department.

Cuvier kept a regular journal, in which he entered what-
ever occurred that was worthy of notice, and often accom-
panied his description with a drawing. This he called his
Diarum. His Diarum Zoologicum primum is dated Stut-
gard, 15th October 1786. The great clearness and facility
with which he gained the knowledge of any subject, will be
illustrated by an anecdote which occurred during his resi-
dence at Stutgard. The Professor of Technology took his
pupils to see a pin manufactory, and, upon returning from
the examination of this establishment,. Cuvier represented,
by correct diagrams, every thing which he had seen, and
all the details of the manufacture of this article.

We have seen that Cuvier, by the solicitation of the na-
turalists of the capital, was at last induced to visit Paris,
and in a very short while after bis arrival, he verified the
prediction of M. Geoffroy, who. in his letters often urged
him to leave his situation in Normandy. " Venez a Paris,
jouer parmi nous le role d'un autre Linne', d'un autre le-
gislateur de Phistoire naturelle." He was very soon looked
up to by the most learned ; but. his ardent pursuit of science
seriously alarmed his friends for his health. At this time,
says M. Duvernoy, it was entirely deranged : he was pale
and thin, complained of a pain in his chest, of a dry cough,
and shewed all the incipient symptoms of consumption.

53 MEMOIR OF CUVIER.

Contrary, however, to all expectation, he rallied completely,
and the excitement of his various studies, with the exertion
of lecturing, instead of increasing the dangerous symptoms,
strengthened his chest and lungs, and his voice became firm
and loud. He enjoyed this good health until his final ill-
ness.

Cuvier was rather below the middle stature. His tem-
per, says Duvernoy, " was sanguine, nervous, lively, and
passionate ;" and, when a resolution was once taken, he
pursued it with ardour. His skin was very fair, his hair
red until the age of thirty : about this period, which nearly
agrees with the time when his lungs became strengthened,
and his general health was improved, it by degrees assumed
a darker or more chestnut shade. At the age of forty-five
he began to get stout, but he enjoyed excellent health ; and
at the age of sixty, he scarcely appeared to have passed his
fiftieth year. His sight continued excellent, and when
reading or writing, he never used spectacles.

The body of Cuvier was opened and examined by M. Be-
rard the elder, in presence of MM. Orfila, Dumeril, Du-
puytren, Allard, Biot, Valenciennes, Laurillard, Rousseau,
and Andral the nephew, and a report of the examination
has been published in the Medical Gazette of France.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature in the dissection
was the large size of the brain. " Soemmering," says M.
Berard, "• computes the weight of the human brain to be
from two to three pounds. I arrived at the same result by
taking two brains from the Hospital St Antoine. The one,
from a woman aged thirty, weighed, with its membranes,
21b. lloz. 2 drachms: the other, from a man, aged forty,
21b. 12 oz. 6£drs. The brain of Cuvier raised 31b. 10 oz.
4* drs., being nearly a pound heavier than the weight of the
others. But the following result presented as much interest.
Upon comparing the weight of the cerebellum with that from
the man above mentioned, a difference of 1£ drachm only
was found in favour of that of M. Cuvier ; hence it followed,
that the excess of weight in his brain was distributed al-
most exclusively to the cerebral lobes, which have been ge-
nerally considered as the chief seat of the intellectual fa-
culties."

MAMMA LIU,

THE Felince are the most powerful and ferocious of
all predatory animals, and appear to hold the same
analogous place among quadrupeds, which the Falcons,
Eagles, and Birds of Prey do among the feathered
races. They have afforded scope for the talent of
poets and orators, when portraying the characters
of the brave, the strong, the magnanimous, or the
cruel, and have been successfully employed by the
sculptor and painter, as accessories in some of their
finest conceptions. Few of the ancient courts, particu-
larly those in the east, wanted an establishment of these
animals, and they were led out as fitting attendants
upon royalty, on occasions of great pomp and state.
They were used also for the more degrading office of
destroying criminals ; and, in more barbarous realms,
their skins and heads often constituted a conspicu-
ous portion of the war-dress, while a string of their
teeth was an acceptable present from a chief of the
desert to his young bride, esteemed for their sur>-

60 NATURAL HISTORY OF

posed power of preservation, and perhaps equally
symbolical of his power, to preserve or punish.

The knowledge of the ancients regarding these
animals was confined to a few of the more powerful
species exhibited to the old world, and which became
celebrated by the parts they were made to take in
the triumphs and games.

These were sometimes sent as presents from the
conquered nations ; but, in general, animals were
collected from the shores of Africa and India in such
numbers and variety, that we are at a loss to con-
ceive how they were overcome, or afterwards trans-
ported to the utmost limits of the Roman empire.

All that with potent teeth command the plain,

All that run horrid with erected mane ;

Or, proud of stately horns or bristling hair,

At once the forests ornament or fear ;

Torn from their deserts by the Roman power,

Nor strength can save, nor craggy den secure —

is the account given of their variety by CLAUDIAN.

Those belonging to the tribe we are now about
to describe were chiefly lions, and the larger spotted
African and Asiatic cats, which then went under
different appellations of varii, pardi, pantherse, &c.
Lynxes were occasionally exhibited, but tigers only
once or twice. At the triumphs, they were either
*d in procession, as trophies from the vanquished
nation, or, in a few instances having been tamed,
they were made to draw tlie chariot of the conqueror,
symbolical of his prowess. But the most frequent

THE FELINE. 61

exhibition of all kinds of animals was in the public
amphitheatral shows, an amusement which became a
complete passion with the Romans. Immense sums
were lavished in their arrangement; * ^en the armies,
when stationary for a short period, must have their
circus ; and traces of these erections are to be found
in the most distant parts of the Roman empire.
Training men to these sports became a profession,
and persons of rank were emulous to engage in them,
because they were thought to keep up the martial
spirit of the nation.

The number of fierce animals collected at these
shows was immense, and the slaughter no less so *.
Cornelius Scipio Nasica introduced sixty-three lions.
Scylla exhibited 100, which he received in a present
from Boschus, King of Mauritania, with some Mau-
ritanians to fight them. Pompey, at the opening of
his theatre, exhibited a variety of games and battles
with wild beasts, in which 500 lions were slain in
five days ; and in another exhibition, the tragedy
consisted in u the massacre of 100 lions, and an
equal number of lionesses, 200 leopards, and 300
bears." In the extravagant theatre built by Scau-
rus, 500 panthers were let loose in the arena.

At a later period, during the zenith of the Mogul
Empire, the number of the animals and birds which
was kept around the sovereigns was almost incredi-

* Eutropius (confirmed by some other historians) tells us
that 5000 wild beasts of all kinds were slaughtered at the
dedication of the arauhit^patre of Titus.

62 NATURAL HISTORY OF

l>le. They consisted principally of elephants, camels,
hunting tigers, and hawks. Of the former, many
thousands were always at command, and were em-
ployed in the wars, or in assisting to drive the more
ferocious and cunning animals into inclosures, where
they could be taken. Beasts of prey were taken in
this way, and were kept in royal parks, to be hunted
at leisure, or to be matched against each other at
public fights. The others were used in hunting,
and were equally numerous, with a proportionate
number of attendants.

As among the Romans, the nobles and youth
here were also anxious to display their prowess in
the engagements with wild beasts ; but they were
brought in contact in a different manner, and in-
stead of meeting them in the hampered amphitheatre,
they were encountered in the field, after being driven
by a retinue of followers within a comparatively con-
fined space. We cannot resist inserting a descrip-
tion of one of these imperial hunts, in which the
army of Genghis Khan was engaged : it shews the
scale upon which such expeditions were carried on ;
and the immense slaughter of animal life will in
some measure account for the reduction of the num-
bers, and restriction of some species from many parts
of northern and western Asia, and the European
boundary, where they formerly abounded.

" Genghis Khan being at Zermid in the midst of
winter, a season that prevented him from prosecut-
ing the war, ordered a great hunt, to keep his sol-

THE FELINE. 63

diers in action. Tonshi Khan, the Emperor's eldest
son, master huntsman of the empire, being absent,
the Emperor commanded the Nevian, his lieutenant,
to prepare the chase, and directed what circumference
of ground they must encompass. The officers of the
army were to follow at the head of their troops, ac-
cording to the prescribed laws concerning hunting.
The officers having led their soldiers to the rendez-
vous, they ranged them round the space which was
encompassed, in the manner of a thick hedge ; some-
times doubling the ranks about the circle which the
huntsman had appointed. They neglected not to
remind the troops, that it was as much as their lives
were worth to let the beasts escape out of the ring,
which was an immense number of leagues in circum-
ference, and enclosed a great number of groves and
woods, with all the animals that lived in them. The
centre of this great enclosure, whereto all the beasts
must retire, was a plain marked out by the hunts-
man.

" The officers of the chase immediately dispatch-
ed couriers to the lieutenant-generals for the orders
given for marching : the Nevian himself went to re-
ceive them from the Grand Khan, and gave them to
the couriers, who conveyed them to the hunting of-
ficers ; having well observed where the Emperor's
quarters were, and in which direction he would ad-
vance. On the couriers' arrival, the orders were
';ommunicated to the captains. The kettle-drums,
trumpets, and horas sounded the general marrh,

64 NATURAL HISTORY OP

which began everywhere at the same time, and in
the same order. The soldiers marched very close
together, and always towards the centre, driving be-
fore them the beasts. Their officers were behind,
observing them. All were armed, as if on a martial
expedition, with helmets of iron, corslets of leather,
bucklers of wicker, scimitars, bows, quivers full of
arrows, files, hatchets, clubs, cords, packing-needles
and threads. It was forbidden to kill or wound any
animal, whatever violence the beast offered. They
were to shout and frighten the game from passing
the enclosure ; for the Emperor so ordained. Thus
they marched every day, driving the beasts before
them. All that is practised in war, was punctually
observed ; sentinels relieved, watchwords given.
Thus, for some weeks, they marched without inter-
ruption ; but a river, not everywhere fordable, caused
a halt : the beasts were driven into it, and swam
across ; the soldiers passed over upon round pieces
of hide, bound together, several being seated upon
one of these bundles of leather, each of which was
ied to a horse's tail ; the borse drew it across the
river, following a person that swam before. Now
the circle lessening, and the beasts finding them-
selves pressed, some ran to the mountains, some to
the valleys, some to the forests and thickets; whence
scenting the hunters, they fled elsewhere. They re-
treated to holes and burrows ; but spades, mattocks,
and ferrets, brought them out.

•' The beasts now beo-an to mix, some became

THE FELINE. 6,*

furious, and toiled the soldiers greatly to keep them
in the circle, and to drive them from mountains and
precipices ; hut not an animal escaped their vigi-
lance.

" Couriers went from different quarters to advise
the Grand Khan of what was passing, and to give
him news of the princes who shared the diversion
and confusion of the chase. The Emperor kept a
strict eye on the conduct of the troops. The wild
beasts being now hard pressed, the strong leaped
on the weakest, and tore them in pieces ; bat their
fury did not last long.

" The timbrels, drums, and other instruments, were
now played upon ; which, with the shouts and cries
of the soldiers, so frightened these wild animals, that
they lost all their fierceness. The lions and tigers
grew gentle ; bears and wild boars, like the most
timid creatures, seemed cast down and amazed.

" The trumpets being sounded, the Grand Khan
entered the circle first, holding in one hand his
naked sword, and in the other his bow ; his quiver
was across his shoulder. He was attended by some
of his sons, and all his general officers. He himself
began the slaughter, striking the fiercest beasts,
some of which became furious, and endeavoured to
defend their lives. At last the Emperor retreated
to an eminence, seated himself upon a throne pre-
pared for him. From thence he observed the strength
arid agility of his children, and all the officers who
attacked the savage animals. Whatever danger they

6 J NATURAL HISTORY OF

ran, yet no one avoided it or gave back, but rather
shewed more eagerness, well knowing that the Grand
Khan, by this, would judge of their merit."

By many of the Indian sovereigns, beasts of prey
were kept to be hunted, or being tamed, were placed
near the throne upon occasions of pomp. They were
also much more frequently employed as the execution
ers of criminals, or persons who had displeased their
despotic masters. The King of Pegu " kept a park
for lions, tigers, and other fierce beasts, called Li-
paro ; and it is a sad and daily sight to see criminals
devoured by them." We have often seen models of
these executions, of the natural size ; they generally
represented a man overthrown by a tiger, and had
pipes within, which uttered a moaning sound, and by
the turning of a handle, imitated the groans of the
dying wretch. These instruments are said to be
kept by natives of rank, — most intellectual toys.

But in ether parts of these countries, particularly
Hindostan, instead of being used to rouse the mar-
tial spirit of the youth, the beasts of prey occupy
a prominent part in the religious rites* In the
dark mythology of the Hindoos, many of them are
held as sacred, or as evil spirits which can be pro-
pitiated by food. It is therefore a crime to destroy
a tiger, and the teeth and claws are worn as charms
against their ravages. Similar ideas prevail in a
great part of the East Indian Archipelago, and pre-
cautions are scarcely ever taken against a wild beast.
In Sumatra. " when a tiger enters a village, t\»e

THE FELINE. 67

foolish people frequently prepare riee and fruits, and
placing them at the entrance, conceive that, by giving
him this hospitable reception, be will he pleased with
their attention, and pass on without doing them
harm. *

Bringing the history of our knowledge of these
wild animals to a still later period, we find them in
Britain, in attendance upon the courts of our own
kings. Henry the First had, at his manor at Wood-
stock, a royal menagerie, where he kept lions and
leopards, lynxes, porcupines, and several other un-
common beasts. From Woodstock, these animals
were transferred to the Tower, and formed the foun-
dation of that establishment. But in all these im-
mense collections, we have only seen them as ac-
i cessaries of eastern magnificence, or delighting a
barbarous people by their still more barbarous eon-
tests. It is true, certainly, that one of th« greatest
original works f derived a great part of its accuracy
; and value from the numbers of animals which Alex-
ander remitted during the progress of his conquests,
and the Natural History of Pliny was partly supplied
from the Roman shows ; but these are only instances
of great men making use of the advantages which
these collections afforded.

1 Memoirs of Sir Stamford Raffles, p. 314. They do the
same on the approach of the small-pox, and thus endeavoui
to lay the evil spirit by kind and hospitable treatment.
Ai idiotic.

68 NATURAL HISTORY OF

The first establishment of the kind which \vas
used practically, and for the study of their natures,
was a menagerie founded at Versailles, by Louis
XIV., and which served for the schools of Buffon
and Daubenton ; and following this, the fine col-
lection in the Garden of Plants at Paris, formed
a source from which all Europe drew their re-
searches. In Britain, during this period, the collec-
tions of wild animals were confined to those of one or
two individuals, who made them sources of profit ;
and for many years that belonging to Mr Cross, in
Exeter Change, was well known as almost the only
place where a study could be obtained. Later years,
however, and an increasing knowledge of the utility
of Natural History, has raised up noble collections.
The Tower bas been renovated ; London, Liverpool,
and Dublin, have now their zoological gardens, and
England can no longer be taunted that she was unable
to equal the menageries of the Continent. The vari-
ous zoological gardens which are established and esta-
blishing throughout the country, are now the schools
of Natural History; and the wild beasts of the forests,
and fowls of tbe air, instead of being destroyed in
savage and unnatural conflicts, are studied, to learn ;
the wonders of their structure, and to discover the j
uses for which an all bountiful Creator has intended
them.

Having tbus attempted to trace one department
of the history of these animals from the older ages
*• the present time, we shall describe the habits and

THE FELINE. 69

structures which particularly characterise and dis-
tinguish them from other groups.

The Cats, or those animals known to naturalists
under the designation of Feles, hold a very prominent
station among the creatures which support them-
selves almost entirely upon animal food. In the ar-
rangement of Linnaeus, they stand among the Ferae ;
hy Illiger they are placed in his order Falculata ; by
the Baron Cuvier among his Carnassiers; and by
the two latter naturalists they are considered typical
of subordinate groups, named by the first Sangui-
naria, and by the last Carnivores, names which indi-
cate the principal trait in their characters.

In geographical distribution, the Felinse have a
very extensive range, but the most powerful and
dangerous are almost confined to the warmer climates.
Different species are, however, found in every part of
the world, with the exception of New Holland and
the islands in the South Pacific Ocean; and though
the hot jungles of India and Africa, and the wooded
plains of South America, contain the greater num-
bers, a few extend to countries of almost arctic cold,
and one or two of the most formidable, reach, in li-
mited numbers, far beyond the boundary of a tem-
perate climate. Notwithstanding that the species
are spread over the greater part of the old and new
world, none have yet been discovered, which are
common to both. In many instances prototypes are
found, and the place of the panther and leopard is
filled in South America by the jaguar. The ocelots

70 NATURAL HISTORY OF

of the same country are represented in India and her
islands, by the numerous small spotted and clouded
cat?, which so much ahound in them ; while in Africa
the Cape cat and its allies enter into the same part
of the economy of nature ; the lynxes, though of
a different form, find representatives to each other in
more varied districts. A few species again, are more
limited in the space which they occupy. The tiger
is exclusively Asiatic ; the Ounce* belongs to Persia,
and to the Alpine ranges only ; and the Felis macro-
celis appears yet confined to the Indian Archipe-
lago.f

The natural abodes of these animals, with a few
exceptions, may be said to be the boundless forests.
The scorching heat of the climates which they chiefly
inhabit, renders a very impervious covering neces-
sary during the day, and this, in its greatest need, is
best supplied among the umbrageous palms, and
luxuriant foliage of the tropics. By Mr Burchell
the lion is said principally to frequent the open
plains, but in this situation he was almost always
disturbed during the day, from a patch of short
brush, or from among the long and reedy vegetation,
which, in the absence of other cover, often fringes
the margins of the springs and rivers of these de-
serts. When disturbed, he generally betook him-
self to the mountains, where a temporary shelter

* See description of that animal.

•f Felis nebulosa, Griff., from China, has not been satis-
factorily identified with F. macrocelis.

THE FELINE. 71

a«d retirement might be found among the rocky cliffs.
Change of country sometimes varies the habit of
the same animal. The Cougar is often seen in the
plains of South America, and so openly as to allow
the exercise of the lasso ; but in the northern parts,
it is much more confined to the thick swampy
woods. Almost all the smaller species which extend
to a northern climate, are found in rocky situations,
particularly if they are interspersed with trees ; arid
the animals can penetrate among the rents and
openings, which protect them better from the cold,
and afford a safe retreat for themselves or their
young. Some will also vary their abode in search
of food, and accommodate themselves to circum-
stances.

All seek a living prey, which they seize by differ-
ent methods, as we shall presently notice ; and where-
ever the various kinds of game, as it is called,
abounds, there will be found their destructive ene-
mies, following their migrations, hemming in their
rear and flanks, and supplying their own wants by
the destruction of another race of beings ; and thus,
in the ravages of the beast of prey, we may perceive
a necessary check to regulate the balance between
the herbivorous animals and the fruits of the earth,
which, without it, might become too scanty for their
sustenance.

The food of animals depending always on their
own exertions, they must be endowed with peculiar
senses and structures to secure a supply, while

72 NATURAL HISTORY OF

at same time they are furnished with organs which
assist in their self-preservation. We find some,
therefore, supplied with wings for flight, by which
they can pursue a prey which have similar powers of
locomotion ; others, again, are swift of foot, and
where this power is granted in a less degree, its place
is supplied by a sense of smelling the most exquisite,
which leads them to their victim, when every other
power would be unavailing. The Felinae are endow-
ed with none of these means, but their dispositions
are cunning and watchful, and they possess a delicate
hearing and piercing sight ; and, in combination with
these faculties, their strong forms and powerful
weapons of offence, render them terrible foes to the
animal kingdom. The combination of their struc-
ture is expressed in their countenance, and has
gained for them the appellation of ferocious, cruel,
malignant, and bloodthirsty ; and an old poet tells
us —

" Caedem oculis, caedem et vultu, csedemet ore minantur."
In hunting their prey, the endowments we have
mentioned are employed with great address. Morn-
ing and evening are the times when it is chiefly
sought, and it is either crept upon by stealth, or lain
in wait for. Near to the passes in the thick forests,
the edges of the jungle, the banks of the springs
and rivers, where the beasts daily seek for water,
are situations favourable for the exercise of their
perfidious ambuscade ; when the prey approaches,
the animal gathers his strength for the spring, and

THE FELIN^E. 73

by a succession of leaps, or by one immense bound,
seldom fails in reaching the object. Or if tbe crea-
ture has to be approached, the assailant becomes
flattened, as it were, and, crouching, advances swift-
ly but imperceptibly ; the velvety-feeling pads of
the toes touch the ground without noise ; the eyes,
gleaming on the prey, see no obstruction, but the
slightest hinderance is told by the sensitive whiskers.
The measured distance is gained, and the muscles of
the animal are braced for the fatal spring ; a roar or
yell thrills through the victim, and overpowers its fa-
culties ; an instinctive terror renders strength or swift-
ness of foot equally unavailing, and it is borne off
felled and unresisting to some neighbouring thicket,
where it can be devoured in quiet.

Some species follow their prey into the trees, as
the leopard and jaguar, and seize the monkeys and
larger birds, after they have gone to rest for the
night. Sometimes, says Humboldt, the cry of the
jaguar comes from the tops of the trees, followed by
the long and sharp whistling of the monkeys, which
appear to flee from the danger which threatened
them * ; and this manner of hunting is also pursued
by most of the smaller cats, which vary the size of
their prey, according to their strength to seize it.
The cougar, again, is said to lie in wait upon a
branch, or projecting rock overhanging the path, and
to drop upon the passing animals ; the fangs and claws

* Pers. Nar See variety of prey which is sought by the

jaguar in the description of that animaL

?4 NATURAL HISTORY OF

are fixed into the neck and head, and the animal flies
until terror and exhaustion render it an easy prey to
its persevering assailant.

Where civilization has conimenced, and around en-
campments of large travelling parties, the attack of the
feline animals is made more openly, numbers are at-
tracted by the hope of plunder, and a straggler from
the main body is sure to be seized. Sometimes the
flocks which have been put up for the night are open-
ly attacked in the folds, and the enclosures into which
the Guacha drives his wild horsb, «it the conclusion of
his ride, is often entered by the jaguar, and much de-
struction effected. In the darkness of the night, cattle
and flocks have an instinctive knowledge of the ap-
proach of these dire enemies. The beautiful courser
knows that his speed will be unavailing, his limbs
shake, and his glossy skin becomes frothed with a
white sweat. The herds proclaim, by their huddled
forms and low bellowings, that the savage is nigh,
and a roar of disappointment or exaltation often
throws every thing into confusion ; bands are broken,
and the animals, in a paroxysm of terror, rush in all
directions, breaking down the enclosures, which were
their only safety. Now is also the time of attack,
and it is seldom made in vain ; in the morning the
settler or traveller has to lament the loss of some of
his best horses or oxen. Among all the feline ani-
mals, the voice is a powerful instrument in over-
powering the feelings of their prey ; the sound of it
has something harsh, and grating, and terrible, and

THE FELIX /FU 75

produces a sensation of awe, which no animal is able
to withstand. The roaring of the lion impresses
even man himself with a feeling which he cannot
control. " The lion hath roared ; who will not fear?"
and when it hecomes instinctively known as the pre»
lude to a sure destruction, it is dreadful indeed.

The instincts which induce these animals to ap
proach their prey by stealth or a careful watchful-
ness, we noticed were accompanied with powerful
weapons of offence : let us now see how their
structure is arranged, so as to act in unison with
them. The most striking feature in the form of the
cats, is the immense power of the neck, shoulders,
and fore limbs, and the great muscular activity which
the whole body exhibits. They are —

* Lithe muscular, huge-boned, and limbed for leaping ;"

and these qualities are often joined with a degree
of slender elegance, and grace of motion, which
one would almost consider impossible in their huge
frames. The principal organs, in employment for
these great wants, are the jaws and teeth, the limbs
And claws, and upon these organs we find displayed
the greatest proportion of beautiful mechanism. The
system of dentition is remarkably simple, but from
its simplicity it derives its efficacy. The canine
teeth are of extreme power and strength, and the
side teeth, which amount to only four in the upper,
and three in the under jaw, instead of assuming the
noost common tuberculated form, are shaped like

76

NATURAL HISTORY OF

wedges, and being comparatively thin, require little
power to be exerted to cut into any substance. The
structure of the joint of the jaw assists this pro-
perty ; it is so constructed as to be incapable of a
lateral motion, and the whole strength of the muscles
is thus exerted in a perpendicular or cutting direction.
The strength of the muscles employed in this action
is prodigious, and some idea maybe formed of it by in-
specting the markings upon the accompanying cut of
the skull of the jaguar, and the great spaces which
are allowed for their action. In addition to these
implements for tearing and cutting their food, may
be noticed the surface of the tongue, which is covered
with numerous horny papillae, having the points di-
rected backwards, and whose effect may be observed,
when a lion or any large animal of the tribe is licking
a bone, which is too powerful for his strong jaws
to break. It is suited more for laceration, ami

THE FELTX.E.

77

to retain the food within the mouth, than for an or-
gran of taste ; and the gustatory nerves are com para
tively small, and distributed principally to the mus-
cles*. In the different species, these papillae hav*
not a similar arrangement, some are in straight rowa

* Desmoulins.

78 NATURAL HISTORY OF

and others run in alternate lines. Most people are
familiar with the sensation produced when the com-
mon cat licks the hand ; by the lion more marked
traces would be left.

The fore-limbs exhibit a still more beautiful ar-
rangement for strength and seizure. " The muscle*
>f the fore-arm-of the lion," writes Sir Charles Bell,
' bear a strong resemblance and shape to those of
the same part in man. The flexors, extensors, pro-
nators, and supinators, are, in the brute, exactly in
the same place, and bear all the relations which the
student of anatomy is taught to observe with so
much interest in the human arm *." Hence the
power to inflict a blow at the moment of their fatal
bound, which either kills or completely stuns their
victim. The stroke from a Bengal tiger has been
known to fracture a man's skull. The feet having
five toes on the fore extremity, and four only on the
hind, complete the work. They are armed with
most powerful, hooked, sharp, and hard claws, ad-
mirably fitted for tearing, and no less admirably
protected by a peculiar mechanism, from being
broken or blunted, or otherwise injured in the ordi-
nary motions or walking of their possessors.

The accompanying figure illustrates this mecha-

ism in the foot of the lion ; and we are indebted to

Professor Traill for a description of the parts, ana

the use of a clever sketch by Mosses, taken from a

* Sir Charles Bell. The Hand, JBridgewater Treatises,
120.

THE FELINE.

79

rnnl^ of about two years and a half old, which was
dissected by Dr Traill.

\

" The position of the phalanges represents the
claw in a state of retraction. The claw is sup-

80 NATURAL HISTORY OP

ported on the last phalanx, which is of a very po
culiar form. Its two portions are united to each
other at nearly right angles. The base of the claw
is received into a groove in the body of the bone, to
prevent its being pushed backwards in the violent
action of the paws. The two parts of the bone form
a species of hook or crotchet. The superior end of
this phalanx, in this state of repose, is placed almost
vertically ; while the other extremity lies nearly pa-
rallel to the second. The articulation is at the upper
end of the vertical portion, arid the flexor tendons,
passing over the upper part of the bone, are strongly
fixed to the other portion. The action of the flexof
profundus causes the wholo bone to move through
90° round the end of the second phalanx. The last
phalanx is kept in its retracted state by the tendon
a, which passes from the extensor tendon up to the
base of the third phalanx ; and also by b and c, elas-
tic ligaments which proceed by double heads from
the tendinous expansion at the top of the second
phalanx, and form bands on each side, which are
united at the palmar base of the claw. From the
twisted form of the second phalanx, the third does
not move over its end in the same place, but on re-
traction falls a little on its outer side.

" d. is the strong round tendon of the flexor pro-
fundus, which passes over the superior extremity of
the last phalanx to e, as over a pulley, giving prodi-
gious power to the action of that muscle. This tendon

THE FELINE. 81

do*s not arise, as in man, directly from the belly of
the muscle, but from a flat irregular cartilaginous
body, 2| inches long, and 1^ broad, attached to the
lower end of the muscle, and sliding between the an-
nular ligament, and a very thick fascia covering the
bottom of the fore-paw ; from this substance five very
strong tendons proceed to the fingers, which perforate
the tendons of the sublimus nearly as in other animals.

" They are strongly strapped down, as seen in the
figure."

In addition to these weapons, we also perceive,
when examining an animal of this tribe, that the
neck and muscles of the fore quarter are particu-
larly powerful. When some prey has been killed,
a large deer or bullock, it will require no ordinary
strength to tear it open, or to drag and carry it to a
secure retreat ; and there seems good authority for
believing, that the strength of these parts in the lion
will enable him to carry off an ox or heifer with ap-
parent ease.* In other species, they are of a power
as great in comparison to their size ; and the prey is
always dragged off; never, except perhaps in a case
of great hunger, devoured where it is seized.

When we consider, then, these arrangements for
destruction, and the fierce and murderous instincts
with which the feline animals are endowed, we may
be at a loss to comprehend what place they hold in the
ajs and economy of nature ; but in looking a little
farther, we will perceive that the races of herbivo-

* See instances in description of Plates I, II, III.

82 NATURAL HISTORY OF

rous animals, without a natural check, would soon
become too numerous for the substances which nave
been allotted for their nourishment, and, by creating
famine, would be the cause of their own destruction.
Instances of such a sweep upon the vegetation of a
country, have in reality occurred. A recent travel-
ler in South Africa, thus writes of the migrations of
the Trek-boken or Migratory Springboks * : — " It
is scarcely possible for a person passing over some
of the extensive tracts of the interior, and admiring
that elegant antelope, the Springbok, thinly scatter-
ed over the plains, and bounding in playful inno-
cence, to figure to himself that these ornaments of
the desert can often become as destructive as the lo-
custs themselves. The incredible number which
sometimes pour in from the north, during protracted
droughts, distress the farmer inconceivably. Any
attempt at numerical computation would be vain ;
and by trying to come near the truth, the writer
would subject himself, in the eyes of those who have
no knowledge of the country, to a suspicion that he
was availing himself of a traveller's assumed privi-
lege ; yet it is we known in the interior, that, on
the approach of the Trek-boken, the grazier makes
up his mind to look for pasturage for his flocks else-
where, and considers himself entirely dispossessed wf

* The same writer computes the number of
in the Karroo Plains, «een within a compass of fifty miles,
to be at least 100,000.

THE FELINE. 83

his lands, until heavy rains fall. Every attempt ti>
save the cultivated fields, if they he not enclosed by
high and thick hedges, proves abortive. Heaps of dry
manure (the fuel of the Sneeuwbergen and other parts)
are placed close to each other round the fields, and
•et on fire in the evening, so as to cause a dense
smoke, by which it is hoped the antelopes will be
deterred from their inroads ; but the dawn of day
exposes the inefficiency of the precaution, by shew-
ing the lands, which appeared proud of their pro-
mising verdure the evening before, covered with
thousands, and reaped level with the ground."

In their uses also to man, this balancing of crea-
tion, as it were, is the most important. The more di-
rect benefits will be comprehended in the commerce
which is maintained with their skins, which alike form
comfortable protections from cold and the inclemen-
cies of the weather, and are beautiful and ornamen-
tal articles of dress. Immense numbers of various
skins are imported by the Chinese, where they are
worn as emblems of rank. Still greater numbers
are introduced into Russia, where they are worn
in winter as real necessaries ; and in the more tempe-
rate districts of Europe and Britain, perhaps the con-
sumption during the same season is little inferior an
ornamental dresses.

The classification of these animals appears to have
been unsatisfactory to most naturalists, and so far
artificial that it separates allied species from each
other, and in one or two instances brings opposite

84 NATURAL HISTORY OF

forms together. Temminck divides them into two sec-
tions, those of the Old, and those of the New World ;
while, by Cuvier, they are arranged according to the
presence or want of spots, and by the distribution and
form of these upon the skin ; the latter arrangement
has been followed in most of the later systems, and
will be found more extended in Desmarest's Mam-
malogie, where there are seven subdivisions, in which
the form of the ears is also included.

The Linnaean genus Felis, to which we have in
the present volume applied the family name of Fe-
linae, is a group containing nearly fifty species, of
which all the characters, though very closely assimi-
lated,* at the same time exhibit a variety of subor-
dinate forms, which diverge from the typical genus,j
and show an alliance with the other sub-families of
the Carnivora. The Prince of Musignano, in his fa-
mily Felina, admits Proteles, Hycena^ and Priono\
don. In restricting it, as we at present do, to the;
Linnsean Felis, we may be wrong, from being unable
to examine many of the aberrant forms of what we
consider Felinae, and also those of the other families ;
but none of the above mentioned genera, we would
say, can rank here, while they appear to have beau-i
tiful and appropriate stations elsewhere.

The Linnsean genus Felis has also, by different
naturalists, been subdivided ; the title Felis being^
retained for Tiger, Leopard, &c., which seem to:

* La genre des Chats, est Pun des plus rigoureusement
determines du Regne Animal. — Cuv. Oss. Foss.

THE FELINE. 85

[lisplay the characters of the family in the greatest
>erfection. Dr Leach formed a genus from the
^.ion, Zfo, which will perhaps now contain three
pecies, as some naturalists are of opinion that
;he African and Asiatic Lions are distinct, and we
earn from the reports of the Zoological Society of
Condon, that the long sought for maneless Lion
ias been discovered. Mr Gray has also made a
us from the lynxes, Lynchus; and M. Wagler,
;o the Felis jubata, gives the name of Cynailurus.
Another form seems yet un characterized in the Pu-
na, Jagourandi, &c., which have a flattened head
md peculiar physiognomy, comparatively short legs,
md the tail more furry or brushlike than the others.
There thus seem to be five very distinct forme, but
whether those which we have now mentioned would
ypically represent them, we cannot with decision
issert. It maybe remarked, that both the Lynchus
)f Gray, and Felis, as we have placed it, would con-
ain subordinate sections, which might rank as sub-
genera,

We have experienced considerable difficulty in
)rocuring specimens, or good copies, from whence
o make the drawings for the accompanying illustra-
ions. A few have been taken from the lithographic
)lates of Frederic Cuvier's Histoire Naturelle des
Vlammiferes, and the Atlas of Ruppel, and those
rom other works are mentioned in the details ; we
lave also two beautiful drawings by Mr Lear of
-rondon, taken from animals in the Surry Zoological

86 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FELINE.

Gardens ; but drawings for the greater number of the
plates have been made from specimens in the Edin-
burgh Museum, for the examination of which every
facility was afforded by Professor Jameson. These
drawings were all executed by Mr Stewart, whose as-
sistance in this department we were fortunate in ob-
taining about the commencement of the work, and
whose talents in the delineation of animals will sup-
ply a want which has been long sought after by the
Naturalists of the Scottish Metropolis.

We shall now commence the detailed history of
the animals of this group, with the description of

THE LlOXf.

Felis Leo — AUCTORUM.

PLATE I. II. & III.* MALE— III. FEMALE AND YOUNG.

Leo, AJ&/V, of the ancients. — Felis Leo of modern Natural-
ists — Type of the Genus Leo, Dr Leach.

IF we measure the station of the animals belong-
ing to this protip by their size and prowess, the
Lion will undoubtedly hold the first ; and by all its
describers it has been allowed that place. Nume-
rous figures of this formidable cat have been given
in the various illustrated works on natural history,
and, although they convey to us a certain knowledge
of the form and appearance of the animal, they fall
far short of our idea of the Lion roaming free and
uncontrolled in his own deserts. The limited size
of the accompanying illustrations is against any im-
provement in this department ; but we have selected
for our copies the plates of Marescball, Frederic Cu-
vier, and Edwards, which we consider generally cha-
racteristic.

•f The figures in this volume are drawn without regard
to the proportional size of the species, but the dimensions
of each are given in the descriptions. A proportional scale
would have reduced the lesser animals to a very small size.

88 THE ^ON.

The Lion at present is an inhabitant of the greater
part of Africa, and the warmer districts of India.
In the days of antiquity, the range seems to have
been much more extended, and reached to the Eu-
ropean boundary. Lions were even found in the
mountains of northern Greece ; and, according to
Herodotus, the camels which carried the baggage
of the army of Xerxes were attacked by them in the
country of the Pseonians, one of the races of Mace-
donia. In Africa, they may now be said to be ex-
tirpated from the line of coast, and nearly mark the
boundary of civilization; while Mr Bennet remarks,
that "In the sandy deserts of Arabia, and in some of
the wilder districts of Persia, and in the vast jungles
of Hindostan, he still maintains a precarious footing ;
but from the classic soil of Greece, as well as from
the whole of Asia Minor, both of which were once
exposed to his ravages, he has been utterly dislodged
and extirpated."

In both Africa and India, he seems confined to
the plains, rather than the wooded and alpine coun-
try ; and the forest can scarcely be called the natural
abode of the lion, especially when we contrast his ha-
bits with some others of the Felinae, which are found
only in those of the thickest and most impervious de-
scription, and which prowl and display almost as much
activity among the branches of the trees as upon the
ground. Burchel remarks, " Nor is the title of
" King of the Forest" very applicable to an animal
which, by myself at least, was never met but on the

THE LION. 89

plains, and certainly never in any of the forests
where I have been." In India, where the charac-
ter of the lower country is more that of a thick
jungle than of an open plain, he has more ample
shade ; but in the arid plains of Africa, where the
cover mostly fringes the banks of the rivers, or
marks the spot of some spring of the desert, he is
more frequently seen ; he is satisfied with a less
extensive and impervious protection, and is often
disturbed from a patch of brush or rushes. Burchel
met with a pair in such a situation as this, which
was perhaps one of his most dangerous encounters
throughout his long and varied travels, and in which
his presence of mind brought him off unhurt. It is
thus related in his interesting African Travels :
" The day was exceedingly pleasant, and not a cloud
was to be seen. For a mile or two, we travelled
along the banks of the river, which, in this part,
abounded in tall mat-rushes. The dogs seemed
much to enjoy prowling about, and examining every
bushy place, and at last met with some object among
the rushes which caused them to set up a most vehe-
ment and determined barking. We explored the
spot with caution, as we suspected, from the pecu-
liar tone of their bark, that it was, what it proved
to be, lions. Having encouraged the dogs to drive
them out, a task which they performed with great
willingness, we had a full view of an enormous
black-maned lion and lioness. The latter was seen
only for a minute, as she made her escape up the

90 THE LION.

river, under concealment of the rushes ; hut the lioi*
came steadily forward, and stood still to look at us.
At this moment we felt our situation not free from
danger, as the animal seemed preparing to spring
upon us, and we were standing on the bank, at the
distance of only a few yards from him, most of us
heing on foot, and unarmed, without any visible pos-
sibility of escaping. I had given up my horse to
the hunters, and was on foot myself; but there was
no time for fear, and it was useless to attempt avoid-
ing him- Poor Tray was in great alarm : she
clasped her infant to her bosom, and screamed out,
as if she thought her destruction inevitable, calling
anxiously to those who were nearest the animal,
Take care ! Take care ! In great fear for my safety,
she half insisted upon my moving farther off. I,
however, stood well upon my guard, holding my
pistols in my hand, with my finger upon the trigger;
and those who had muskets kept themselves pre-
pared in the same manner. But at this instant the
dogs boldly flew in between us and the lion, and
surrounding him, kept him at bay by their violent
and resolute barking. The courage of those faith-
ful animals was most admirable : they advanced up
to the side of the huge beast, and stood making the
greatest clamour in his face, without the least ap-
pearance of fear. The lion, conscious of his strength,
remained unmoved at their noisy attempts, and kept
his head turned towards us. At one moment, the
dogs perceiving his eve thus engaged, had advanced

THE LION. 91

close to his feet, and seemed as if they would ac-
tually seize hold of him ; but they paid dearly for their
imprudence, for, without discomposing the majestic
and steady attitude in which he stood fixed, he
merely moved his paw, and, at the next instant, I
beheld two lying dead. In doing this, he made so
little exertion, that it was scarcely perceptible by
what means they had been killed. Of the time
which we gained by the interference of the dogs, not
a moment was lost : we fired upon him ; one of the
balls went through his side, just between the short
ribs, and the blood began to flow, but the animal
still remained standing in the same position. We
had now no doubt that he would spring upon us :
every gun was instantly reloaded ; but happily we
were mistaken, and were not sorry to see him move
quietly away, though I had hoped in a few minutes
to have been enabled to take hold of his paw with-
out danger."

The appearance of the lion, when unannoyed, or
in confinement, where he is generally very tame,
does not convey to us that idea of ferocity which
generally associates itself with the greater number of
the feline race. His ample front, and overhanging
brows, surrounded with a long and shaggy mane,
remind us of something more majestic than fero-
city ; but the gleam from his eye on the slightest
motion of the bystander, the expression of his coun-
tenance, and erection of his mane upon provoca-
tion, shew that he will not be trifled with, and are

92 THE LION.

sufficient intimations of the powers he is able to call
to his assistance. The general form of the lion is
stronger in front than the proportions of his conge-
ners ; and his broad chest and shoulders, and thick
neck, point out the strength he possesses to seize
and cany off a prey of even greater weight than
himself. His common colour is of a rich brownish-
yellow, and the head and neck of the males are co-
vered with long flowing and shaggy hair, commonly
denominated the mane, which is wanting in the fe-
males. This mane, and the tuft at the extremity of
the tail, are peculiar to the lion only, and are pos-
sessed by none of the others in this group.

We shall first notice the lion in its wild or natu-
ral state, and afterwards the influence acquired over
it by the ingenuity and tuition of man. In the ac-
tions of all animals, the influence of hunger has a
very powerful effect, and the attributes of cruelty
which have generally been given to this race, have
been called forth by their search after natural suste-
nance. In like manner are they endowed with cun-
ning and daring ; and we accordingly find animals of
such size and bulk as the lion and tiger, endowed with
powers sufficient to overcome creatures both great
and strong. When not pressed by the severe calls of
hunger, the lion feeds chiefly at dawn and twilight,
and is easily disturbed : he is nevertheless abroad
(luring the whole night, and, prowling round the
herds of wild animals, or near the flocks of the
settlers, or caravans of travellers, watches an oppor-

THE LION. 93

tunity, and, seizing upon some straggler, carries it
to his place of repose, and devours it at leisure.
But impelled by the craving" of hunger, which the
scarcity of wild animals, and the care of the colo
nists sometimes force him to endure, he becomes a
very different animal : his cunning becomes daring,
no barrier will withstand him — he rushes with re-
sistless fury upon the object of his attack — a bullock
is torn from the team, or a horse from the shafts —
and even man is dragged from the watch-fires, sur-
rounded by his companions and powerful fire-arms.
Perseverance in watching, and in retaining his
prey when seized, are other characteristics of the
lion. An instance of the latter is related in the
Journal of the Landdrost Jah. Sterneberg, kept in
his journey to the Namaqua Hottentots. We have
taken it from Phillips's Researches in South Africa :
" The waggons and cattle had been put up for the
night, when, about midnight, they got into complete
confusion. About thirty paces from the tent stood
a lion, which, on seeing us, walked very deliberately
about thirty paces farther behind a small thorn bush,
carrying something with him which I took to be a
young ox. We fired more than sixty shots at the
bush. The south-east wind blew strong, the sky
was clear, and the moon shone very bright, so that
we could perceive any thing at a short distance.
After the cattle had been quieted again, and I had
looked over every thing, I missed the sentry from
before the tent. We called as loudly as possible,

94 THE LION.

but in vain ; nobody answered, from wbich I con-
cluded he was earned off. Three or four men then
advanced very cautiously to the bush, which stood
right opposite the door of the tent, to see if they
.could discover any thing of the man, but returned
helter-skelter; for the lion, who was still there, rose
up, and began to roar. About a hundred shots were
again fired at the bush, without perceiving any thing
of the lion. This induced one of the men again to
approach it with a firebrand in his hand; but as soon
as he approached the bush, the lion roared terribly,
and leaped at him, on which he threw the firebrand
at him, and the other people having fired about ten
shots at him, he returned immediately to his former
station.

" The firebrand which he had thrown at the lion
had fallen in the midst of the bush, and, favoured
by the wind, it began to burn with a great flame, so
that we could see very clearly into it, and through
it. We continued our firing into it: the night passed
away, and the day began to break, which animated
every one to fire at the lion, because he could not
lie there, without exposing himself entirely. Seven
men, posted at the farthest waggons, watched to
take aim at him as he came out. At last, before it
became quite light, he walked up the hill with the
man in his mouth, when about forty shots were fired
without hitting him." He persevered in retaining
the prey amidst the fire and shot, and amidst it all
carried it securely off. For the satisfaction of the

THE LION. 95

curious, it may however be mentioned, that he was
followed, and killed in the forenoon, over the
mangled remains of the unfortunate sentinel.

His strength on these occasions is immense.
There seems good authority fur his being able to
drag away a heavy ox ; and a young heifer is car-
ried off with ease. Sparrman relates an instance
of a lion, at the Cape of Good Hope, " seizing a
heifer in his mouth, and though the legs dragged
upon the ground, yet he seemed to carry her off
with the same ease as a cat does a rat. He also
leaped over a broad dike with her, without the least
difficulty." The smaller prey is generally thrown
upon the shoulders, and carried at an ambling pace
with great apparent ease. Thompson, a recent tra-
veller in South Africa, saw a very young lion con-
vey a horse about a mile from the spot where he
had killed it ; and relates a more extraordinary in-
stance of strength, which occurred in the Sneeuw-
berg : " A lion having carried off a heifer of two
years' old, was followed, on the spoor or track, for
fully five hours, by a party on horseback, and,
throughout the whole distance, the carcass of the
heifer was only once or twice discovered to have
touched the ground."

The most common and favourite prey of the lion
is the various species of deer and antelope which
abound in the plains of Africa and jungles of India.
The zebra and quagga, bullock and buffalo, are also
frequent victims ; but the latter is frequently the

96 THE LION.

victor, both in the public arena, and when attacked
openly ; and, unless two lions hunt in concert, the
" horned front" proves a sufficient defence, and the
powerful assailant is gored in the attack, which se-
vere hunger may force him to brave openly. It is
asserted by the native African tribes, and told to
European travellers by the chiefs, that the camel-
leopard is sometimes also attacked ; and the strength
of that animal is such, that the assailer is sometimes
earned to a distance of fifteen or twenty miles, be-
fore terror and the loss of blood cause it to sink.
The truth of this has often been questioned ; for our
own part, we believe in the attack, but doubt the
ride. It has been, however, sufficient authority for
the poet ; and, in a South African periodical, we
find a short poem devoted to this subject. The de-
scription of the ride may not be without interest.

" The desert rings

With clanging sound of desperate strife ;

For the prey is strong, and strives for life ;

Plunging oft, with frantic bound,

To shake the tyrant to the ground ;

Then bursts like whirlwind through the waste,

In hope to 'scape by headlong haste :

In vain ! The spoiler on his prize

Rides proudly, tearing as he flies.

For life — the victim's utmost speed

Is mustered in this hour of need;

For life— for life— his giant might

He strains, and pours his soul in flight ;

And, mad with terror, thirst, and pain,

Spurns with wild hoof the thund'ring plain.

THE LION. W

Tis vain ! The thirsty sands are drinking

His streaming blood — his strength is sinking —

The victor's fangs are in his veins —

His flanks are streaked with sanguine stains —

His panting breast in foam and gore

Is bathed — he reels — his race is o'er !

It is a common opinion among the South African
tribes, that the lion will prefer a human prey to any
other, will single out the driver from his cattle, and
prefer the rider to his horse. This has gradually gain-
ed converts among the better informed, and in many
of the colonies it is generally received as a fact. Some-
times he will seize any prey, but animals are certainly
his favourite luxury, and none more than a horse, the
pursuit of which, among other cattle, has given rise
to the idea that the rider most attracted his attention.
In corroboration of this, Thompson relates an inci-
dent which Ix'fel a boor who resided in the neigh-
bourhood of his own farm in the colonies.

" Lucas Van Vunsen, a Vee boor, was riding
across the open plains, near the Little Fish River,
one morning about daybreak ; and observing a lion
at a distance, he endeavoured to avoid him by mak-
ing a wide circuit. There were thousands of spring-
boks scattered over the extensive flats; but the lion,
from the open nature of the country, had been un-
successful in hunting. Lucas soon perceived that
he was not disposed to let him pass without farther
parlance, and that he was rapidly approaching to the
encounter i and, being without his rifle, and others

98 THE LION.

wise little inclined to any closer acquaintance, he
turned off at right angles, laid the sjambok freely to
his horse's flank, and gallopped for life. But it was
too late. The horse was fagged, and bore a heavy
man on his back. The lion was fresh, and furious
with hunger, and came down upon him like a thunder-
bolt. In a few seconds he overtook, and, springing
up behind Lucas, brought horse and man in an in-
stant to the ground. Luckily the poor boor was un-
hurt ; and the lion was too eager in worrying the
horse to pay any immediate attention to the rider.
Hardly knowing how he escaped, he contrived to
scramble out of the fray, and reached the nearest
house in safety."

A perusal of Park's Second Journey to the Niger
will also afford many proofs of their indifference to
the human race as their prey. During the last part
of that unfortunate expedition, lions hung upon the
route continually ; but the asses of burden were
what was sought after. Two-thirds of the soldiers
and followers were so ill as to be unable to keep up
with what was called the main body ; many of them
constantly lying down to die, and actually perishing,
and the whole troop was so weak as to be an easy
prey to animals of the kind. Not an individual was
lost by them, though the havoc among the asses was
considerable. Once only a hostile display was made,
by three lions, on Park himself, when attending up-
on his dying friend Mr Scott, and a single shot was
sufficient to drive them completely off.

THE LION. 99

Hunting the lion in Africa is generally pursued
For the sake of destroying the animal only, without
any view of sport. A regular hunt, when the coun-
try turns out, is a complete scramhle, and a mixture
of men of various figures and complexions ; the dogs
innumerable, and of every kind. Vaillant has given
some ludicrous pictures of the tiger- hunt, as the leo-
pard is here termed ; but we must have recourse
again to Mr Thompson's travels, from whom we
have boiTowed so largely in this article, for an ac-
count of a lion-hunt, after the manner of the coun-
try, which lie witnessed himself, and which will give
some idea of these encounters.

" 1 was then residing on my farm, or location, at
Bavion's River, in the neighbourhood of which nu-
merous herds of large game, and consequently beasts
of prey, are abundant. One night, a lion, who had
previously purloined a few sheep out of the kraal,
came down and killed my riding-horse, about a hun-
dred yards from the door of my cabin. Knowing
that the lion, when he does not carry off his prey,
usually conceals himself in the vicinity, and is more-
over very apt to be dangerous, by prowling about
the place in search of more game, I resolved to have
him destroyed or dislodged without delay. I there-
fore sent a messenger round the location, to invite
all who were willing to assist in the foray, to repair
to the place of rendezvous as speedily as possible.
In an hour, every man of the party (with the excep-
tion of two pluckless fellows, who were kept at home

100 THE LION.

by the women) appeared ready mounted and armed,
We were also reinforced by about a dozen of tbe
Bastard Hottentots, who resided at that time upon
our territory, as tenants or herdsmen ; an active and
enterprising, though rather an unsteady race of men.

" The first point was to track the lion to his co-
vert. This was effected by a few of the Hottentots
on foot. Commencing from the spot where the
horse was killed, we followed the spoor through
grass, and gravel, and brushwood, with astonishing
ease and dexterity, where an inexperienced eye
could discern neither foot-print nor mark of any
kind ; until, at length, we fairly tracked him into a
large bosch, or straggling thicket of brushwood and
evergreens, about a mile distant.

" The next object was to drive him out of this
retreat, in order to attack him in a close phalanx,
with more safety and effect. The approved mode
in such cases is to torment him with dogs till he
abandons his covert, arid stands at bay in the open
plain. The whole band of hunters then march for-
ward together, and fire deliberately one by one. If
he does not speedily fall, but grows angry, and turns
upon his enemies, they must stand close in a circle,
and turn their horse's rear outward ; some holding
them fast by the bridles, while the others kneel to
take a steady aim at the lion as he approaches, some-
times up to the very horses' heels, couching every
now and then, as if to measure the distance and
strength of his enemies. This is the moment to

THE LION. J01

shoot him fairly in the forehead, or some other mor-
tal part. If they continue to wound him ineffectual-
ly, till he waxes furious and desperate, or if the
horses, startled by his terrific roar, grow frantic with
terror, and burst loose, the business becomes rather
serious, and may end in mischief, especially if all the
party are not men of courage, coolness, and experi-
ence. The Frontier boors are, however, generally
such excellent marksmen, and withal so cool and de-
liberate, that they seldom fail to shoot him dead as
soon as they get within a fair distance.

" In the present instance, we did not manage mat-
ters quite so scientifically. The Bastaards, after re-
counting to us all these and other sage laws of lion-
hunting, were themselves the first to depart from
them. Finding that with the few indifferent hounds
we had made little impression on the enemy, they
divided themselves into two or three parties, and rode
round the jungle, firing into the spot where the dogs
were barking round him, but without effect. At
length, after some hours spent in thus beating about
the bush, the Scottish blood of some of my country-
men began to get impatient, and three of them an-
nounced their determination to break in and beard
the lion in his den, provided three of the Bastaards
(who were superior marksmen) would support them,
and follow up their fire, should the enemy venture
to give battle. Accordingly, in they went (in spite
of the warnings of some more prudent men), to with-
in fifteen or twenty paces of the spot where the ani-

102 THE LION.

mal lay concealed. He was couched among the roots
of a large evergreen, but with a small space of open
ground on one side of it ; and they fancied, on ap-
proaching, that they saw him distinctly lying glaring
at them under the foliage. Charging the Bastaards
to stand firm, and level fair, should they miss, the
Scottish champions let fly together, and struck — not
the lion, as it afterwards proved, but a great block
of red stone, beyond which he was actually lying.
Whether any of the shot grazed him is uncertain ;
but, with no other warning than a furious growl,
forth he bolted from the bush. The rascally Bas-
taards, in place of pouring in their volley upon him,
instantly turned and ran, helter-skelter, leaving him
to do his pleasure upon the defenceless Scots, who,
with empty guns, were tumbling over each other, in
their hurry to escape the clutch of the rampant sa-
vage. In a twinkling he was upon them, and, with one
stroke of his paw, dashed the nearest to the ground.
The scene was terrific ! There stood the lion, with
his foot upon his prostrate foe, looking round in con-
scious pride upon the bands of his assailants, and
with a port the most noble and imposing that can
be conceived. It was the most magnificent thing I
ever witnessed. The danger of our friends, how-
ever, rendered it at the moment too terrible to enjoy
either the grand or the ludicrous part of the picture.
We expected every instant to see one or more of
them torn in pieces ; nor, though the rest of the party
were standing within fifty paces, with their guns

THE LION. 103

corked and levelled, durst we fire for their assistance.
One was lying under the lion's feet, and the others
scrambling towards us, in such a way as to intercept
our aim upon him. All this passed far more rapidly
than I have described it ; hut, luckily, the lion, after
steadily surveying us for a few seconds, seemed will-
ing to he quit on fair terms ; and, with a fortunate
forbearance, turned calmly away, and, driving the
snarling dogs like rats from among his heels, bound-
ed over the adjoining thicket, like a cat over a foot-
stool, clearing brakes and bushes, twelve or fifteen
feet high, as readily as if they had been tufts of grass,
and, abandoning the jungle, retreated towards the
mountains.

" After ascertaining the state of our rescued com-
rade, who fortunately had sustained no other injury
than a slight scratch on the back, and a severe bruise
on the ribs, from the force with which the animal
had dashed him to the ground, we renewed the chase,
with Hottentots and hounds, in full cry. In a
short time we again came up with the enemy, and
found him standing at bay under an old mimosa- tree,
by the side of a mountain-stream, which we had dis-
tinguished by the name of Douglas Water. The
dogs were barking round, but afraid to approach him,
for lie was now beginning to growl fiercely, and to
brandish his tail in a manner that shewed he was me-
ditating mischief. The Hottentots, by taking a cir-
cuit between him and the mountain, crossed the
stream, and took a position on the top of a preci-

104 THE LION.

pice overlooking the spot where he stood. Another
party occupied a position on the other side of the
glen ; and, placing the poor fellow thus between two
fires, which confused his attention, and prevented his
retreat, we kept battering at him, without truce or
mercy, till he fell, unable again to grapple with us,
covered with wounds and glory."

Such is the usual way of destroying, rather than
hunting this mighty beast, where a host of men and
dogs can be collected ; and without some great in-
discretion on the part of the men, these encc inters
are generally attended with little danger. The
noise and worrying of the dogs, and shouts ot their
owners, distract the attention of the animal, until an
opportunity for shots occur, which soon terminates
the affair, the boors being very expert in the use of
the rifle.

Some of the boors take a pride in shooting the
lion without assistance ; and in those remote settle-
ments this is often practised from necessity. These
men possess a steady coolness and presence of mind,
with a reckless intrepidity, which a knowledge of
the animal, and reliance upon themselves, could only
inspire. One man will set out to shoot a lion ; his
only weapons, the long belt knife which is constantly
worn, and his single barrelled rifle. His life is al-
most placed upon the excellency of the lock of his
gun, and, missing fire, or a very slight and unfore-
seen accident, places him in a situation from which
all his daring sometimes cannot extricate him.

THE LION. 105

In these excursions a knowledge of the habits ol^
the animal renders the hoors often successful, and the
following method is practised. When the lion is
found and roused, he is allowed to approach, and
hefore making the spring or bound, it js the practice
always to couch, and to aim, as it were, at the ob-
ject. Now is the time when the dexterity and cool-
ness of the boors is put to the test ; the animal is
within twenty yards, the rifle is slowly raised, and
deliberate aim is taken at the forehead. The aim is
generally correct, and the bullet fatal ; if the reverse,
! the bound is instantaneous, the situation of the hunts-
man most perilous, but even here his coolness does
not forsake him.

" Diederik Muller, one of the most intrepid and
successful modern lion-hunters in South Africa, had
jeen out alone hunting in the wilds, when he came
suddenly upon a lion, which, instead of giving way,
seemed disposed, from the angry attitude he assumed,
to dispute with him the dominion of the desert.
Diederik instantly alighted, and, confident of his un-
erring aim, levelled his mighty roer at the forehead
of the lion, who was couched in the act to spring,
within fifteen paces of him ; but at the moment the
imnter fired, his horse, whose bridle was round his
arm, started back, and caused him to miss. The
lion bounded forward, but stopped within a few
paces, confronting Diederick, who stood defenceless,
his gun discharged, and his horse running off. The
man and the beast stood looking each other in the

106 THE LION.

face, for a short space. At length the lion moved ?
* backward, as if to go away. Diederik began to load
bis gun, the lion looked over his shoulder, growled
and returned. Diederik stood still. The lion again
moved cautiously off, and the boor proceeded to |
load and ram down his bullet. The lion again
looked back and growled angrily ; and this occurred
repeatedly, until the animal had got off to some dis-
tance, when he took fairly to his heels, and bounded
away."

The following relation of an encounter of another
kind, will still more forcibly exhibit the coolness
and presence of mind in the South African boor,
upon any trying emergency, or unexpected attack
from wild beasts ; while it will shew that the lion
will occasionally seek his prey during the day, and
near the haunts of men. It is taken from Professor
Lichtenstein's Travels.

" When passing near the Riet river-gate, and
while our oxen were grazing, Van Wyk, the colonist,
related to us the following interesting circumstance.
' It is now,' he said, * more than two years since, in
the very place where we stand, I ventured to take
one of the most daring shots that ever was hazarded.
My wife was sitting within the house, near the door,
the children were playing about her, and I was with-
out, near the house, busied in doing something to a
waggon, when suddenly, though it was mid-day, an
enormous lion appeared, came up and laid himself
quietly down in the shade, upon the very threshold

THE LION. 107

of the door. My wife, either frozen with fear, or
aware of the danger attending any attempt to fly,
remained motionless in her place, while the children
took refuge in her lap. The cry they uttered at-
tracted my attention, and I hastened towards the
door ; hut my astonishment may well be conceived,
when I found the entrance to it barred in such a
way. Although the animal had not seen me, un-
armed as I was, escape seemed impossible, yet I
glided gently, scarcely knowing what I meant to do,
to the side of the house, up to the window of my
chamber, where I knew my loaded gun was stand-
j ing. By a most happy chance I had set it into the
corner close by the window, so that I could reach it
with my hand ; for, as you may perceive, the opening
is too small to admit of my having got in ; and, still
more fortunately, the door of the room was open, so
that I could see the whole danger of the scene. The
lion was beginning to move, perhaps with the inten-
tion of making a spring. There was no longer any
time to think ; I called softly to the mother not to
be alarmed : and invoking the name of the Lord,
fired my piece. The ball passed directly over the
hair of my boy's head, and lodged in the forehead
of the lion, immediately above his eyes, which shot
forth, as it were, sparks of fire, and stretched him on
the ground, so that he never stirred more.' Indeed,
we all shuddered as we listened to this relation. Ne-
ver, as he himself observed, was a more daring at-
tempt hazarded. Had he failed in his aim, mother

108 THE LION.

and children were all inevitably lost ; if the boy had
moved, he had been struck ; the least turn in the j
lion, and the shot had not been mortal to him. To 3
have taken an aim at him without, was impossible ;
while the shadow of any one advancing in the bright
sun, would have betrayed him ; to consummate the j
whole, the head of the creature was in some sort j
protected by the door-post."

Penetrating still further to the interior, where the
rifle has not usurped the place of the arrow and as-
sagay, we have the record of another method of de- j
stroying the lion. For an account of it we are also
indebted to Phillips's Researches. It has been ge-
nerally observed that the lion is awakened with dif-
ficulty after his meal, and, when suddenly disturbed,
loses all presence of mind, and runs off in dismay.
The knowledge of this is taken advantage of by the
bushmen. " It has been remarked of the lion by
the bushmen," says Phillips, " that he generally kills
and devours his prey in the morning, at sunrise or
at sunset. On this account, when they intend to
kill lions, they generally notice where the spring-
boks are grazing at the rising of the sun ; and by
observing at the same time if they appear frightened
and run off, they conclude that they have been at-
tacked by the lion. Marking accurately the spot
where the alarm took place, about eleven o'clock of
the day, when the sun is powerful, and the enemy
they seek is supposed to be fast asleep, they care-
fully examine the ground, and finding him in a state

THE LION. 109

of unguarded security, they lodge a poisoned arrow
in his breast. The moment the lion is thus struck,
he springs from his lair, and hounds off as helpless
as the stricken deer. The work is done. The ar-
row of death has pierced his heart, without even
breaking the slumbers of the lioness which may
have been lying beside him ; arid the bushman knows
where, in the course of a few hours, or even less
time, he will find him dead, or in the agonies of
death."

Such is lion-hunting in Africa. When practised
n India, it is attended with every concomitant of
eastern pomp and show ; but as a clever sketcher ob-
serves, " from the zeal of English sportsmen, and the
price put upon each victim by Government, the
royal race of the forest, like other Indian dynasties,
is either totally extinct, or it has been driven far
back into the deserts." " By crack sportsmen,"
Captain Mundy continues, " the lion is reputed to
afford better sport than the tiger ; his attack is more
open and certain, and the country which he haunts
is less favourable for a retreat, than the thick swampy
morasses frequented by the tiger."* Another In-
dian sportsman-)- tells us, that the lion, though not
so swift as the tiger, is generally stronger and
more courageous. Those which have been killed in
India, instead of running away when pursued through
a jungle, seldom think its cover necessary at all.
When they see their enemies approaching, they

* Mundy's Sketches, i.

•f Mr Boulderson, Heber's Journal, i. 463.

110 THE LION.

spring out to meet them, open-mouthed in the plain,
like the boldest of all animals, a mastiff dog. They
are thus generally shot with very little trouble ; but
if they are missed or only slightly wounded, they are
truly formidable enemies. Though not swift, they
leap with vast strength and violence, and their large
heads, immense paws, and the great weight of their
body forward, often enables them to spring on the
head of the largest elephants, and fairly pull them to
the ground, riders and all."

Lion-hunting is a much more casual sport in In-
dia than in Africa ; the numbers of the tiger afford a
good substitute, and a description of the pursuit of
that animal, which we have given with its history,
will convey an idea of the chase of the lion ; they
are attended with the same hair-breadth escapes, and
exciting adventure, the same mixed array of noise
and followers. We shall only add a single anecdote
from the above mentioned sketches. It illustrates a
situation in which the hunters of wild beasts may
occasionally find themselves placed.

" A lion having chased my hero's elephant, and he
having wounded him, was in the act of leaning for-
ward in order to fire another shot, when the front of
the houdah suddenly gave way, and he was precipi-
tated over the head of the elephant into the very
jaws of the furious beast. The lion, though severely
hurt, immediately seized him, and would, doubtU s»,
shortly have put a fatal termination to the conflict,
had not the elephant, urged by the mahout, stepped

THE LION. I 1 1

or ward, though greatly alarmed, and grasping in her
runk the top of a young tree, bent it down across
he loins of the lion, and thus forced the tortured
inimal to quit his hold ! My friend's life was thus
reserved, hut his arm was broken in two places, and
ic was severely clawed on the breast and shoulders."

We have now to examine the lion in a state of
confinement, or, we might almost say, of domestica-
ion, for most of those which have been exhibited,
>r which are now to be seen in Europe, have either
>een taken young, or have been bred in this ctm«-
ry, and have not acquired those propensities which
example and necessity render so very marked in
heir native wilds. We have noticed in the intro-
ductory chapter, the early period at which menage-
ries were established, first from superstition and
)ride, and as attendants of power and royalty ; more
ately for the purposes of emolument and science ;
almost none of these were reckoned complete with-
out their lion, and this animal alone, in his district
excursions, is sufficient to draw a crowd and re-
venue to his keepers It is from repeated observa-
tion upon these, that a knowledge of them in this si-
tuation has been gained ; but we can only refer with
confidence to such as have been exhibited within a
comparatively late period.

The lion, when taken young, is easily tamed,
principally by mild and persuasive usage, and appeal's
to possess more equality of temper than any of the
other cats, with which an acquaintance of intimacy

112 THE LION.

has been formed. The more manageable he can be
made, the more valuable he becomes to his proprie-
tor, who puffs off in his bills the feats he performs,
and the liberties he will allow. Great pains is there-
fore taken in his education or training, and the ani-
mal really becomes attached, and appears to go
through his exhibitions with a sort of pleasure.
Many of the keepers, perhaps, display more rashness
than prudence, particularly when strangers are ad-
mitted to a share of the performance ; and it may be
remarked that the lion only, among the more power-
ful Felinse, will admit visitors to a share of his bene-
volence. In these exhibitions the keeper generally
enters the den or cage, and after caressing the ani-
mals, commences to shew what he dare take upon
him, opening the mouth, and shewing the teeth and
tongue, pulling out his claws, &c. Taking him
by the tail is sometimes though less frequently re-
sorted to ; and putting the head into the animal's
mouth is looked upon as the greatest daring; and
for this operation it is necessary to cover the face
with a strong cotton or worsted cap to prevent the
skin being lacerated by the rough structure of the
tongue.

Nero, well known in Womb well's Menagerie, was
of a remarkably mild disposition, and allowed his
keepers every liberty ; strangers were frequently in-
troduced into the den, and when last in Edinburgh,
this was a nightly exhibition, the visitors riding and
sitting on his back. Nero, during the while, pre-

THE LION. 113

?rved a look of magnanimous composure, and on
ie entrance or exit of a new visitor, would merely
»ok slowly round.

But the most docile lion which has occurred to
»ur own observation, was one in a travelling me-
lagerie at Amsterdam, where, it may be remarked,
lat all the animals shewed a remarkable degree of
'imeness and familiarity. The lion alluded to, af-
er being pulled about, and made to shew his teeth,
;c., was required to exhibit ; two young men in
incy dresses entered the spacious cage, and in the
lean time, the lion, apparently perfectly aware of
rhat he had to do, walked composedly round.
le was now made to jump over a rope held at dif-
?rent heights ; next through a hoop and a barrel,
nd again through the same covered with paper,
this lie did freely, compressing himself to go
Irough the narrow space, and alighting graceful-
His next feat was to repeat the leaps through
be hoop and barrel with the paper set on fire ; this
e evidently disliked, but with some coaxing went
brough each. The animals were now all fed, but
be lion had not yet completed his share in the night's
ntertainment, and was required to shew his forbear-
nee by parting with his food. The keeper entered
he cage and took it repeatedly from him, no farther
•esistance than a short clutch and growl was expressed;
lis countenance had, however, lost its serenity, and
low long his good temper would have continued, is
H

114 THE LION.

doubtful. We did not previously believe that any of
the Felinae could have been so far tampered with.

A fear or regard for the master or keeper is al-
ways manifested, and there are many instances, after I
long absence, of marked pleasure being shewn at
again meeting. In an anecdote related by Major Ha-
milton Smith, great deference at least was shewn.
" A keeper of wild beasts at New York, had pro-
vided himself, on the approach of winter, with a fur;
cap. The novelty of this costume attracted the no-}
tice of the lion, which, making a sudden grapple,'
tore the cap off his head, as he passed the cage;
but, perceiving that the keeper was the person
whose head he had thus uncovered, he immediately
lay down." " The same animal once hearing some
noise under its cage, passed its paw through the bar,
and actually hauled up the keeper, who was clean-
ing beneath ; but as soon as he had perceived that
he had thus ill used his master, he instantly lay
down upon his back, in an attitude of complete sub-
mission." *

The temper of the female seems even generally
milder than that of the male, previous to her having
young ; but, says Mr Bennet, " from the moment
she becomes a mother, the native ferocity of her dis-
position is renovated as it were with tenfold vigour,;
and woe to the wretched intruder, whether man or
beast, who should unwarily at such a time ap-
proach her sanctuary." A similar restless solicitude,
• Griffith's Cuvier, Ii. 431.

THE LION. 115

but much less fierceness, was exhibited by a lionese,
which had young in the Parisian Menagerie, and al-
though she allowed the keeper to enter her den, and
administer to her wants, a nearer approach or inter-
ference with the cubs would have been dangerous.
I When disturbed by visitors, she displayed great
anxiety, and would carry her cubs round the cage
for an hour at a time, much agitated and apparently
wishful to conceal them. This anxiety began to di-
minish about the fifth month. *

The breeding-places of the lion in a wild state are
generally selected in some deep cover, and all around
is watched with such care, that a transgression of the
prescribed boundary would speedily call forth an at-
tack. From two to four are produced at a litter; they
are born with open eyes, but continue helpless for
some weeks. During that period they are nursed with
the utmost solicitude, and in some instances at least,
!the male also attends. George, an Indian lion,
* alive in the Tower in 1829, was attended by both
his parents, who, on the approach of a stranger,
! rushed fiercely to his defence. Mr Bennet thus re-
ilates his capture : — "It was in the commencement of
'the year 1823, when General Watson was on service
i in Bengal,, that being out one morning on horseback,
l armed with a double-barrelled rifle, he was sudden-
ly surprised by a large male lion, which bounded
out upon him from the thick jungle, at the distance
of only a few yards. He instantly fired, and, the
• F. Cuvier.

116 THE LION.

shot taking complete effect, the animal fell dead al-
most at his feet. No sooner was this formidable foe <
thus disposed of, than a second, equally terrible,
made her appearance in the person of the lioness,
whom the General also shot at, and wounded so dan-
gerously, that she retreated into the thicket. As
her following so immediately in the footsteps of her
mate, afforded strong grounds for suspecting that
their den could not be far distant, he determined in '
pursuing the adventure to the end, and traced her to
her retreat, where he completed the work of her de-
struction, by again discharging the contents of one
of the barrels of his rifle, which he had reloaded for
the purpose. In the den were found a beautiful
pair of cubs, male and female, supposed to be then
not more than three days old. These the general
brought away with him, and succeeded, by the as-
sistance of a goat, who was prevailed upon to act in
the capacity of foster-mother to the royal pair, in rear-
ing them until they attained sufficient age and strength
to enable them to bear the voyage to England."

By great attention to cleanliness and feeding, and
the general health of the animal, the proprietors of se-
veral menageries, both in Britain and upon the conti-
nent, have succeeded in procuring litters from the lion-
ess in confinement * ; but at the shedding of the milk
teeth, many of the young have been lost. For the first
months they are very easily reared, and are remarka-

* According to the French naturalists, the lioness goes
108 days with young.

THE LION. 117

bly playful, but their strength soon unfits them foi
playmates, and their natural dangerous propensities
become developed at an early period. We recol-
lect two (among the first which had been bred in
this country) in 1819 or 1820, belonging to Mr
Wombwell's Travelling Menagerie, which exhibited
all the playfulness of kittens ; but their propensities
were early displayed in the murder of a cardinal
grossbeak, which was dragged through the wires of
their cage and devoured, in the absence of Mrs
Wombvvell, who had the charge of the nurslings.
Their size and strength increased rapidly, and in
riotous play the unintentional protrusion of their claws
produced sensations which taught that ere long they
would tear severely.

From the above observations and anecdotes, which
have almost exceeded our limits, we may conclude
that the lion possesses the most certain and tractable,
and the mildest disposition among the Felinae, and
is the most susceptible of recollection and attach-
ment for those who have treated it with kindness ;
that, in general, it will not attack man unless at-
tacked, or under the influence of extreme hunger ;
and that its most favourite prey is various animals
among the Ruminantia, and some allied groups.
But, notwithstanding all that has been recorded of
its majesty, magnanimity, and gratitude, we cannot
divest it of a share of that uncertain temper, which
is a charcteristic feature in the disposition of the
Cats.

118 THE LION.

But we have yet spoken of the lions of Africa and
India as the same animal, and have noticed only
their habits and dispositions. By naturalists, the
lions of these different countries have been described
as varieties ; the first being always of a darker shade,
and more powerful form, than the latter. These
characters are mentioned by all writers, and appear
constant in the different countries ; and we strong-
ly suspect, that future observations will prove these
animals to be, in reality, distinct species. We now
propose to notice them separately, and shall first de-
scribe the African variety, or that which we believe
will stand as the Leo Africanus.

Africa exhibits the lion in all his grandeur ; and
in many an unknown desert, he reigns with undis-
puted sway over the more feeble races. Here he
appears most powerful, and of greatest size and fierce-
ness ; his disposition bold and fearless. Temminck,
in his Monograph, places the African lion in two
varieties, that of Barbary and that of Senegal ; but
without at all referring to those of the southern parts
of the continent. There appear to be two varieties,
or perhaps three ; but they are more indiscriminate-
ly scattered over the country, and in the descrip-
tions of the animals of Southern Africa, two kinds
are also mentioned, the yellow and the brown, or, as
they are sometimes termed by the Dutch colonists,
the " blue and the black," and which are analogous
with the northern varieties. In what the above
mentioned naturalist calls the Barbary lion, the hair

THE LUNT. 119

is of a deep yellowish-brown, the mane and hair
upon the breast and insides of the fore legs being
ample, thick, and shaggy ; while in the Senegal va-
riety, the colour of the body is of a much paler tint ;
the mane is much less, does not extend so far upon
the shoulders, and is almost entirely wanting upon
the breast and insides of the legs. A third variety
of the African animal seems also to exist, in which
the mane is nearly quite black. It appears to have
been one of those which Mr Burchel encountered *.
They are reckoned by the Hottentots to be the
fiercest and most daring ; an opinion which may be
perhaps heightened by the dark and formidable ap-
pearance given by the shaggy covering.

The principal characters of the male lion of both
continents is the presence of the shaggy mane, and
the tuft at the end of the tail ; and these marks at
once distinguish him from all his congeners. The
young males do not receive these appendages for
> some time, and they increase in length and thickness
with their age. According to Frederick Cuvier, it
is nearly the third year when they begin to appear ;
and it is not before the seventh or eighth that they
attain their full and bushy grandeur. When newly
whelped, the fur of the lion is of a woolly or frizled
texture ; the shade of colour a little darker than at a
more advanced period, and they are distinctly clouded
or brindled with deep brown, and have a line of the
bame dark colour running along the centre of the
• See p. 85.

120 THE LION.

back. About tbe commencement of tbe second
year, these markings begin to disappear.

The length of a full-grown, dark-coloured African
lion, is sometimes above eight feet from the muzzle
to the root of the tail ; the height, at the shoulder,
nearly five. These, however, we believe, are rather
extraordinary dimensions, and above the average
size. F. Cuvier gives the length of a lion from Bar-
bary, reared in confinement, as only about six feet
four inches in length, exclusive of the tail, at the age
of six years, and in height, at the shoulder, only about
two feet nine inches.

The lioness is considerably smaller than the lion,
and her form is much more slender and graceful ;
but the great distinction between the sexes is the ab-
sence of the ample mane, and the lengthened hair
which adorns the other parts of his body. In her
motions, the lioness displays more agility, and, in
the exercise of the various passions, seems much
more impetuous *.

The Indian or Asiatic lion will next deserve our

"'There is a very interesting specimen of a lion in the
Surrey Zoological Gardens, of which we have a beautiful
drawing by Mr Lear. It is an African lion, which had been
emasculated at a very early age. " This animal," says Mr
Warwick, " is generally taken for (what it very much re-
sembles) an uncommonly large lioness, it being totally de-
void of any mane. It was brought from Caffraria, and the
operation was performed when a few weeks old. It is much
larger than either the Barbary or Persian lion, and extreme-
ly docile. The organs of voice have been affected by the
change ; he has never been known to roar.'*

.

TH£ LION. 121

notice. By all zoologists it has been looked upon
as a variety of the former ; but, if proved to be dis-
tinct, it will stand in our Systems as the Leo Asia-
ticus. Temminck calls this the Lion of Persia, with-
out alluding to the animals from any other part of
the Asiatic continent. It does not, however, vary
so much as the African lion, in the different districts
which it still inhabits. The most marked distinction
is the very pale tint which pervades the whole
body, it approaches almost to a fawn-colour, and
is paler on the under parts and insides of the legs.
The mane is scarcely so ample ; hut Mr Bennet
remarks, " it is furnished with a peculiar appendage,
in the long hairs, which, commencing beneath the
neck, occupy the whole of the middle line of the
body below." The size is also somewhat less, and
his strength and fierceness are generally held in com-
paratively less estimation.

For the accompanying illustration (Plate III.*) of
this animal, we are indebted to the attention of Mr
Warwick, of the Surrey Zoological Gardens, who pro-
cured for us a characteristic drawing from the pencil
of Mr Lear, who is already well known to naturalists
by his beautiful illustrations of the Parrots. The fol-
lowing note from Mr Warwick accompanied the
drawing, which we give in that gentleman's words-,
as best pointing out the distinctions of the animals
which are now living in the above mentioned es-
j tablishment.

" They were brought as a present for his late Ma-

122 THE LION.

jesty, George IV. from Bussorah, in the ' Boyne/
man-of-war, Captain Campbell, who presented them
to the Menagerie, then at Exeter Change. The
Asiatic differs from the South African lion, in heing
rather less in size, with the mane much more scanty,
and of a light yellow colour, tipt with grey, the
whole body being of a uniform fawn colour. The
head wants the width and nobleness of countenance
so apparent in the African species. In two young
preserved specimens I have in my possession, the
fur is as light as the general colour of the puma,
without any trace of the mane, or tuft at the end of
the tail. In this species, the animal falls off towards
the withers more than the African lion, the tail not
so delicately tapering, and the tuft at the end much
longer in proportion."

The Asiatic lioness, Temminck observes, is of the
same pale colour with the male, but does not differ
much from those which are found in Barbary and
Senegal *. If the animals are, however, now found
to be distinct, the females will probably also bear
distinctive characters.

These are the principal outward marks which dis-
tinguish what has hitherto been considered the va-
rieties of this formidable creature ; but we have yet
to notice another animal, apparently closely allied,
which has long remained known only by the records
of antiquity. Among the figures represented on the
hieroglyphic monuments of Upper Egypt, a lion is
* Monographies, p. 86.

THE T.ION. 123

represented without a mane ; and it was conjectured,
that an animal with this character must have at one
time existed, or most probably did still exist in some
of the more unexplored districts. The first notice
of any grounds for this conjecture proving true, is
in a note to Griffith's Animal Kingdom *. " Major
Smith was lately informed by Professor Kretschmen
of Frankfort, that he was in expectation of receiving
from Nubia, the skin and jaws of a new species of
cat, larger than the lion, of a brownish colour, and
without mane." Within these few months, skins of
a large maneless lion, from Guzzerat, have been ex-
hibited to the Committee of Science of the Zoologi-
cal Society ; and we understand that a detailed de-
scription of them is preparing for the next part of the
Transactions of the Zoological Society f ; so that we
may soon expect to see this point set at rest. We
shall anxiously look for the appearance of this vo-
lume.

We shall now endeavour to describe the lion of
the New World, an animal much inferior in size and
strength, and of very different habits.

• 11 p. 428.

•j- These Transactions are got up With great care. The
illustrations are beautiful, both in drawing ana execution.

THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LiUJS *.

Felts concolor— LINNAEUS.
PLATE IV.

Felis concolor, Linnaeus, Desmarest — Le Couguar, Buf-
fon, plate xix. — Fred. Cuvier, Histoire Naturelle des
Mammiferes — Guazuar£, Azara, Apuntamientos de los
Quadrup. del Paraguay, i. p. 120 — Felis cougouar ou
Puma, Felis concolor, and discolor, Temminck, Mono-
graphies, p. 134. — The Puma, or American Lion, Wil-
son's Illustrations of Zoology, pi. i.

THE True Puma, or Couguar, has a very extensive
range over both the continents of America. To-
wards the south, it reaches Patagonia, and, in the
northern division of the New World, extends on the
one side to California, on the other to Pennsylvania ;
and it is probable that its northern range may even
have been more extensive, before the inroads of the
numerous settlers had extirpated or driven it to seek
a more secluded retreat.

Cuvier tells us, that, in this vast extent of coun-
try, he was suspicious that more than one species
existed ; but, from the researches which these sus-
picions induced him to make, he arrived at the con-

THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 125

elusion, that one alone was found *. There are
some much smaller animals, of a colour and form
closely resembling the puma, which could scarcely
he confounded with it. These we shall notice un-
der the description of the next plate.

The total length of the hody of the adult puma is
from four feet to four feet and a half, that of the tail
from two to two feet and a half. The females are
somewhat less. The fur is thick and close, above
of a reddish-brown, approaching nearly to the colour
of a fox on the back. It lightens on the outsides
of the limbs and on the flanks, and upon the belly
becomes of a pale reddish-white. The muzzle, chin,
throat, and insides of the legs, are greyish-white, and
on the breast the colour becomes more marked, and
is almost pure white. The part from which the
whiskers spring, and the lips and back of the ears,
are black ; the whiskers themselves white. On the
face and flanks of the animal from which our repre-
sentation was taken there were a few indications of
stripes or brindling. When the animal arrives at
maturity, these are lost, and the colour becomes en-
tirely uniform, except where it shades into a paler
tint.

In still younger animals *, the back is marked with
three chains of blackish-brown spots, besides scat-
tered markings on the sides, neck, and shoulders ;

• Annales du Museum, xiv. p. 142.

126 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION.

but these had already disappeared. The tail is co-
vered with thick fur, of the same colour with the
upper parts, and black at the tips ; and in all the
animals of this kind which we have seen, and also in
those which have been figured in the various works,
it was carried in the usual manner, and, upon any
excitement, was moved from side to side. The pre-
sent animal always carried it as represented in the
Plate, rolled or coiled up, and, Mr Wilson observes,
always pointed to the left side f . It looked as if it
was to be used for climbing. For this purpose it
was never employed, and an examination regarding
the cause was unfortunately at the time omitted.

The puma, though very active in climbing, seems
more to frequent the grassy plains of the southern
part of America, and the marshy meadow-lands bor-
dering the rivers, than the forest ; and is found in a
country so open, as to be frequently taken by the
lasso, when attacking the herds> Upon the Pampas,
this is one of the most common methods of destroy-
ing it. Captain Head J, in his " Rough Notes," tells
us, as soon as the dogs unkennel a lion or tiger, they

* In the sketch of an immature puma shewn to us by Dr
Traill, the spots upon the body and sides are very distinct ;
on the back they form a broken line.

f Mr Macgillivray informs us, that he lately saw a puma
in the Zoological Garden at Dublin, with the tail always
carried in the same manner.

£ Captain Head's Rough Notes of the Pampas and Cor-
dillera, p. 148.

THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 1*27

pursue him until he stops to defend himself. If the
dogs fly upon him, the guacho jumps off his horse,
arid while he is contending- with his enemies, he
strikes him on the head with the balls, to which
an extraordinary momentum can he given. If the
dogs are at hay, and afraid to attack their foe, the
guacho then hurls his lasso over him, and gallopping
away, drags him along the ground, while the hounds
rush upon him, and tear him.

In the northern districts, it inhabits the swamps
and prairies, living chiefly upon different species of
deer, upon which it is said sometimes to drop from
a tree, which it had ascended to watch their path ;
or it makes inroads upon the hogs of the squatter, who
has ventured to the unopened country. Other kinds
of food, however, arc sought after, and taken without
much discrimination ; and the Royal Society of Lon-
don possesses a skin of a puma which was said to
be shot in the act of devouring a wolf. Unlike most
of the other Felinae, it is not satisfied with the
seizure of a single prey ; but, when meeting with a
herd of animals, will kill as many as it can, sucking
only a small portion of the blood from each. It is
thus extremely destructive among sheep, and has
been known to kill fifty in one night. Active means
are, therefore, constantly in use for its destruction,
and it is either hunted, speared, or shot. Mo-
lina and Azara say that it will flee from men, and
ilis timidity renders the pursuit generally free from

128 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION.

danger, when it is followed singly with the rifle;
but the following incident will shew that these en-
counters are sometimes fatal, and that the smart of a
wound may occasionally rouse the courage of the most
dastardly animal. It is probable that the shot fired
by the hunter's companion had slightly wounded the
puma. " Two hunters went out in quest of game
on the Katskils Mountains, in the province of New
York, each armed with a gun, and accompanied by
his dog. It was agreed between them, that they
should go in contrary directions round the base of
the hill, and that if either discharged his piece, the
other should cross the hill as expeditiously as pos-
sible, to join his companion in pursuit of the game
shot at. Shortly after separating, one heard the
other fire, and, agreeably to their compact, hastened
to his comrade. After searching for him for some
time without effect, he found his dog dead and dread-
fully torn. Apprised by this discovery that the ani-
mal shot at was large and ferocious, he became
anxious for the fate of his friend, and assiduously
continued the search for him ; when his eyes were
suddenly directed, by the deep growl of a puma, to
the large branch of a tree, where he saw the animal
couching on the body of the man, and directing his
eyes towards him, apparently hesitating whether to
descend and make a fresh attack on the survivor, or
to relinquish its prey, and take to flight. Conscious
that much depended on celerity, the hunter dis-

THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 129

charged his piece, and wounded the animal mortal-
ly, when it and the body of the man fell together
from the tree. The surviving dog then flew at the
prostrate beast ; but a single blow from his paw laid
him dead by his side. In this state of things, find-
ing that his comrade was d«?ad, and that there was
still danger in approaching the wounded animal, he
retired, and, with all haste, brought several persons
to the spot, where the unfortunate hunter and both
the dogs were lying dead together *."

In the north, they are hunted like the lion in Af-
rica, with a mingled band of squatters, dogs, and
horses. The following sketch, from Audubon, of a
hunt in the more inland recesses, seems drawn with
characteristic truth. In the course of one of his
rambles, he came to the cabin of a squatter, on the
banks of the Cold- Water River ; and, after a hospi-
table reception, and an evening spent in mutually
detailing their adventures in the chase, it was agreed,
in the morning, to hunt the painter, which had of
late been making sad ravages among the squatter's
herd of hogs. " The hunters accordingly made their
appearance, just as the sun was emerging from be-
neath the horizon. They were five in number, and
fully equipped for the chase, being mounted on
horses, which, in some parts of Europe, might ap-
pear sorry nags ; but which, in strength, speed, and
bottom, are better fitted for pursuing a cougar or a
bear through woods and morasses, than any in that
• Griffith's Cuvier, ii. 438.

130 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION.

country. A pack of large ugly curs were already
engaged in making acquaintance with those of the
squatter. He and myself mounted his two best
horses, whilst his sons were bestriding others of in-
ferior quality.

" Few words were uttered by the party until we
had reached the edge of the swamp, where it was
agreed that all should disperse, and seek for the
fresh track of the painter, it being previously settled
that the discoverer should blow his horn, and remain
on the spot until the rest should join him. In less
than an hour, the sound of the horn was clearly
heard ; and, sticking close to the squatter, off we
went through the thick woods, guided only by the
now and then repeated call of the distant huntsman.
We soon reached the spot, and in a short time the
rest of the party came up. The best dog was sent
forward to track the cougar, and in a few minutes
the whole pack were observed diligently trailing, and
bearing in their course for the interior of the swamp.
The rifles were immediately put in trim, and the
party followed the dogs, at separate distances, but
in sight of each other, determined to shoot at no
other game than the panther.

" The dogs soon began to mouth, and suddenly
quickened their pace. My companion concluded
that the beast was on the ground ; and, putting our
horses to a gentle gallop, we followed the cur?, guid-
ed by their voices. The noise of the dogs increased*
when, all of a sudden, their mode of barking became-

THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 131

altered, and the squatter, urging me to push on, told
me that the beast was treed, by which he meant that
it had got upon some low branch of a large tree, to
rest for a few moments, and that should we not suc-
ceed in shooting him when thus situated, we might
expect a long chase of it. As we approached the
spot, we all by degrees united into a body ; but on
seeing the dogs at the foot of a large tree, separated
again, and gallopped off to surround it.

" Each hunter now moved with caution, holding
his gun ready, and allowing the bridle to dangle on
the neck of his horse, as it advanced slowly towards
the dogs. A shot from one of the party was heard,
on which the cougar was seen to leap to the ground,
and bound off with such velocity, as to shew that he
was very unwilling to stand our fire longer. The
dogs set off in pursuit with great eagerness, and a
deafening cry. The hunter who had fired came up,
and said that his ball had hit the monster, and had
probably broken one of his fore-legs, near the shoul-
der, the only place at which he could aim. A slight
trail of blood was discovered on the ground ; but the
curs proceeded at such a rate, that we merely no-
ticed this, and put spurs to our horses, which gal-
lopped on towards the centre of the swamp. One
bayou was crossed, then another still larger and
more muddy ; but the dogs were brushing forward,
and, as the horses began to pant at a furious rate, we
judged it expedient to leave them, and advance on
foot. These determined hunters knew that the cou-

132 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION.

gar, being wounded, would shortly ascend another
tree, where, in all probability, he would remain for
a considerable time, and that it would be easy to
follow the track of the dogs. We dismounted, took
off the saddles and bridles, set the bells attached to
the horses' necks at liberty to jingle, hoppled the
animals, and left them to shift for themselves.

" After marching for a couple of hours, we again
heard the dogs. Each of us pressed forward, elated
at the thought of terminating the career of the cou-
gar. Some of the dogs were heard whining, al-
though the greater number barked vehemently. We
felt assured that the cougar was treed, and that he
would rest for some time, to recover from his fatigue.
As we came up to the dogs, we discovered the fero-
cious animal lying across a large branch, close to the
trunk of a cotton-wood tree. His broad breast lay
towards. us ; his eyes were at one time bent on us,
and again on the dogs beneath and around him ;
one of his fore legs hung loosely by his side ; and he
lay crouched, with his ears lowered close to his head,
as if he thought he might remain undiscovered.
Three balls were fired at him, at a given signal, on
which he sprang a few feet from the branch, and
tumbled headlong to the ground. Attacked on all
sides by the enraged curs, the infuriated cougar
fought with desperate valour ; but the squatter,
advancing in front of the party, and almost in th&
midst of the dogs, shot him immediately behind

THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 133

and beneath the left shoulder. The cougar writhed
for a moment in agony, and in another lay dead *."
The puma is very easily tamed, and becomes
harmless and even affectionate. Azara records its
docility from one which he long kept tame, and the
celebrated Kean possessed one which followed him
loose, and was often introduced to company in his
drawing-room. We have frequently been in com-
pany with the animal which served for the accom-
panying illustration. It was extremely gentle and
playful, and showed no symptoms of ferocity to the
strangers who came to see it. Its motions were all
free and graceful, and it exhibited the greatest agi-
lity in leaping and swinging about the joists of a
large unoccupied room in the old college of Edin-
burgh. For the following additional particulars we
are indebted to the account given by Mr Wilson.
" It rejoices greatly in the society of those to whose
company it is accustomed, lies down upon its back-
between their feet, and plays with the skirts of their
garments, entirely after the manner of a kitten. It
shews a great predilection for water, and frequently
jumps into and out of a large tub, rolling itself
about, and seemingly greatly pleased with the re-
freshment. While in London, it made its escape
into the street during the night, but allowed itself to
be taken up by a watchman, without offering even
a show of resistance. It was brought from the city
of St Paul's, the capital of the district of that name,
* Audubon, p. 198.

134 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION.

in the Brazilian empire. During the voyage home,
it was in habits of intimacy with several dogs and
monkeys, none of which it ever attempted to injure,
nor did it even attempt to return the petty insults
which the latter sometimes offered ; but if an unfor-
tunate fowl or goat came within its reach, it was im-
mediately snapt up and slain. Since its arrival in
Edinburgh, it has not been indulged with living
prey ; and the only animals which have fallen victims
to its rapacity, were a mallard and cock-pheasant,
both of which approached inadvertently within the
circle of its spring, and were each killed by a blow
of its fore paw."

We shall now endeavour to describe, from the
most authentic materials in our power, two or three
smaller South American cats, of which we regret to
say our knowledge is yet imperfect. The first we
shall notice is what appears to be the El Negro of
Azara, and we may perhaps be accused of giving our
representation upon too slender grounds, having not
seen the animal ourselves. It is taken from a sketch
and memoranda made from two specimens brought
to Greenock in an American vessel, and we always
hope, that in thus directing the attention to little
known animals, their history may be sooner eluci-
dated. Our next plate represents

135

THE BLACK PUMA.

Felis nigra — GRIFFITH. ?
PLATE V.

Chat negre, El Negro, Voyages (TAzara, French edition,
i. p. 272.? — Quadrup. del Paraguay, i. p. 154. — Felis
nigra, The Black Cat of America, Griffith's Synopsis,
sp. 444. ?

IN our uncertain knowledge of this animal, we
have given all the synonyms with a mark of doubt.
They will belong to the Gato negro of Azara, but
whether to the animal now represented is doubtful.
Azara's description of the El Negro is very short.
It is entirely of the colour indicated by the name.
Its length is about 33^ inches, without including that
of the tail, which is about 13. As above alluded to, the
animals from which the sketches for the accompanying
illustration were taken, were brought in a merchant
vessel to Greenock. There were three of them, and
the most striking feature to the first view of a
stranger, was the pale and clear greenish-blue of their
eyes, which contrasted finely with the deep glossy
black of their fur. They were extremely ferocious
in their dispositions, which might probably have
arisen from being plagued by the sailors during their
voyage, and from their being fed entirely upon ani-
mal food.

We have next to notice

136

THE YAGUARUNDI.

Fells Jaguarondi. — LACEPEDE.

Yaguariindi, Azara. Quadrup. del Paraguay, i. p. 156.—
Felis Jaguarondi, Lacepede, (Euvres d"1 Azara, Atlas, pi. x,
Temminck, Monographies, p. 130 — Spotless Cat, Felii
unicolor, Traill, Transactions of the Wernerian Society,
iii. p. 170.

THIS animal, according to Azara, is a native of
Paraguay and Guiana, but Temminck says that he
has seen skins from Surinam and the Essequebo,
which havfl always been of larger dimensions. It
frequents the borders of woods and thickets, and
feeds on small animals and birds. It climbs readily.

According to Azara, the total length of the yagua-
rundi is about 3 feet, that of the tail 1 3| inches, while
Temminck gives the dimensions of the largest he has
seen as 4 feet 4 inches, of which the tail measured
1 foot 10 inches, and the height of the animal at the
fore quarter 1 ^ foot. The colour is a deep grey, pro-
duced by each hair being ringed alternately with
black and white ; the tips of the hairs being of the
latter colour, gives the prevailing shade. By age
the shade becomes darker, while the young are of a
deep reddish-brown. Temminck mentions a speci-
men in the Paris Museum, where the greyish-white
greatly predominated upon the head, fore part of the
limbs, and upper part of the body ; while the rump

THE YAGUARUNDI. 137

and tail are entirely black, without white rings upon
the hairs. It is said to be easily tamed.

Temminck, in his " Monographies," refers the
spotless cat, Felis unicolor of Dr Traiil, to this spe-
cies. In colour and markings, however, it agrees
much nearer to the next, but differs in the length of
the tail, which is very nearly as long again as in the
eyra ; again the total length of Dr Traill's specimen
is exactly that of Temminck's largest yaguarundi.
We add Dr Traill's description. The specimen was
brought from Demerara. In length, exclusive of
the tail, it measured 2 feet 8£ inches ; that of the
tail was 1 foot 8 inches ; the height of the shoulders
^0 inches.

" The head of the spotless cat is much more
pointed, its nose more elevated, and its limbs are
much more slender, in proportion to its size, than in
the puma. The strength of the jaws and size of the
teeth, are likewise proportionally less. In the puma,
the backs of the ears are black ; in our animal, they
are of the same colour as the adjacent parts. The
tail of the puma is claviform, or appears thickest to-
wards the tip, which is black ; but the tail of the
spotless cat is nearly of one thickness throughout,
and it wants the conspicuous black tip which ap-
pears constantly in the puma. The general colour
of the two animals is also different. This new spe-
cies is of a clear but deep reddish-brown ; the colour
of the puma is of a fulvous hue ; and when about
the size of the animal in question, the young puma

138 THE YAGUARUNDI.

is marked on the body with many black spots, which
disappear as the animal advances to maturity. Even
in its earliest stage, the tip of the tail in the puma
is black. The eyes of this new species, which are
large, are said to have a pale yellowish iris. The
beard is slender and scanty ; the teeth sharp and
long.

" What I have been able to collect of the habits
of this animal, is, that it is an inhabitant of the deep
recesses of the forests, that it climbs trees to prey
upon birds, monkeys, &c. but that it will boldly at-
tack the larger quadrupeds."

THE EYRA OF AZARA.

Felis eyra, Desmaresfs Mammalogie^ p. 231 — Eyra, Azara,
Quadruped, del Paraguay, i. p. 159.

THE eyra is of a reddish-brown, with the ex-
ception of the under jaw, and a small spot on each
side of the nose, which are white. The length of
the body is about 20 inches, that of the tail 11^ \
inches. This description is copied by Desmarest,
and every author who has mentioned it ; in fact, it is
all that is known regarding it. There is, however,
a figure given by Griffiths, of an animal which he
refers to this species, and which seems to agree ex-
actly with it. It is very like a little puma, and, with
a slight variation of markings, would agree except in
size with the description of that animal.

139

THE TIGER.

Felis Tigris — AUCTORUM.
PLATE VI.

NEARLY equal to the lion in strength, and per-
haps excelling him in activity, the tiger has heen
generally placed second in this trihe of animals, and
will bear a very prominent part among the Felinae of
the Indian continent. In many places he is the
scourge of the country, and neither man nor beast
can with safety inhabit the districts which he has se-
lected for his own.

The general form and appearance of the tiger is
so well known, that a very short description will suf-
fice, and which will be assisted by the accompanying
illustration, taken from a specimen in the Edinburgh
Museum. He possesses no trace of the shaggy
mane which adds so much to the bold and majestic-
looking front of the lion, and his countenance scowl-
ing under the different passions, conveys a greater idea
of treachery and wanton cruelty, than really belongs
to the animal. In shape he is more lengthened and
slender than the lion, the head rounder, and on the
whole form more cat-like, and all his motions are per-
formed with the greatest grace and apparent ease. In

140 THE TIGER.

an animal high in health, the hair is thick, fine, and
shining, the colour bright tawny yellow, shaded into
pure white on the under parts, and being beautifully
marked with dark bands and brindlings, exhibits a
distribution of colour altogether beautiful and pleas-
ing. These markings vary in number and intensity
of shade in the young and females, and the very
young animals are of a pale grey colour, with ob-
scure dusky transverse bands. A pale whitish-co-
lon red variety of the tiger is sometimes met with,
with the stripes very opaque, and only seen in par-
ticular lights. Griffith has given a beautiful repre-
sentation of this variety from a specimen in Exeter
Change.

The tiger is exclusively confined to the Asiatic
continent, and though its range from north to south
is very extensive, that in the opposite directions is
rather circumscribed. It is found in the desert coun-
tries which separate China from Siberia, and as far
as the banks of the Obi ; and in the greater number
of the larger East Indian islands, such as Java and
Sumatra. The peninsula of Malacca is also said to
abound with them ; but the great nursing places of
the tiger, their cradle, as Temminck terms it, is the
peninsula of Hindostan ; the vast jungles of this rich
country lining the courses of her majestic rivers,
harbour thousands of these animals, for water is al-
most as indispensable for their nourishment as food.
The larger islands are therefore also favourite re-
sorts, and many lives have been sacrificed in at-

THE TIGER.

141

tempting to free this district from these powerful
pests. Cozimbar and Saugur islands are well known
in the annals of tiger destruction, and many has been
the fatal encounter on their luxuriant shores.

The tiger was much less familiarly known to the
ancients, than either the lion or the spotted African
cats. Among the Greeks it was scarcely known at
all, Aristotle merely mentioning it as an animal he
had heard of. Pliny tells us that the first tiger
known among the Romans, was a tame one belong-
ing to Augustus. Claudius, however, afterwards
exhibited four at a time, and it has been conjectured
that the beautiful Mosaic picture of four tigers, dis-
covered some years ago in Rome, near the arch of
Gallicius, was executed at that period in commemo-
ration of so striking and unprecedented a display.*

The tiger, in a country where he can be well sup-
plied with food, is a nocturnal animal, lying during
the day in some thick cover defended from the
scorching heat, and gorged with his last meal in
sleepy indolence. In such uncultivated districts
he watches at dawn and even by the side of some
track, where the various animals pass, or about the
edges of the jungle, and above all at the springs and
drinking-places of the rivers, which in the impene-
trable thickets have but one common access to friend
or foe. Hither animals both weak and powerful
crowd, forced by the scorching heats to seek coolness
and drink, and here the tiger is seldom baffled of his

prey

• Cuv, Oss. Foss,

142 THE TIGER.

Here couched the panting tiger, on the watch ;
Impatient but unmoved, his fireball eyes
Made horrid twilight in the sunless jungle,
Till on the heedless buffalo he sprang,
Dragged the low-bellowing monster to his lair —
Crashed through his ribs at once into his heart —
Quaffed the hot blood, and gorged the quivering flesh,
Till drunk he lay, as powerless as the carcass.

Where civilization has commenced, the tiger has
learned to prowl around the villages, and attack the
cattle-folds, to seize indiscriminately whatever comes
in his way. Travelling parties are followed, and a
luckless straggler seldom escapes ; the baggage-
trains, consisting of troops of oxen and buffaloea
trained to the yoke, are closely watched, and though
attended during the day with drums and noisy in-
struments, and during night with torches, a journey
is seldom performed without some accident or at-
tack.

In the New Indian settlements, the ravages com-
mitted by the tigers were such, that active means
were necessary for their destruction, and a price of
ten rupees was put upon the head of each. Various
methods were employed by the natives to destroy
this animal, which could only be partially successful ;
but the improved use of the rifle has rendered the
more thickly inhabited parts comparatively safe from
them. Among the inventions formerly in use, and
still practised in many parts, the most successful
was that of shooting them with a poisoned arrow,
from a bow, placed so as to be disengaged by the-

THE TIGER. 143

animal passing. The bow is made of split bamboo,
from six to eight feet in length, and at the middle
from nine to ten inches in girth. The string is of
strong catgut, and often half an inch in circumference.
The bow is fixed with great nicety at the middle by
two stakes, distant enough to allow the arrow to
pass freely without touching, and placed at a distance
from the ground, in proportion to the size of the
animal to be killed. The string is drawn back and
fastened by a wedge, to which a cord is attached,
>and strained moderately tight to a stake on the op-
posite side of the path, to be traversed by the ani-
mal. The tiger generally falls within 200 yards of
the fatal shot, being frequently struck through the
lungs, and often through the heart, and the poison,
if less mortally wounded, seldom fails to kill within
the hour.

A heavy beam is also sometimes suspended over
the path, to which a cord is attached, which is in
like manner disengaged, and the animal is crushed
below the weight of the wood. Another method
said to be common in Persia, is mentioned in the
Oriental Field Sports. " This device consists of
a large spherical cage, made of strong bamboos, or
other efficient materials, woven together, but leav-
ing intervals throughout, of about three or four inches
broad. Under this cover, which is fastened to the
ground by means of pickets, in some place where
tigers abound, a man provided with two or three short
strong spears, takes post at night Being accompa-

144 THE TIGER.

nied by a dog, which gives the alarm, or by a goat,
which, by its agitation, answers the same purpose, the
adventurer wraps himself up in his quilt, and very com-
posedly goes to sleep, in full confidence of his safety.
When a tiger comes, and, perhaps after smelling all
around, begins to rear against the cage, the man
stabs him with one of the spears through the inter-
stices of the wicker-work, and rarely fails of destroy-
ing the tiger, which is ordinarily found dead at no
great distance in the morning."

Another, rather of a more ludicrous character, is
related by the same entertaining writer, as success-
fully practised in the dominions of Oude. u The
track of a tiger being ascertained, which, though not
invariably the same, may yet be known sufficiently
for the purpose, the peasants collect a quantity of
the leaves of the prous, which are like those of the
sycamore, and are common in most underwoods, as
they form the largest portion of most jungles in the
north of India. These leaves are smeared with a
species of bird-lime, made by bruising the berries of
an indigenous tree, by no means scarce. They are
then strewed with the gluten uppermost, near to that
opaque spot to which it is understood the tiger
usually resorts during the noon-tide heat. If by
chance the animal should tread on one of the smeared
leaves, his fate may be considered as decided. He
commences by shaking his paw, with the view to
remove the adhesive incumbrance, but finding no re-
lief from that expedient, he rubs the nuisance against

THE TIGER. 145

his jaw, with the same intention, by which means his
eyes, ears, &e, become agglutinated, and occasion
such uneasiness, as causes him to roll, perhaps among
many more of the smeared leaves, till at length he
becomes completely enveloped, and is deprived of
sight, and in this situation he may be compared to
a man who has been tarred arid feathered. The
anxiety produced by this strange and novel predica-
ment, soon discovers itself in dreadful howlings, which
serve to call the watchful peasants, who in this state
tind no difficulty in shooting the object of their de-
testation."

in addition to these we shall only mention ano-
[ther device said to be at this day practised among
the Chinese ; and singular, as corresponding with the
sculptured representation of the ancients. It is
.taking them in a box-trap, to which the animal is
•attracted by a looking-glass, placed in the inside,
!and when attacking its own image, it disengages the
fastening of the lid of the box. • This very subject is
represented by Montfaucon, as carved upon one of
the sides of the tomb of the Nasus, and I believe the
ancient origin of it is also confirmed by Claudian.

Since India became so much the country of Eu-
ropeans, the race of tigers has been much thinned,
and ere long it is probable that they will be driven
to the most remote and impenetrable districts. Hunt-
ing the tiger is a sport exclusively Indian ; and it
'•oil to the ardour and spirit of British sports-
K

146 THE TIGER.

men : it is looked upon as far pre-eminent over the
other sports of India, as that of the fox in Britain is
held superior to a chace with rabbit beagles. It is
pursued with great parade and show, a large retinue
of followers, and almost royal splendour ; and in ad-
dition, it possesses the excitement of being attended
with considerable danger.

The only animal found suitable to assist in the cap-
tine of this formidable beast, is the elephant, which
often displays great courage and coolness in the chase,
and at times a sagacity which has saved the rider's
life. When notice has been got that there is a tiger in
the neighbourhood, the whole station is roused*, and
preparation to proceed to the cover is commenced ;
the elephants are prepared, and the tumult which
commences before all is ready, between mahouts and
syces, dogs and horses, elephants and their masters,
can be compared to nothing in this country, where,
in well regulated hunting establishments, rule and
regularity prevail. From ten to thirty of these ani-
mals, each carrying a sportsmen armed with rifles
of various descriptions, generally start for the jungle,
though sometimes a field of nearly 100 elephants
have been out, and being arranged in line, com-
mence regularly to beat for the game ; but having
thus brought them to the jungle's edge, we shall al-

* Military officers pursue this sport with the greatest
keenness, which their frequent movements ,and the array of
men and elephants which attend a camp, greatly facilitate.

THE TIGER. 147

low one more experienced than ourselves to describe
the hunt*.

" We found immense quantities of game, wild
jhogs, hog-deer, and the Neil-ghie, (literally blue-
| cow.) We, however, strictly abstained from firing,
| reserving our whole battery for the nobler game, the
; tiger. It was perhaps fortunate that we did not find
! one in the thick part of the forest, as the trees were
so close set, and so interwoven with thorns and pa-
i rasite plants, that the elephants were often obliged to
! clear for themselves a passage by their own pressing
• exertions. It is curious on these occasions to see
the enormous trees these animals will overthrow on
i»a word from the mahout, they place their foreheads
against the obnoxious plants, twisting their trunks
round it, and gradually bending it towards the
\ ground, until they can place a foot upon it. This
done, down comes the tree with crashing stem and
upturned roots. The elephant must be well educated
to accomplish this duty in a gentlemanlike manner :
that is, without roaring sulkily, or shaking his mas-
ter by too violent exertions.

" On clearing the wood, we entered an open space
. of marshy grass, not three feet high ; a large herd
:of cattle were feeding there, and the herdsman was

* So many accounts of tiger hunts have .lately been be-
: fore the public, that we have had some difficulty in making
i the selection. The one we have chosen is from Captain
, Mundy's Sketches, and will serve also to shew the danger
tdiich is sometimes run by the keenness of the elephant.

148 THE TIGER.

sitting singing under a bush ; when, just as the for-
mer began to move before us, up sprang the very-
tiger to whom our visit was intended, and cantered
off across a bare plain, dotted with small patches of
bush-jungle. He took to the open country in a style
which would have more become a fox than a tiger,
who is expected by his pursuers to fight and not to
nm ; and as he was flushed on the flank of the line,
only one bullet was fired at him ere he cleared the
thick grass- He was unhurt, and we pursued him
at full speed. Twice he threw us out by stopping
short in small stripes of jungle, and then heading
back after we had passed ; and he had given us a
very fast trot of about two miles, when Colonel Ar-
nold, who led the field, at last reached him by a ca-
pital shot, his elephant being in full career. As
soon as he felt himself wounded, the tiger crept into
a close thicket of trees and bushes, and crouched.
The two leading sportsmen overran the spot where
he lay ; and as I came up, I saw him, through an
aperture, rising to attempt a charge. My mahout
had just before, in the heat of the chase, dropped hia
unkors or goad, which I had refused to allow him
to recover ; arid the elephant, being notoriously sa-
vage, and farther irritated by the goading he had
undergone, became consequently unmanageable ; he
appeared to see the tiger as soon as myself, and I
had only time to fire one shot, when he suddenly
rushed with the greatest fury into the thicket, and
falling upon his knees, nailed the tiger with his tusks

THE TIGER. 149

j lo the ground. Such was the violence of the shock,
that my servant, who sat behind, was thrown out,

i and one of my guns went overboard. The struggles
of my elephant to crush his still resisting foe, who

; had fixed one paw on his eye, were so energetic,

: that I was obliged to hold on with all my strength,
to keep myself in the houdah. The second barrel,

: too, of the gun which I still retained in my hand,
went off in the scuffle, the ball passing close to the
mahout's ear, whose situation, poor fellow, was any
thing but enviable. As soon as my elephant was
prevailed upon to leave the killing part of the busi-

, ness to the sportsmen, they gave the roughly used
tiger the coup de grace. It was a very fine female,

• with the most beautiful skin I ever saw."

We shall only give another sketch of a tiger hunt ;

• our last is told by a gentleman, this one shall be from
the pen of a lady, herself the heroine of the chase,

' and will be curious, as we believe it is the only in-
stance upon record.

" We had elephants, guns, balls, and all other ne-
cessaries prepared, and about seven in the morning
J we set off. The soil was exactly like that we had
' gone over last night ; our course lay N. W. The
jungle was generally composed of corinda bushes,
which were stunty and thin, and looked like ragged
, thorn bushes ; nothing could be more desolate in ap-
j pearance : it seemed as if we had got to the farthest
\ limits of cultivation, or the haunts of man. At times,
the greener bunches of jungle, the usual abodes of

f50 THE TIGER.

the beasts of prey during the day-time, and the fevr
huts scattered here and there, which could hardly be
called villages, seemed like islands in the desert waste
around us. We stopped near two or three of these
green tufts, which generally surrounded a lodgment
of water, or little ponds, in the midst of the sand.

" The way in which these ferocious animals are
traced out is very curious, and, if related in England,
would scarcely be credited. A number of unarmed
half-naked villagers, go prying from side to side of
the hush, just as a boy in England would look after
a stray sheep, or peep after a bird's nest. Where
the jungle was too thick for them to see through,
the elephants, putting their trunks down into the
bush, forced their way through, tearing up every
thing by the roots before them. About four miles
from our tents we were all surrounding a bush, which
might be some fifty yards in circumference, (all in-
cludes William Fraser, alone upon his great elephant,
Mr Barton and myself, upon another equally large,
Mr Wilder upon another, and eight other elephants ;
horsemen at a distance, and footmen peeping into
the bushes). Our different elephants were each en-
deavouring to force his way through, when a great
elephant, without a houdah on his back, called
1 Muckna,' a fine and much esteemed kind of ele-
phant, (a male without large teeth), put up, from
near the centre of the bush, a royal tiger. In an in-
stant Fraser called out, ' Now Lady H., be calm,
be steady, and take a good aim, here he is/ i

THE TIGER. 151

confess, at the moment of thus suddenly coming up-
on our ferocious victim, my heart beat very high,
and, for a second, I wished myself far enough off ;
hut curiosity, and the eagerness of the chace, put
fear out of my head in a minute ; the tiger made a
charge at the Muckna, and then ran back into the
jungle. Mr Wilder then put his elephant in, and
drove him out at the opposite side. He charged
over the plain away from us, and Wilder fired two
balls at him, but knew not whether they took effect.
The bush in which he was found, was one on the
west bank of one of those little half dry ponds of
which I have spoken. Mr Barton and I conjectur-
ing that, as there was no other thick cover near, he
would probably soon return, took our stand in the
centre of the open space ; in a minute the tiger ran
into the bushes on the east side ; I saw him quite
plain ; we immediately put our elephant into the
bushes, and poked about, till the horsemen, who were
reconnoitring round the outside of the whole jungle,
saw him slink under the bushes to the north side ;
hither we followed him, and from thence traced him
by his growling, back to the outer part of the eastern
bushes. Here he started out just before the trunk
of our elephant, with a tremendous growl or grunt,
and made a charge at another elephant farther out
on the plain, retreating again immediately under
cover. Fraser fired at him, but we suppose without
effect ; and he called to us for our elephant to pur-
sue him into his cover.

152 THE TIGER.

" With some difficulty, we made our way to the
inside of the southern bushes ; and, as we were look-
ing through the thicket, we perceived beau Tiger
slink away under them. Mr Barton fired, and hit
him a mortal blow about the shoulder or back, for
he instantly was checked, and my ball, which follow-
ed the same instant, threw him down. We two then
discharged our whole artillery, which originally con-
sisted of two double-barrelled guns, loaded with
slugs, and a pair of pistols. Most of them took ef-
fect, as we could discover by his wincing, for he was
not above ten yards from us at any time, and at one
moment, when the elephant chose to take fright and
turn his head round, away from the beast, running
his haunches almost into the bush, not Jive. By
this time William Fraser had come round, and dis-
charged a few balls at the tiger, which lay looking
at us, grinning and growling, his ears thrown back,
but unable to stir. A pistol fired by me, shattered
his lower jaw-bone ; and immediately, as danger of
approaching him was now over, one of the villagers,
with a matchlock, went close to him, and applying
the muzzle of his piece to the nape of his neck, shot
him dead, and put him out of his pain. The people
then dragged him out, and we dismounted to look
at him, pierced through and through ; yet one could
not contemplate him without satisfaction, as we
were told that he had long infested the high road, and
carried off many passengers. One hears of the roar
of a tiger, and fancies it like that of a bull, but, in

THE TIGER. 153

feet, it is more like the grunt of a hog, though twenty
times louder, and certainly one of the most tremen-
dous animal noises one can imagine."

The tiger is readily tamed when taken young,
but its temper may be said to be scarcely so much
depended upon as that of the lion. Keepers enter
the cage and caress them, but they never venture
upon those annoying liberties which are generally so
freely taken with the lion ; and strangers, I believe,
have never attempted to venture within their reach.
jit may also be remarked, that there is only one in-
stance upon record where the tiger allowed a dog to
become an inmate cf his den. With the lion it is
] frequent, and great affection is displayed. On the
contrary, however, the Indians appear to have great
power in the management of the Tiger, and it is
^.more frequently seen tame in that country than an
•of the other Felince. The tame tigers of the Fakirs
exhibit great gentleness and confidence, which may
in part be attributed to the ample way in which they
are fed, and a singular instance of great control over
their temper is related in Griffith's Animal King-
dom •

" A full-grown Tiger was lately in the possession
'of some natives of Madras, who exhibited it held
merely by a chain : it was indeed kept muzzled, ex-
cept when allowed, (which was occasionally done) to
make an attack upon some animal, in order to exhibit
the mode of its manoeuvring in quest of prey. For

154 THE TIGER.

the purpose of this exhibition, a sheep in general was
fastened by a cord to a stake, and the tiger being
brought in sight of it, immediately crouched, and,
moving almost on its belly, but slowly and cautious-
ly, till within the distance of a spring from the ani-
mal, leapt upon and struck it down almost instantly
dead, seizing it at the same moment by the throat
with its teeth. The tiger would then roll round on
its back, holding the sheep on its breast, and, fixing
the hind claws near the throat of the animal, would
kick or push them suddenly backwards, and tear it
open in an instant. Notwithstanding, however, the
natural ferocity of these animals, the individual in
question was so far in subjection, that, while one
keeper held its chain during this bloody exhibition,
another was enabled to get the carcase of the sheep
away, by throwing down a piece of meat previously
ready for the purpose."

They are also capable of affection for the person
who has reared them, who will be recollected after a
considerable absence. " A tigress in the Tower, up-
on her arrival in this country, became very irascible
and dangerous, from irritation at the crowd and
bustle upon the Thames. Her deportment was so
sulky and savage, that Mr Cops could scarcely be
prevailed on by her former keeper, who saw her
Portly afterwards, to allow him to enter her den ;
but no sooner did she recognise her old friend, than
hhe fawned upon him, licked him, and caressed him,
exhibiting the most extravagant signs of pleasure;

THE 'T19ER. 155

and when be left her, she cried and whined for the
remainder of the day."

Tigers have also been induced to breed in capti-
vity, though much less frequently than the lion.
Mr Cross, we believe, has succeeded in breeding six
of the former, while his litters of the latter have
amounted to no less than twenty-four. We are not
certain whether any of the tigers bred in confine-
ment have arrived at maturity.

We have given in this place a figure (Plate VII.)
of a hybrid between a lion and a tigress, which form-
ed part of the collection of Mr Aitken, exhibited
in Edinburgh in 1827. They were whelped in De-
cember, but only lived for a very short period, ow-
ing, perhaps, to the inclement season at which they
were produced. The colour was brighter than thav
of the lion, and the bands were better marked than
they generally are in the young of the true breed.
One of the cubs was preserved for the Edinburgh
Museum, and has served as a copy for the accom-
panying illustration.

Another instance of this hybrid production took
place at Windsor. The male was the Asiatic lion
bred in this country by Mr Aitken, and the tigress
was a very gentle animal, about four years old. The
cubs, immediately after birth, were taken from the
mother, and were fostered by several bitches and a
goat. They also died before reaching maturity*.
• Griffith, Library of Entertaining Knowledge.

156

THE LEOPARD,

Felii ?eopardus.—Y. CUVIER*
PLATE VIII.

Lri Leopard, F. Cuvier, HistoireNaturelledes Mammi/lies.
The Figure in Griffith's Translation of Cuvier.

WE have given a plate of the African Leopard,
from the Histoire Natiirelle des Mammiferes of Fre-
deric Cuvier ; but, under this, we propose to de-
scribe, as far as possible, the Panther, or Felis par-
dus of naturalists, and regret that we have been un-
able to procure either an authentic figure, or a spe-
cimen of an animal which we could reconcile to the
characters given under that name. We shall not at-
tempt to unravel the synonyms, a task of great diffi-
culty, and which would o :cupy much more space
than can be afforded in the present work.

That there are two species confounded under the
names of Leopard and Panther, seems to have been
the opinion of most zoologists ; and the ancients,
who had more extensive opportunities of examining
them, though not with a view to their zoological
characters, invariably characterised them under two
uames. Our own opinion is, that there are at least

THE LEOPARD. 157

two distinct species, though it is very difficult to fix
upon good characters. That the Leopard is by far
the most common, inhabiting both Africa and India;
while the Panther is to be found chiefly, if not en-
tirely, in Africa. Both are subject to very great
variety, which may be seen in the number of skins
which annually arrive in Europe indiscriminately un-
der these titles ; but it is perhaps not greater than
is exhibited by the next three figures of the Ame-
rican Jaguar. The representation we have given
from Frederic Cuvier, we should consider typi-
cal of the markings of the adult Leopard, which,
in its make, is remarkably graceful and slender,
while in its action it displays more than usual easy
activity. The figure given in Griffith's translation
ot Cuvier likewise accords with this; and some skins
which we lately saw from the more alpine districts
ot India, closely resembled these in the distribution
of their spots, and were of a pale tint, almost ap-
proaching to a fawn colour. We shall now give F.
Cuvier's own description and dimensions :

" Our animal was brought from Senegal, and,
though still young, from the elegance of its propor-
tions, appeared to have reached its full size. The
entire length of the body was 3 feet 1 inch 6 lines ;
that of the tail 2 feet 3 inches : the height of the
animal, when standing, about 2 feet 1 inch. All the
upper parts of the body, and outsides of the limbs,
were yellowish, the lower parts white, both covered
with spots, which varied in their number, form, and

158 THE LEOPARD.

size. Those on the head, neck, a part of the shoul-
ders, and the limbs, were full, small, and placed close
to each other in a confused manner : those on the
thighs, back, flanks, and a part of the shoulders, were
equally full and small, but they were grouped in a
circular manner, so that each group formed an iso-
lated spot * en form de rose;1 and the part surround-
ed by this union of little spots being of a deeper
shade than the ground colour of the skin, contributed
in appearance to separate them still more from the
others* Ten of these ringed spots can be counted
in a perpendicular line from the back to the under
parts. On the belly, there are large black spots,
which are not so numerous as upon the other parts,
and the spots upon the upper part of the inside
of the limbs are lengthened and transverse, and
on the higher part of the shoulders there are some
which are long, narrow, and joined two and two up-
on the same line. The back of the ear is black,
with a white transverse spot on the middle : there
is a black spot upon each side at the opening of the
lips, and a white one above each eye."

We are not aware of any authentic figure of the
Panther, though several have been given as such.
That of Mareschal, and that given by Griffith, from
a drawing by Major Hamilton Smith, were both
taken from specimens in the Parisian Museum.
Now, Temminck says at once that these are all leo-
oards ; while Cuvier, so late as 1829, confirms his
opinion that the former is the true Panther pardus

THE LEOPARD. 159

of the ancients. Amidst these strong but conflict-
ing authorities, it is difficult to decide the question
satisfactorily, without a much larger series of spe-
cimens than we can at present command. The pan-
ther we considered nearly of a similar size to the
leopard, but more powerfully made, the ground co-
lour darker, and the markings, though crowded, ar-
ranged with considerable regularity, entirely " en
form de rose" the rings formed of separate spots,
and the body with few or no smaller and irregular
intermediate markings. The tail is also said to be
longer in proportion *.

It was this animal which was so abundantly sup-
plied to the games and public spectacles of the Ro-
mans— at least the representation upon ancient
carvings and architecture have more the appearance
of its markings than those of the leopard. The
number of them which were brought together at
once was almost incredible, Pompey having exhi-
bited 410, and Augustus 4^0.

Some zoologists have been of opinion, that there
were more than two species involved in the animal
designated Leopard and Panther ; and the figure
and description given by Major Smith in Griffith's
Cuvier, of an animal under the conditional title of
" The Panther of the ancients," goes far to confirm
it. Major Smith met with this animal stuffed at

* Temmmck says the tail of the ieopaid contains 22
vertebrae, that of the panther 28. The number, however, I be-
lieve, varies in many well-estabiishecl species of the Feluvc

160 THE LEOPARD.

Hesse Cassel. It is an animal of great power, and
measured 5 feet 3 inches from the nose to the inser-
tion of the tail, and stood about 2 feet 9 inches high
at the shoulders ; the length of the hody alone being
very nearly equal to the whole of Frederick Cuvier's
Leopard. The other great distinguishing differences
were, that the colour of the whole animal is a buff-
yellow, which assumes a darker tint, approaching to
red, on the nose, and more ochrey on the back and
sides. The belly and insides of the limbs partake
of this general colour, but paler, there being no white
part about the animal. There may be said to be
seven vertical rows of interrupted or imperfect an-
nuli on the sides of the animal. These, as well as
the like open spots which mark all the panthers,
have the inner surface of the annul i more fulvous
than the general colour of the sides. The dorsal
line is marked in the same manner, not with close
but with open spots, and the tail is spotted from be-
ginning to end. The forehead, cheeks, sides of the
neck, shoulders, throat, and inside of the limbs, are
covered with numerous, close, small spots, and there
is 9 narrow black bar across the lower part of the
throat. Its native country was unknown.

This animai, we have every reason to think, will
be found to be completely distinct, and will be most
interesting, as possessing characters intermediate be-
tween the large spotted cats of the old world and
the Jaguar of South America; and we hope that the
attention of those who have it in their power will be

THE LEOPARD. 161

directed to the solution of the dubiety which st»V
exists between this and the other animals we have
just mentioned.

Cuvier observes, that a variety of the panther is
sometimes found black, with the spots of a deeper
shade, and that he has seen this variety in the same
litter with those of the ordinary colours *. This
black variety the same author refers to the Felis me-
las of Peron.

In a wild state, these animals appear to inhabit
thick cover and the forest, more than the tiger, and
are much less seen abroad. Their prey is necessarily
routined to the smaller mammalia, such as the deer
and antelopes ; and, when the farm-yard is attacked,
to the sheep and poultry. Hares, wild fowl, and
monkeys, are also attacked, and the latter are often
followed or surprised upon the trees ; for they are
expert climbers, and resort to the branches either in
pursuit of game, or when they are themselves pur-
sued. They are also hunted in India with elephants,
like the tiger ; but this formidable style of hunting is
seldom thought necessary ; and their abode, in the

* We add here Cuvier's characters of these two ani-
mals from the Regne Animal :

" La Panthere, Felis pardus, Linn. Fauve dessous, blanc
dessus, avec dix ou sept rangees de taches noires en forme
de roses, c'est a dire forme'e de P assemblages du cinq ou six
petits taches simples, sur chaque flanc ; la queu est de lon-
geur du corps, moins la tete." Temmir^ck asserts this is a
leopard.

" Le Leopard, Felis leopardus, Linn. Semblable a la
Panthere, mais avec rangees des taches plus petites."

L

162 THE LEOPARD.

thickest and most pathless jungles, renders pursuit, m
this way, nearly impossible. The most COUTH ?u *r>«»-
thods of destruction are various kinds of traps, or with
dogs, which run them until the animal takes refuge
upon a tree, where, being kept at bay until the hun-
ter gets up, it is easily shot ; and, from the delibe-
rate aim that can be taken, it is generally so far dis-
abled with the first bullet, as to be easily overpowered
by the dogs.

In a state of captivity, we are perhaps best ac-
quainted with the leopard. They have, in a few in-
stances, bred in this country ; but not so frequently
as either the lion or tiger. The pair which were in
the Tower in 1829, and described by Mr Bennet,
were of very different dispositions ; and in this they
resembled their congeners, for scarcely two are found
which can be equally trusted. The male, notwith-
standing very kind treatment, continued sullen and
savage, while the female suffered herself to be patted
and caressed by the keepers. She possessed a sin-
gular propensity, however, " for the destruction of
umbrellas, parasols, muffs, hats, and such other ar-
ticles of dress as may happen to come within her
reach, seizing them with the greatest quickness, and
tearing them into pieces, almost before the astonished
visitor has become aware of his loss. To so great
an extent has she carried this peculiar taste, that Mr
Cops declares he has no doubt that, during her resi-
dence ha the Tower, she has made prey of at least

THE LEOPARD. 16?-

as many of these articles as there are days in the
year *."

The activity of these two animals is also very great,
and their motions, when sporting in their cage, are
executed with extreme grace and elegance. Their
•bod (beef) is generally tossed up in front of the den,
at the distance of nearly two feet from the bars, and
to the height of six or eight feet from the floor. The
animals, who are upon the alert for their dinner, im-
mediately leap towards the bars, and, darting out
their paws with incredible swiftness, almost uniform-
ly succeed in seizing it before it falls to the ground t.

The following interesting account of a panther,
with which we shall conclude this description, is
given in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, by
Mrs Bowdich ; and, though of considerable length,
it is so interesting that we cannot omit it. It is
beautifully told, and the traits in the disposition of
the animal shew that at least some of the race, by
gentle treatment, are capable of great attachment and
gentleness.

" I am induced to send you some account of a
panther which was in my possession for several months.
He and another were found, when very young, in
the forest, apparently deserted by their mother.
They were taken to the king of Ashantee, in whose
palace they lived several weeks ; when my hero, be-
ing much larger than his companion, suffocated him
in a fit of romping, and was then sent to Mr Hutchi*
* Tower Menagerie. t Tower Menagerie.

164 THE LEOPARD.

son*, the resident left by Mr Bowditch at Coomassle.
This gentleman, observing that the animal was very
docile, took pains to tame him, and, in a great mea-
sure, succeeded. When he was about a year old,
Mr Hutchison returned to Cape Coast, and nad him
led through the country by a chain, occasionally let-
ting him loose when eating was going forward, when
he would sit by his master's side, and receive his
share with comparative gentleness. Once or twice
he purloined a fowl, but easily gave it up to Mr
Hutchison, on being allowed a portion of something
else. On the day of his arrival, he was placed in a small
court, leading to the private rooms of the Governor,
and, after dinner, was led by a thin cord into the
room, where he received our salutations with some
degree of roughness, but with perfect good humour.
On the least encouragement, he laid his paws upon
our shoulders, rubbed his head upon us, and his teeth
and claws having been filed, there was no danger of
tearing our clothes. He was kept in the above court
for a week or two, and evinced no ferocity, except
when one of the servants tried to pull his food from
him ; he then caught the offender by the leg, and
tore out a small piece of flesh ; but he never seemed
to owe him any ill will afterwards. He one morning

* This very intelligent and enterpming gentleman, after
performing prodigies of valour, and being severely wounded
in the Ashantee war, returned to Scotland, his native coun-
try, in 1833. He never completely recovered his health,
and unfortunately died at Bankhouse, in the neighbour-
hood of Edinburgh, in December of that vear.

THE LEOPARD. 165

broke his cord, and, the cry being given, the castle
grates were shut, and a chase commenced. After
leading his pursuers two or three times round the
rampaits, and knocking over a few children by boun-
cing against them, he suffered himself to be caught,
and led quietly back to his quarters, under one of the
guns of the fortress.

" By degrees the fear of him subsided ; and orders
having been given to the sentinels to prevent his es-
cape through the gates, he was left at liberty to go
where he pleased ; and a boy was appointed to pre-
vent him from intruding into the apartments of the
officers. His keeper, however, generally passed his
watch in sleeping ; and Sai, as the panther was called,
after the royal giver, roamed at large. On one oc-
casion, he found his servant sitting on the step of
tne door, upright, but fast asleep ; when he lifted his
paw, gave him a blow on the side of his head, which
•aid him flat, and then stood wagging his tail, as if
enjoying the mischief he had committed. He be-
came exceedingly attached to the Governor, and fol-
lowed him every where like a dog. His favourite
station was at a window of the sitting-room, which
overlooked the whole town ; there, standing on his
nmd-legs, his fore-paws resting on the ledge of the
window, and his chin laid between them, he -appear-
ed to amuse himself with what was passing beneath.
The children also stood with him at the window ;
and one day, finding his presence an incumbrance,
and that they could not get their chairs close, they

166 THE LEOPARD.

used their united efforts to pull him down by the
tail. He one morning missed the Governor, who
was settling a dispute in the hall, and who, be-
ing surrounded by black people, was hidden from
the view of his favourite. Sai wandered with a de-
jected look to various parts of the fortress, in search
of him; and, while absent on this errand, the audience
ceased, the Governor returned to his private rooms,
and seated himself at a table to write. Presently he
heard a heavy step coming up the stairs, and, raising
his eyes to the open door, he beheld Sai. At that
moment he gave himself up for lost ; for Sai imme-
diately sprang from the door on his neck. Instead,
however, of devouring him, he laid his head close to
the Governor's, rubbed his cheek upon his shoulder,
wagged his tail, and tried to evince his happiness.
Occasionally, however, the panther caused a little
alarm to the other inmates of the castle, and the poor
woman who swept the floors, or, to speak technically,
pra-pra woman, was made ill by her fright. She
was one day sweeping the boards of the great hall
with a short broom, and in an attitude nearly ap-
proaching to all-fours, and Sai, who was hidden un-
der one of the sofas, suddenly leaped upon her back,
where he stood in triumph. She screamed so vio-
lently as to summon the other servants : but they,
seeing the panther, as they thought, in the act of
swallowing her, one and all scampered off as quickly
as possible ; nor was she released till the Governor,
wbc heard the noise, came to her assistance. Straa-

THE LF<OPARD. 167

gers were naturally uncomfortable when they saw so
powerful a beast at perfect liberty ; and many were
the ridiculous scenes which took place ; they not
liking to own their alarm, yet perfectly unable to re-
tain their composure in his presence.

" This interesting animal was well fed twice every
day, but never given any thing with life in it. He
stood about two feet high, and was of a dark yellow
colour, thickly spotted with black rosettes ; and, from
the good feeding, and the care taken to clean him,
his skin shone like silk. The expression of his coun-
tenance was very animated and good-tempered, and
he was particularly gentle to children. He would
He down on the mats by their side when they slept,
and even the infant shared his caresses, and remain-
ed unhurt. During the period of his residence at
Cape Coast, I was much occupied by making ar-
rangements for my departure from Africa ; but ge-
nerally visited my future companion every day, and
we, in consequence, became great friends before we
sailed. He was conveyed on board the vessel in a
large wooden cage, thickly barred in the front with
iron. Even this confinement was not deemed a suf-
ficient protection by the canoe-men *, who were so
alarmed at taking him from the shore to the vessel,
that, in their confusion, they dropped cage and all

* The panther, in these countries, is a sacred or Fetish
animal ; and not only a heavy fine is extorted from those
who kill one, but the Fetish is supposed to revenge h)i
death by cursing the offender.

.68 THE LEOPARD.

into the sea. Foi a few minutes I gave up my poor
panther as lost ; but some sailors jumpt into a boat
nelonging to the vessel, and dragged him out in safe-
ty. The beast himself seemed completely subdued
by his ducking ; and as no one dared to open his
rage to dry it, he rolled himself up in one corner,
nor roused himself till after an interval of some days,
when he recognised my voice. When I first spoke,
he raised his head, held it on one side, then on the
other, to listen ; and when I came fully into his
view, he jumped on his legs, and appeared frantic ;
he rolled himself over and over, he howled, he open-
ed his enormous jaws, and cried, and seemed as if he
would have torn his cage to pieces. However, as
his violence subsided, he contented himself with
thrusting his paws and nose through the bat* of the
cage, to receive my caresses.

" The greatest treat I could bestow upon my fa-
vourite was lavender-water. Mr Hutchison had told
me, that, on the way from Ashantee, he drew a
scented handkerchief from his pocket, which was im-
mediately seized on by the panther, who reduced it
to atoms ; nor could he venture to open a bottle of
perfume when the animal was near, he was so eager
to enjoy it. I indulged him twice a-week by mak-
ing a cup of stiff paper, pouring a little lavender-wa-
ter into it, and giving it to him through the bars of
his cage : he would drag it to him with great eager-
ness, roll himself over it, nor rest till the smell had
evaporated. By this I taught him to put out his

THE LEOPARD. 169

paws without shewing his nails, always refusing the
/avender-water till he had drawn them back again ;
and in a short time he never, on any occasion, pro-
truded his claws when offering me his paw. We lay
eight weeks in the river Gaboon, where he had plenty
of excellent food, but was never suffered to leave his
cage, on account of the deck being always filled with
black strangers, to whom he had a very decided aver-
sion, although he was perfectly reconciled to white
people. His indignation, however, was constantly
excited by the pigs, when they were suffered to run
past his cage ; and the sight of one of the monkeys
put him in a complete fury. While at anchor in the
before-mentioned river, an ourang-outan (Simia Sai-
grus) was brought for sale, and lived three days on
board ; and I shall never forget the uncontrollable
rage of the one, or the agony of the other, at this
meeting. The ourang-outan was about three feet
high, and very powerful, in proportion to his size ;
so that when he fled with extraordinary rapidity from
the panther to the further end of the deck, neither
men nor things remained upright when they opposed
his progress : there he took refuge in a sail, and al-
though generally obedient to the voice of his master,
force was necessary to make him quit the shelter of
its folds. As to the panther, his back rose in an
ferch ; his tail was elevated, and perfectly stiff ; his
eyes flashed, and, as he howled, he shewed his huge
teeth : then, as if forgetting the bars before him, he
tried to spring on the ourang-outan, t< tear him to

170 THE LEOPARD.

atoms. It was long before he recovered his tran-
quillity : day and night he appeared to be on the lis-
ten ; and the approach of a large monkey we had on
board, or the intrusion of a black man, brought a re-
turn of his agitation. We at length sailed for Eng-
land, with an ample supply of provisions ; but, un-
happily, we were boarded by pirates during the voy-
age, and nearly reduced to a state of starvation. My
panther must have perished but for a collection of
more than three hundred parrots, with which we
sailed from the river, and which died very fast while
we were in the north-west trades. Sai's allowance
was one per diem ; but this was so scanty a pittance,
that he became ravenous, and had not patience to
pick off the feathers before he commenced his meal.
The consequence was, that he became very ill, and
refused even this small quantity of food. Those
around him tried to persuade me that he suffered
from the colder climate ; but his dry nose and paw
convinced me he was feverish, and I had him taken
from the cage ; when, instead of jumping about and
enjoying his liberty, he lay down, and rested his head
upon my ieet. I then made three pills, each con-
taining two grains of calomel. The boy who had
the charge of him, and who was much attached to
him, held his jaws open, while I pushed the medicine
down his throat. Early the next morning, I went
to visit my patient, and found his guard sleeping in
the cage ; and having administered a further dose to
the invalid, I had the satisfaction of seeing him per-

THE LEOPARD. 171

fectly cured in the evening. On the arrival of the
vessel in the London Docks, Sai was taken ashore,
and presented to the Duchess of York, who placed
him in Exeter Change, to be taken care of till she
herself went to Oatlands. He remained there for
some weeks, and was suffered to roam the greater
part of the day without any restraint. On the morn-
ing previous to the Duchess's departure from the
town, she went to visit her new pet, played with him,
and admired his healthy appearance and gentle de-
portment. In the evening, when her Royal High-
ness s coachman went to take him away, he was dead,
in consequence of an inflammation on his lungs/'

172

THE RIMAU-DAHAN'.

Felis »mcr0c0#s.— TEMMJNCK.
PLATE IX.

Rimau-Dahan, Raffles, Trans. Linnean Society* vol. xiii.
p. 251. — Dr Horsjield, ZoologicalJournal, vol. i. p. 542.—
Felis longibande ; Felis macrocelis, Temminck, Mono-
graphies, p. 102.

THE first notice of this interesting animal was
given by Sir Stamford Raffles, in his Descriptive
Catalogue of a Collection made at Sumatra. Sub-
sequently Dr Horsfield gave a detailed description
and an excellent plate of it, which we have now
made use of; and, about the same period, M. Tem-
mmck drew up an account from some imperfect
skins in the Dutch and Parisian collections, under
the name of F. macrocelis, which, upon his visit to
this country, he submitted to Dr Horsfield, who
found the animal to be identical with the Rimau-
Dahan of Sir Stamford.

It is an animal of considerable size. Temminck
gives the length as 5 feet 6 inches, of which the tail

" " Tree Tiger." M. Temminck says the orthography
should be Arimau-Dahan,

THE RIMAU-DAHAN 173

measures two feet and a half. Dr Horsfield's mea-
surement of a female exceeded this, although it had
scarcely attained its full size : the total length was
5 feet 6 inches, of which the tail made 2 feet 8
inches ; and at the shoulders it stood in height 1 foot
4 inches. We shall now transcribe Dr Horsfield's
description of this specimen, in which it will be seen,
that the peculiar marking of the skin, the strength of
the limbs, and the fulness and length of the tail,
will at once distinguish it from any known spe-
cies *.

" The head of the Felis macrocelis is proportion-
ally small, somewhat attenuated, obtuse, and rather
high in its vertical dimensions. The upper lip is
full and distended, the lower lip is less swelled and
projecting, than in several other species of this ge-
nus. The termination of the muzzle is abrupt. The
forehead is rather depressed and plain, and the nose
but slightly elevated. The general aspect, even in
a state of nature, indicates less ferocity than that of
the Tiger or Leopard ; the character of the eyes and
the physiognomy have considerable resemblance to
those of the Domestic Cat. On the upper lip and
cheeks short whiskers, alternately of a white and
black colour, are scattered ; small fascicles of stiff
hairs are also situated above the eyes. The ears are
small and rounded. The teeth, as far as regards the

* Felis nebulosa of Griffith, if proved to be distinct,
will be closely allied ; but we cannot yet state what may be
its distinctions.

174 THE RIMAU-DAHAN.

generic character, present nothing peculiar : in the
specimen before me, the second set of canine teeth
is protruding, while the first still occupies its origi-
nal situation. The neck is rather slender, and of
moderate length. In its general habit, our animal
has much of the elegance and gracefulness of the
Leopard : the form of the body is on the whole cy-
lindrical ; the breast and flanks have a moderate ro-
tundity, and not the flatness which is frequently ob-
served in the Tiger, but in the character of the ex-
tremities, our animal resembles the latter species.
The strength and robustness of the thighs, legs, and
feet, afford a peculiarity to it, which has very pro*
perly been taken by M. Temminck as the character
of the species. The tail is of greater length and
fulness than in any other species of Felis hitherto
discovered : it is equal in length to the body and
neck together. The hairy covering of the tail is
longer and more delicate than that of the body ; it
increases in thickness towards the extremity of that
organ, where it has a lanuginous texture. In gene-
ral, the animal is thickly clothed with fur, which is
of moderate length, soft to the touch, and provided
at the base with a soft down.

" The ground colour of our animal is a whitish- ,
grey, inclining to cinereous or to brownish-grey; and
one of the peculiarities mentioned by Sir Stamfoid
Raffles, is the almost entire absence of yellow or red
in the external tint. On the upper portions of the
neck and back, the tint is more purely cinereous;

THE RIMAU-DAHAN. 176

on the abdomen, the interior of the thighs, and
the tail underneath, a slight admixture of tawny
*s observed in the fur, which appears to increase
with the age of the animal. This ground is more
closely covered, in the Felis macrocelis, with spots
and bands, defined posteriorly by a deep black
margin, than in any other of the large species of
this genus with which I am acquainted. The black
has, on the larger discolorations, most strikingly
the appearance of velvet. The form of the marks
is in the highest degree irregular, and we must
refer to our Plate for their illustration. The high-
est parts of the neck and back are marked through-
out with two longitudinal bands, which, arising on
the occiput between the ears, pass along the spine
to the rump, and finally disappear near the middle
of the tail. On the neck these longitudinal bands
separate, and form a curve outward : their course is
then nearly parallel, but in some individuals they
meet in a single line on the back, and diverge again
in a small degree on the rump. Two smaller bands,
disposed within the principal pair, have nearly the
same origin ; they extend along the highest portion of
the neck, and are lost on the region of the shoulders.
Here the large bands are interrupted by transverse
spots of the ground colour. The breadth of tfye
bands is not regular throughout ; they gradually in-
crease in breadth towards the posterior portion of
the neck, and, in their course along the spine, ar^
occasionally interrupted oy grey spots. Exterior of

176 THE RIMATJ-DAHAN.

these two principal bands, a smaller band arises on
each side, at the base of the ear, and, passing along
the neck, terminates in a curve on the shoulder.
The cheeks and sides of the head are marked with
two parallel bands, arising from the angle of the eye
and from the mouth, and terminating under the ear.
At this point a broad band has its origin, which
passes transversely across the throat. Several ob-
long marks extend longitudinally along the neck, and
unite near the breast with other marks, which have
a transverse disposition. The upper lip is very ele-
gantly marked with three or four dotted lines, and
an interrupted series of oblong spots passes under
the eyes towards the cheeks. The border of the
mouth is black. The forehead at the sides is dotted,
in the middle it is transversely marked with several
partially interrupted curves, adjoining to which a
large discoloration is disposed immediately behind
the eyes, consisting of numerous semiconfluent spots,
arranged in a circular manner. The nose is deli-
cately variegated with grey and black. The ears
exteriorly are black with an irregular grey spot in the
middle of the lobe ; interiorly these organs are grey,
and covered with short hairs, disposed near the an-
terior margin in a small tuft.

, " The most distinguishing character is, however,
afforded to our animal, by the marks on the shoul-
ders, and on the sides of the body. These are ob-
long, irregular, of great breadth, transversely dis-
posed and connected on the shoulders, interrupted

THE RIMAU-DAHAN. 177

and angular, on the sides and flanks. In alt, the
posterior margin has uniformly a deep velvet black
tint, and consists of a curved or irregularly waving
line. The marks, on the shoulders and on the sides,
are separated by narrow grey interstices, affording a
tessellated appearance to the covering. But no uni-
form or determinate character prevails on the sur-
face, and in different individuals a slight diversity
appears to exist. I shall, however, describe them
from the specimen before me. Here the most con-
spicuous mark is placed on the shoulders, and ex-
tends from the longitudinal lines which pass along
the spine, to the anterior extremities : it is oblong
and broad above ; about the middle, the posterior
margin is contracted by a curve, and it is regularly
rounded at its lower extremity ; the anterior border
is perfectly regular and transverse, but without any
defined margin. Before this principal mark, another
discoloration extends from the neck to the anterior
portion of the fore-thighs : this is interrupted in the
middle by several dots, from which the borders pro-
ceed in a waving direction ; a third mark, less dis-
tinctly defined, is placed below the principal mark
on the shoulders. On the sides of the body, from
the shoulders to the rump, the marks are interrupt-
ed, and have a partially oblique disposition, but a
distribution into three principal compartments can
generally be traced: these, however, vary in diffe-
rent individuals. They are in all cases separated by
transverse streaks, into smaller angular or rounded

M

17ft THE RIMAU-DAHAN.

* by which the tessellated character above men-
tioned is produced. In the specimen now before
me these lateral marks are subdivided and irregular ;
in another specimen, they were more connected,
which will be mentioned in the sequel. In a skin
contained in the Honourable East India Company' A
Museum, obtained by Dr Finlayson, they have con-
siderable uniformity, and a more oblique disposition,
In this individual they distantly resemble the marks
of the Bengal Tiger. On the rump and on the up-
per parts of the thighs, several series of marks are
disposed in succession : the highest of these is nearly
regular, and runs parallel to the spine, consisting of
four or five spots; the second has a curved direction,
and below this several irregular marks are scattered
on the rump and thighs. In all these, the character
of a dark posterior border is preserved, but their
contour is annular or elliptical uch'&ting a- slight re-
semblance to the spots of the -«cpard, and several
marks of a similar charfTfeei re also observed on
the flanks near the abdomei.* below the principal
transverse compartments. The lowest portion of
the abdomen is marked with short, broad, trans-
verse bands, disposed apparently without regularity.
On the thighs, the marks differ greatly in size and
form ; they consist chiefly of simple spots, with an
irregular margin, but in some cases several of these
marks have an annular disposition, and a slight re-
semblance to the marks of a Leopard ; their number
gradually decreases towards the feet. The imerioi

THE RIMAU-DAHAN. 179

of the thighs, near the abdomen, is marked with
broad spots, forming on each thigh several inter-
rupted lines ; below these small dots are irregularly
scattered. The feet are uniformly grey. The tail
in marked with less regularity in the Felis macrocelis
than in most other species of this genus : on the
base, and beyond one-third of its length, the paral-
lel longitudinal bands are continued ; the upper por-
tion of this organ is covered with broad black bands,
not regularly disposed ; the under part, near the
base, has several broad black spots, which meet the
superior bands, but without regularity ; beyond the
middle of the tail, the bands have an oblique dispo-
sition, and they are gradually obscured and lost to-
wards tire extremity, where this organ has a greyish
tint, with a slight admixture of tawny. The claws
are robust : they are completely retractile, as in
other species of this genus, and of a pale horny co-
lour. The irides are yellowish.

" The surface of the large marks of the Felis ma-
crocelis is covered with a mixture of grey and black
hairs, among which small black dots are distributed ;
the anterior margin is in most cases without any de-
fined boundary, while a distinguishing character of
our animal is afforded by a deep velvet-black mar-
gin, which confines the spots posteriorly."

The Felis macrocelis seems to be of a less mis-
chievous disposition than many of the other cats
In the forests of Sumatra, it lives much upon the
trees, pursuing and feeding on birds ; and it is said

180 THE RIMAU-DAHAN.

by the natives to be in the habit of sleeping stretch-
ed across the fork of a large bough *. While in a
state of confinement, adds Sir Stamford Raffles, they
were remarkable for good temper and playfulness :
" No domestic kitten could be more so ; they were
always courting intercourse with persons passing by,
and in the expression of their countenance, which
was always open and smiling, shewed the greatest
delight when noticed, throwing themselves on their
backs, and delighting in being tickled and rubbed.
On board ship there was a small Musi dog, who used
to play round the cage with the animal, and it was
amusing to observe the playfulness and tenderness
with which the latter came in contact with his infe-
rior-sized companion. When fed with a fowl that
had died, he seized the prey, and after sucking the
blood and tearing it a little, he amused himself for
hours in throwing it about and jumping after it, in
the manner that a cat plays with a mouse before it
is quite dead.

" He never seemed to look on man or children as
prey, but as companions, and the natives assert, that
when wild they live principally on poultry, birds,
and the smaller kinds of deer. They are not found
in numbers, and may be considered rather a rare
animal, even in the southern part of Sumatra. Both
specimens were procured from the interior of Ben-
coolen, on the banks of the Bencoolen River. They

• Sir S. T. Raffles, Linn. Trans, vol. xiii. p. 254.

THE RIMAU-DAHAN. 181

are generally found in the vicinity of villages, and
are not dreaded by the natives, except as far as they
may destroy their poultry. The natives assert that
they sleep and often lay wait for their prey on trees ;
and from this circumstance they derive the name of
Dahan, which signifies the fork formed by the branch
of a tree, across which they are said to rest, and oc-
casionally stretch themselves.

" Both specimens constantly amused themselves
in jumping and clinging to the top of their cage, and
throwing a somerset, or twisting themselves round
in the manner of a squirrel when confined, the tail
being extended, and shewing to great advantage
when so expanded."

One of these animals upon its arrival in this coun-
try, was sent to Exeter Change, where the noise
and novelty of the menagerie appear to have ren-
dered it very intractable for a few days ; but it soon
became perfectly familiar, and fond of the persons
who were employed about it. It was rather less
voracious than a leopard, and was fed with beet aiid
the heads of fowls.

The Felis macrocelis inhabits Sumatra. M. Tem-
minck considers that it is also found on the conti-
nent of India, having received several of the mantles
of the Daiakkers which were made of the skin of
this animal.

Dr Horsfield is not satisfied that this animal and
the telis nebuiosa ot Urimth are identical, the
latter being described as equalling the tiger in the

1 82 THE RIMAU-DAHAN.

size of his head and body ; it will bo somewhat
difficult now to decide, as the skin was unfortunate-
ly cut up for fur caps, and we think it preferable not
to add it to the list of synonyms. It is said to in-
habit China.

Sir Stamford Raffles has also mentioned a very
large Sumatran animal, which we do not recollect
having seen noticed elsewhere, and if the form bears
any likeness to the short indication given of it in
that gentleman's catalogue, from the description of
the natives, it must be a very interesting animal in-
deed : " It is called Rimau-maug in the southern
districts, and is described as larger than the tiger,
more dangerous and destructive, and as making his
attacks in a different manner, not crouching and
darting from a covert, but rushing furiously and
steadily forward, and enforcing his way into villages
and houses. It is stated to have a mane of long hair
on its head and neck, to have a tuft at the extremity
of its tail, to be of a more uniform and dark colour,
and to have a larger and longer head than the tiger.
It has been seen in various parts of the country, but
is by no means common *."

The next animal we have to describe is one of the
largest of the Cats with spotted or ringed markings
Lt is

Sir Stamford Raft**, Linn, Trans, vol. xiii, p. 25A.

788

TliK JAGUAR, OH AMERICAN PANTHEK.

Pel is onca — LINNAEUS,
PLATE X. XI. XII.

Yagiiarcte, Azara. — Le Jaguar, ou Tigre d'Amerique,
Cuvier, Regne Animal, i. 161. — Frederic Cuvier, Histoire
Naturelle des Mammiferes. Male and Female. — Felis
Jaguar, Temminck, Monographies, p. 136. — Desmaresfs
Mammalogie, p. 229 — The Jaguar, or American Panther,
J. Wilson, Zoological Illustrations, pi. ix — Griffith, Ani-
mal Kingdom, pis. Greater and Lesser variety.

THE continents of Asia and Africa we Lave seen
inhabited by species beautiful from the rich and
spotted markings of their skins ; while their size and
proportions were still large and powerful. In the
warmer parts of the New World, we have a proto-
type, rivalling them in beauty, and exceeding them
in strength, but apparently filling the same station
in animal life.

The Jaguar, or, as he is sometimes called, the
American Panther, inhabits the warmer parts of
South America, chiefly Paraguay and the Brazils,
but is nevertheless found from the most southern
extremity to the isthmus of Darien. It is one of the
strongest and most powerful of the Felinae after the

184 THE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN PANTHER.

Tiger ; and its thick and compact limbs and form,
independent of the difference in marking, at once dis-
tinguish it from the spotted or ringed Cats of the
old world ; yet it is only within these few years that
the distinctions have been pointed out, the quo-
tation of the plates of Buffon, the copies that were
afterwards made from them, gave rise to consider-
able confusion between it and the Leopard.

The markings of this animal vary very much, as
may be seen from the accompanying illustrations ;
and after much research in America, Major H.
Smith has come to the conclusion, that there are in
reality two varieties, which he characterises under the
titles of the Great and Lesser Jaguar, the large spe-
cies measuring about 2 feet 10 inches in height at
the shoulder, the smaller one about 2 feet 2 inches.
The lesser variety, of which Major Smith has given
a figure, was of a paler almost ashy colour, the spots
few and very distinct.

We shall now notice the illustrations which ac-
company our description. The first (Plate X.) was
taken from a very fine and beautifully marked skin,
for which we are indebted to Mr L'ry, furrier in
Hanover Street, and who obligingly displayed to us
his whole extensive stock of furs. It was a veiy large
animal ; the markings were of a very deep chocolate-
brown, upon a rich yellowish ground, and were re-
markable for their clearness. Along the centre of the
back there was almost a line of open spots only oc-
casionally interrupted, and the next two lines were

i'HE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN PANTHER. 185

of an oval or diamond shape, producing a very beau-
tiful appearance. Upon the sides the rings became
more defined and distinct, and many of them pos-
sessed the small spot or spots in the centre, which
has been always given as one of the characters of this
species.

The next illustration (Plate XI.) is taken from
Frederick Cuvier's representation of the male jaguar.
The dimensions of this animal were in total length
6 feet 9 inches, of which the tail made 2 feet 2 inches ;
the height at the shoulder 2 feet 6 inches, a size al-
together approaching near to that of the Greater Ja-
guar of Hamilton Smith, which it also somewhat re-
sembles in the markings of the body. The rings are
few and very defined, but there is little trace of any
central dots, and the intermediate spaces are equally
free from interruption.

Our next Plate (Plate XII.) is taken from Mr
Wilson's beautiful illustration, from a drawing by
Mosses. In it the rings can scarcely be traced at
all, and the whole marking is of a more irregular
and confused character. But the animal had not
reached its full dimensions, and with its growth th«
completion of the rings may have become more de-
veloped. In whatever way it may be taken, it forms
a very interesting addition to the figures of this ani-
mal. It was brought to Liverpool from Paraguay,
and the Captain of the vessel could venture to play
with it, as it lay in one of the boats on deck, to

186 THE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN PANTHER.

which it was chained, but it had been familiarized
to him from the time that it was the size of a small
dog.*

The jaguar inhabits the forests, and seeks its
prey by watching, or by openly seizing cattle or
horses in the enclosures. It actively pursues smaller
animals, and even the monkeys, with all their agi-
lity, are not exempted from its attacks. It climbs
" freely and expertly." Sonnini tells us, that " he has
seen the prints left by the claws of the jaguar on the
smooth bark of a tree forty or fifty feet in height,
and without branches, and although several slips
could be traced, it had at last succeeded in reach
ing the very top." " Sometimes, after a long silence,"
says Humboldt, " the cry of the jaguar comes from
the tops of the trees ; and in this case it was follow-
ed by the sharp and long whistling of the monkeys,
which appeared to flee from the danger that threaten-
ed them." But horses, oxen, and sheep, are his fa-
vourite seizures, and the depredations committed are
sometimes very extensive. Nor is it to be wondered
at that the inroads of these creatures are looked up-
on with horror, when one is possessed of sufficient
strength to carry off a horse ; and their numbers are
so prodigious, that 4000 were killed annually in the
Spanish Colonies, and 2000 were exported every
year from Buenos Ayres alone, f

* Wilson's Illustrations,
f Humboldt, Pers. Nar.

THE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN PANTHER. 187

Among the Pampas of Paraguay, great havoc is
committed among the herds of horses, and the swift-
ness of the courser is unavailing before one of these
relentless foes. Fear seems to paralyze his efforts,
a spring brings the formidable assailant upon his
back, and he is either brought to the ground by the
weight, or the neck is broken by a blow or twist on
the muzzle. A full grown jaguar is quite able to
drag off a horse. Azara caused the body of a horse
which had newly fallen a victim to this animal, to be
drawn within musket shot of a tree, in which he in-
tended to pass the night, anticipating that the jaguar
would return in the course of it to its victim ; but
while he was gone to prepare for the adventure, the
animal returned from the opposite side of a large
and deep river, and having seized the horse with its
teeth, drew it for about sixty paces to the water,
swam across with its prey, and then drew it into a
neighbouring wood, in sight the whole time of a per-
son whom D' Azara had left concealed to observe
what might happen before his return. Its prey,
however, is very various, and its taste by no means
confined to what may be called the finer game of
the plain or forest. They take the water very
freely, and are said even to fish in the shallows,
seizing the fish with their paws. I am not sure
that we have very good authority for this, but as the
common domestic cat has been known to be a suc-
cessful angler, the jaguar may have similar abilities.
We have better authority for their partiality to tur-

188 THE JAGUAR. OR AMERICAN PANTHER.

ties. Humboldt relates, " We were shewn large
shells of turtles emptied by the jaguars. These ani-
mals follow the arraus towards the beaches, when
the laying of eggs is to take place. They surprize
them on the sand ; and in order to devour them at
their ease, turn them in such a manner that the un-
der shell is uppermost. In this situation the turtles
cannot rise ; and as the jaguar turns many more
than he can eat in one night, the Indians often avail
themselves of his cunning and malignant avidity.
When we reflect on the difficulty that the naturalist
finds in getting out the body, without separating the
upper and under shells, we cannot enough admire
the suppleness of the tiger's paw, which empties the
double armour of the arraus, as if the adhering
parts of the muscles had been cut by means of a sur-
gical instrument. The jaguar pursues the turtle
quite into the water, when not very deep. It even
digs up the eggs ; and, together with the crocodile,
the herons, and the gallinago vulture, is the most
cruel enemy of the little turtles recently hatched."*

Like their congeners, they do not attack man
when unannoyed, but are neither very easily scared
from their prey, nor do they readily flee from his ap-
proach. They will often follow travellers, Humboldt
remarks, even when they will not attack them, skirt-
ing the road, and appearing only at intervals among
the bushes ;f and during his long abode in Ame-
rica, the same traveller heard or' only one example of

• Humboldt, Pers. Nar. iv. p. 492 f Ib. iv. p. 176.

THE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN PANTHER. 1S9

a Llanera who was found torn in his hammock op-
posite the island of Achaguas. * In another part of
the Narrative of this accomplished traveller, we have
the following anecdote, which shows the jaguar to
be very easily frightened ; we doubt, however, if the
forbearance of the animal would have been very
long continued. " Two Indian children, a girl and
a boy, the one about seven, the other about nine
years old, were at play on the outskirts of the same
village, when a large jaguar, about two o'clock in
the afternoon, came out of the woods and made to-
wards them, playfully bounding along, his head down
and his back arched, in the manner of a cat. He
approached the boy in this way, and began to play
with him ; nor was the latter even sensible of his
danger, until the jaguar struck him so hard on the
head with his paw, as to draw blood, whereupon the
little girl, with a small switch which she had in her
hand, struck him, and he was already bounding back
again, not at all irritated, to his retreat, when th«
Indians of the village, alarmed by her cries, came up
to them."

The jaguar is generally hunted with dogs, which
run him to bay, or make him take refuge in a tree,
where he is kept till the coming up of the hunters,
who shoot him or dioable him with their long
spears. He is also said to be hunted singly, the
huntsman having his left arm defended by a sheep's

* Humboldt's Pers. Nar. iv. 436. Azara mentions more
Crequent attacks on man.

190 THE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN PANTHER.

skin, on which he receives the animal's spring, and
stabs him with a spear about five feet in length.

Jaguars are occasionally met with having the
ground colour of the skin of a very deep brown
tinge, almost approaching to black ; on these the
markings are of a still deeper shade. This variety
is rare, and has never been well or characteristically
figured, and we regret having been unable to pro-
cure a drawing from well preserved or living speci-
mens. Azara has also mentioned a white variety,
with the rings appearing darker in particular lights.
This seems to be still more rare, and we are not
aware of any specimen having been lately seen iii
Europe.

Next to this animal, we have ventured to point
out what we consider will be the distinguishing cha-
racters of one which is yet almust unknewik

191

THE OUNCE.
Felis uncia — LINN^US.

PLATE XIII.
The Ounce, Plate in Griffith's Animal Kingdom^ a. p. 468 f

WHEN the present series of volumes were com-
menced, we hoped that they would come into the
hands of many, besides those of the professing na-
turalist. While it is attempted to give a general
view of the different branches, as far as they can
be carried by our knowledge at the time, it is also
hoped that rare or doubtful species may be occa-
sionally restored, by having the attention of indivi-
duals directed to them. In the present tribe of ani-
mals there are many opportunities where this might
happen ; for among the many thousands of skins
which are annually imported as articles of trade, how
few are looked at with the view of furthering the de-
scriptions of the animals that once bore them ; and
when one is noticed as different from the rest, it is
generally passed over as merely an accidental occur-
rence. This is the only apology we can offer for
introducing the Ounce with a separate plate and title,
and it may succeed in directing the attention of those

192 THfc ut/NCE.

who have opportunities of seeing numbers of the skins
of the Large Spotted Cats.

The Ounce is first noticed by Buffon, who de-
scribes it as an animal of considerable size, of a grey-
ish-white, yellowish on the upper parts, and with
the hair much more lengthened than in any of the
other spotted cats.

Both Temminck and Cuvier leave out the Ounce
in their descriptions of the Felinse, and we should have
been content to have merely mentioned it, as describ-
ed by Buffon, had not the plate in Griffith's Animal
Kingdom, and the notes in the same work by Major
Smith, given us some grounds for thinking that it
will one day constitute a very interesting species.
The figure in Griffith is taken from a specimen which
was in the Tower of London, brought from the Gulf
of Persia. It corresponds in a remarkable degree
with Buffon's representation ; and Major Smith is
said to have once met with a skin also from the Gulf
of Persia, and from the length of the fur, which was
shaggy, he conjectured it to be from the higher
mountain ranges of that country. *

The Baron Cuvier, in his observations on Buffon's
plate, does not mention, and seems to overlook, the
long and shaggy hair, which we would consider as
one of the most marked characters of the species,
and one by which a person comparatively unac-
quainted with the subject; would distinguish it from
the leopard or panther. Our plate is a copy from
* Griffith's Animal Kingdom, ii. 469.

THE OUNCE. 193

that of Buffon, with a slight variation of attitude,
and we think that naturalists who have the opportu-
nity of seeing or receiving sptjonuens from Northern
or Western Asia- should keep this species or variety
(whichever it may prove) in recollection.

194

feh&tnitis. — F. Cuvirftu
PLATE XIV.—FEMALE.

' Le chati femelle, Felis mitis, Fred. Cuvier, Histoire Na~
turelle des Mammiferes. — Felis chati, Temminck, Mono-
graphics, p. 150. — Felis chibigouazou, Desmarest, Mam-
malogie, p. 221.

THE first modern notice of this beautiful species
is in the magnificent work of Frederic Cuvier, who
gave his figure and description from a living speci-
men in the Paris Menagerie, and which has been
now used for our illustration. This also served Des-
marest for his descriptive letter-press to the Encyclo-
pedic Methodique, but he identifies it with the Chi--
bigouazou of Azara, while Temminck, who uses,
much of the same materials for his "Monographies,"
considers it distinct from that animal, and completes
his description from a skin which he received from i
Rio de Janeiro, and thus to a certain extent fixes ;
the locality of the animal, of which Frederic Cuvier]
was ignorant.

Being unable to see specimens of this animal, we j
nave followed Frederic Cuvier, arid give his description
of the female. It was procured alive from a dealef j

THE CHATI. 195

in Brest, without his being able to ascertain whence
it came. It now seems to be pretty well ascertained
that the species is a native of South America, and that
it will most probably be identified with some of the
doubtful species which have been described by the
older travellers in that country.

" This is a very beautiful and graceful animal, and

possesses all the general characters of the diurnal

cats. It is about one-third larger than the domestic

cat, being in length, exclusive of the tail, rather more

than two feet ; and in height, at the middle of the

back, about one foot two inches. The tail is eleven

inches in length. The ground colour of the fur, on

the upper parts of the body, is of a pale yellowish

tinge ; on the lower parts it is pure white ; at the

roots it is of a dull grey, and it is very thick and

close. The whole body is covered with irregular

dark patches ; those upon the back are entirely black,

nd are disposed longitudinally in four rows. Those

pen the sides are surrounded with black, have the

entres of a clear fawn colour*, and are arranged

n nearly five rows. The spots upon the lower part

F the body, where the ground colour of the fur is

hite, are full, and appear arranged in two ]ines,

om posed of six or seven patches on each side. The

mbs are covered with nearly round spots of smaller

imensions ; and upon the fore legs, near the body,

* Temminck calls these spots irregularly surrounded with
lack, and having the centre of a reddish fawn colour —
lonographies, p, 150.

196 THE CHATI.

there are two transverse bands. Upon the throat
there is a sort of half collar, and upon the under
jaw two crescent-formed spots ; behind each eye
run two bands, about two inches in length, which
terminate opposite the ear. The forehead is bordered
by two lines, between which there are numerous spots,
and at their origin there is a blackish mark from
whence the whiskers spring. The outside of the
ear is black, with a white spot upon the small lobe.
The base of the tail is spotted with small blotches,
which, towards the extremity, run into half rings,
broadest upon the upper surface. The pupil of the
eye of the chati is round ; in other parts of its for-
mation, and in its motions, it is said to resemble the
common cat ; it also utters a similar cry, only that it
is a little harsher and more lengthened."

The animal from which F. Cuvier took his de-
scription was extremely gentle ; towards those with
whom it was familiar, and who did not approach its
cage, it would express its discontent by a short cry,
and when caressed would shew the greatest satis-
faction and delight. It was from this mild temper
that its first describer applied to it the trivial name
of Mitis.

Q7

THE HUNTINCT-IEOPARD,

Felis jubata — SCHREBER.
PLATE XV.

Felis jubata, Schreber, tab. 105 — Fdlis Gu^pard, Temminek^
Monoffraphies, p. 89. — Desmarest, Mammalogie, p. 221. —
Cynailurus jubata, Wagler.

THIS is one of the most curious and interesting
animals of the Feline race. Possessing at first sight
all the colour, marking, and appearance of the larger
spotted cats, one becomes surprised, upon closer
examination, to find the form of the dog almost in-
terwoven in its appearance. Its alliance to the dog
is still more confirmed by the disposition being so
canine as to be susceptible of training, so that the
animal will obey the orders of its master. In con-
finement, or when tamed, it exhibits great mildness
and affection ; one which Frederic Cuvier describes,
being so domesticated as to live at large, and in the
company of children and domestic animals.

The hunting-leopard is a native of both Africa
and India ; but, of late, naturalists have suspected
that the animals from these countries were distinct,
the Indian species being said to be more dog-like,
to stand higher upon its legs, and to have a more

198 THE HUNTING-LEOPARD.

scanty mane, or rather nearly to want that appendage.
This has suggested for it the title of " Maneless Hunt-
ing-Leopard," F. venatica ; while the former appel-
lation of jubata has been retained for the African
animal only. We cannot at present decide this point,
but we think it is extremely probable that two spe-
cies are involved in the common synonyms which
are given. Baron Cuvier was of opinion that this
animal should stand in a separate genus, of the pro-
priety of which there can be no doubt ; and it has in
fact been removed by Wagler under the title Cynai-
lurus.

Desmarest gives the length of the hunting-leo-
]>ard as three feet six inches, exclusive of the tail.
Temminck gives that of a very large specimen, as
nearly five feet. The tail is rather long in propor-
tion to the body, reaching to about the shoulder of the
animal. Our description we have copied from that
of Mr Bennet, taken from two living males in the
Tower of London. It is more correct than any thing
we eould give ourselves ; and that gentleman's ob-
servations on the form and structure, are both ju-
dicious and interesting.

" The hunting-leopard forms a sort of connecting
link between two groups of animals, otherwise com-
pletely separated, and exhibiting scarcely any other
character in common than the carnivorous propensi-
ties by which both are, in a greater or less degree,
actuated and inspired. Intermediate in size between
the leopard and the hound, he is more slender in his

THE HUNTING-LEOPARD. 199

body, more elevated on his legs, and less flattened
on the fore part of his head than the former ; while
he is deficient in the peculiarly graceful and length-
ened form, both of head and body, which characte-
rizes the latter. His tail is entirely 'that of a cat ;
and his limbs, although more elongated than any
other species of that group, seem rather fitted for
strong* muscular exertion, than for active and long
continued speed.

" In the number and form of his teeth, in the aspe-
rity of his tongue, in the conformation of the organs
of sense, and in the number of his claws, he accu-
rately corresponds with the legitimate species of the
genus Felis. The principal character in which he
differs from them, consists in the slight degree of re-
tractility of these latter organs. Instead of being
withdrawn within sheaths appropriate for the pur-
pose, as in the cats properly so called, the claws of
the hunting-leopard are capable of only a very limited
retraction within the skin, and are consequently ex-
posed to the action of the ground on which they
tread, their points and edges being thus rendered
liable to be blunted by the constant pressure to which
they are subjected, almost to the same extent as in
dogs* The slightest consideration of the uses to
which the claws are applied, by the whole of the
Feline tribe, in whom they are, in fact, in conse-
quence of their extreme power and sharpness, organs
of offence, if possible, more deadly and more de-
structive than the teeth, will teach us, that the mo-

200 THE HUNTING-LEOPARD.

dification which has just been described as so import-
ant a part of their organization, must of necessity be
accompanied by a corresponding change in manners
and habits; and that circumstance alone, and the want
of analogous structure in any other animal, could
justify us in continuing to class the Chetah among
the cats, from which he differs in so essential a par-
ticular. '

" In outward form, however, notwithstanding his
more slender make, the difference between them is
by no means great. His head, although more ele-
vated and prominent in front, exhibits the same broad
lateral expansion, caused by the thick mass of mus-
cle, which acts so powerfully upon the throat and
dilated jaws of the cats, and imparts to them that
tremendous force and effect for which they are so
remarkable. His legs, notwithstanding their in-
creased length and slender proportions, retain all the
elastic springiness, by means of which the leopard
or the tiger are enabled to bound with so much vi-
gour and velocity upon their unsuspecting prey.
His air and manners, too, are unquestionably those
of the cats ; and his mode of colouring, which we shall
next proceed to describe, although exhibiting very
peculiar and marked distinctions, offers so close an
analogy to that of the jaguar and the leopard, that
were we to regard this character alone, it would be
impossible to arrange him in a different group from
that which comprehends those beautifully spotted
but ferocious beasts. His fur, however, it must be

THE HUNTING-LEOPARD. 201

remarked, has little of the sleekness which characte-
rizes those animals, but exhibits, on the contrary, a
peculiar crispiness, which is not to be found in any
other of the tribe.

" His groundcolour is a bright yellowish fawn above,
and nearly pure white beneath, covered above and
on the sides by innumerable closely approximating
spots, from half an inch to an inch in diameter, which
are intensely black, and do not, as in the leopard and
other spotted cats, form roses with a lighter centre,
but are full and complete. These spots, which are
wanting on the chest and under part of the body,
are larger on the back than on the head, sides, and
limbs, where the* are more closely set ; they are
also spread along the tail, forming on the greater
part of its extent, interrupted rings, which, however,
become continuous as they approach its extremity,
the three or four last rings surrounding it completely.
The tip of the tail is white, as is also the whole of
its under surface, with the exception of the rings
just mentioned ; it is equally covered with long hair
throughout its entire length, which is more than half
that of the body. The outside of the ears, which
are short and rounded, is marked by a broad black
spot at the base ; the tip, as also the inside, being
whitish. The upper part of his head is of a deeper
tinge ; and he has a strongly marked flexuous black
line, of about half an inch in length, extending from
the inner angle of the eye to the angle of the
mouth. The extremity of the nose is black, like

202 THE HUNTING -LEOPARD.

that of the dog. The mane, from which he derives
his scientific name, is not very remarkable ; it con-
sists of a series of longer, crisper, and more upright
hairs, which extend along the hack of the neck and
the anterior portions of the spine."

We observed that the disposition of those animals
was so much allied to that of the dogs, that they were
capable of being trained for the chase ; it is, however,
more properly similar to the species of docility which
characterizes a falcon, and the employment of the
hunting-leopard may be compared to the sport of fal-
conry. The natural instinct teaches to pursue the
game ; the reward of a portion of it, or of the blood,
induces them to give it up, and again subject them-
selves to their master. It is in India that this sport
is pursued ; in Africa the hunting-leopard is only va*
lued for his skin, which is worn by persons of con-
sequence, or the chiefs of tribes ; and brings a high
price on exportation.

At an early period of the Mogul empire*, these
animals were employed in the greatest numbers ; and
it appears certain that others of this race were also
used. " Leopards and lynxes were kept for the
chasing of deer, and also tigers for seizing boars/'
Although it is not likely that it was the real tiger

* This sport appears to have had a very early origin.
From Sir William Jones, we learn that " Hushing, probably
contemporary with Minos, and king of Persia, B. C. 865, ,
was the first who used dogs and leopards for hunting, and
introduced the fashion of wearing the furs of wild beasts in
winter."— Vol. v. p. 588.

THE HUNTING-LEOPARD. 203

which was employed, it is evident that there was at
least three animals so distinct as to entitle them to
various denominations. It is said that some of the
emperors, in their great hunting expeditions, were
accompanied to the field with a thousand hunting-
leopards.

At the present period this sport is confined en-
tirely to India and Persia, and the hunting-leopards
alone is employed in it. They are so tame and
gentle, as to he led about in a leash like greyhounds,
but when brought to the hunting-field, they are car-
ried either on an elephant, or on horseback on a pad
behind the rider, but more generally on a cart made
for the purpose, and drawn by oxen. This carries both
the sportsmen and his attendants, and upon ap-
proaching the game, the animal is unhooded and
slipped. But the description of a chase by one who
has enjoyed the sport, will give the best idea of the
manner in which it is conducted.

" Just before we reached our ground, the shuter
suwars, (camel courier,) who always moved on our
flanks in search of game, reported a herd of ante-
lopes about half a mile out of the line of march, and
the chetahs being at hand, we went in pursuit of
them. The leopards are each accommodated with a
flat-topped cart, without sides, drawn by two bul-
locks, and each animal has two attendants. They
are loosely bound by a collar and rope to the back
of the vehicle, and are also held by the keeper by a
strap round the loins. A leathern hood covers the

204 THE HUNTING-LEOPARD.

eyes. The antelopes being exceedingly timid and
wild, the best way to enjoy the sport is to sit on the
cart alongside the driver ; for the vehicle being built
like the hacheries of the peasants, to the sight of
which the deer are accustomed, it is not difficult, by
skilful management, to approach within ^00 yards
of the game. On this occasion we had three che-
tahs in the field, and we proceeded towards the spot
where the herd had been seen, in a line with an in-
terval of 100 yards between each cart On emer-
ging from a cotton field, we came in sight of four an-
telopes, and my driver managed to get within 100
yards of them, ere they took alarm. The chetah
was quickly unhooded and loosed from his bonds ;
and as soon as he viewed the deer, he dropped
quietly off the cart, on the opposite side to that on
which they stood, and approached them at a slow
crouching canter, masking himself by every bush and
inequality which lay in his way. As soon, however,
as they began to shew alarm, he quickened his pace,
and was in the midst of them in a few bounds.

" He singled out a doe, and ran it close for about
200 yards, when he reached it with a blow of his
paw, rolled it over, and in an instant was sucking
the life's-blood from its throat.

" One of the other chetahs was slipped at the
same time, but after making four or five desperate
bounds, by which he nearly reached his prey, sud-
denly gave up the pursuit, and came growling sulkily
back to his cart.

THE HUNTING- LEOPARD. 205

* As soon as the deer is pulled down, a keeper runs
up, hoods the chetah, cuts the victim's throat, and
securing* some of the blood in a wooden ladle, thrusts
it under the leopard's nose. The antelope is then
dragged away, and placed in a receptacle under the
hachery, while the chetah is rewarded with a leg for
his pains."

206

THE OCELOT.
Felis pardalis — LINN^US.
PLATES XVI. and XVII.

Felis pardalis, Linnceus. — Felis ocelot, TemmincJc, Mono-
graphics, p. 144. — Desmarest, Mammalogie, p. 222 —
Mexican Tiger, Pennant, History of Quadrupeds, i.
p. 267 — Ocelot, Hamilton Smith, in Griffith's Cuvier, ii.
p. 475 — Wilson's Illustrations of Zoology, pi. xvii.

THIS is a very beautiful and graceful little species,
at the same time it is easily tamed, and becomes very
playful, good-tempered, and familiar. Like the ja-
guar of the same country, it is subject to consider-
able variety in the form and distribution of the mark-
ings ; but the colouring is always chaste and beauti-
ful, and the rich reddish or tawny of the ground tint,
blends finely with the deep brown, or almost black,
on the borders of the spots.

The best representations of the ocelot that we are
aware of, are those drawn by Major Hamilton Smith,
for Griffith's edition of Cuvier ; they are full of
character, and represent four variations in the mark
ings of the animal, while another plate represents a
fifth, which the Major considers a distinct species.
The ocelots, that gentleman thinks, form a subordi-

g

wfy s?||

THE OCELOT. 207

nate group in the great family of the Felinae, and he
describes them as being of middle size, between the
larger and smaller cats, of more slender and elegant
propoitions, without tufts on the ears, the markings
diverging more or less in open chain-like spots 01
streaks from the shoulders, backwards and down-
wards. They all belong to the New World ; but
there are two or three species of the Old that re-
semble them in several particulars, and therefore
might form the next group *.

In the four varieties above mentioned, the ground
colour varies, on different parts of the body, from
tawny-yellow to rufous, and to grey tinged with red ;
and the markings change from lengthened chain-like
streaks, surrounded with a dark margin, to spots like
those on the jaguar, and to solid streaks and blotches
of black. The spots and blotches are frequent on the
legs of all the varieties ; but the chain-like streaks
appear only on the neck, sides, and loins. Upon
the back, the blotches often run together, forming aw
irregular but continuous dark line. The rufous co-
lour prevails chiefly on the head, neck, and shoul-
ders.

Temminck gives the length of a full-grown ocelot
at from three feet and a half to four feet, including
the tail, which is from 11 to 15 inches. Specimens
of this animal have been brought from Mexico, Bra-

* Griffith's Cuvier, ii. p. 475. — A very near prototype to
the ocelots of the New World will be seen in the subjects
of plates xxi. and xxii.

208 THE OCELOT.

zil, Guiana, and Surinam. It inhabits the forests,
and climbs trees expertly in search of prey, which
consists of birds and small animals.

The subject of our first illustration of the ocelot
is copied from Mr Wilson's plate. The original was
a painting by Mosses of Liverpool, in the possession
of Dr Traill. It was a female, and measured, ex-
clusive of the tail, about 2 feet 9J inches, the tail
1 1-| inches. " The upper part of the head is deep
tawny, streaked with blackish-brown. A black-
ish streak passes from the upper and inner canthus
of each eye to the forehead, between the ears, in a
converging manner ; and between them there are se-
veral delicate lines of the same colour. Another
strongly expressed stripe passes from the outer can-
thus of the eyes to the angles of the lower jaw,
where an irregular blackish bar passes upwards, to
within an inch of the outer edge of the ears. From
the angles of the jaw, two stripes pass downwards,
and meet in front of the throat. The ears are thin,
and blackish externally, with a spot of pure white
on the back of each. There is a patch of pure white
at the angles of the mouth, beautifully speckled with
three rows of black dots, which lie at the roots of
the vibrissae ; chin and throat white, with blackish
bars ^ the ground-colour of the breast less pure ; that
of the belly and insides of the legs dull grey. Around
the eye are white marks, nearly inclosing the orbit,
but interrupted by the blackish stripes above de-
scribed There are four chains of open lengthened

THE OCELOT.

Rpois on each side, more or less distinct, slopinp;
down from the shoulder towards the flanks. The
legs are irregularly marked with numerous hlack
spots, differing in size and shape. The tail is barred
with hlack on its sides and dorsal line, but is not an-
nu!ated as in some of the varieties."

We have the following additional particulars of
the habits of this animal in Mr Wilson's account.
4 She is remarkably playful, much inclined to climb
up the legs of those who approach her (an inconve-
nient tendency, from the length and sharpness of her
claws), and delights in being carried about in peo-
ple's arms like a cat. She is an extremely power-
ful animal, but gentle through the influence of do-
mestication, and attached to those who feed her.
She one day seized a chamois leather glove, which
she tore to pieces, and swallowed immediately. The
person to whom the glove belonged could not rescue
it with the strength of both his hands. While young,
this animal was fed on oatmeal porridge and milk,
and has been all along sustained chiefly by milk and
vegetables, with occasionally a bit of boiled liver, or
other offal. The nature of the diet has obviously a
considerable influence on her disposition. When fa-
rinaceous food and milk prevail, she is certainly more
tractable than when animal food is given in any con-
siderable quantity ; and when treated with live birds
or raw flesh, she is observed to assume greater fierce-
ness in her aspect, and to strike more fordnly with
her fore-paws at passing animals. She has some*

210 THE OCELOT.

times made her escape from confinement, and exhi-
bited a power of climbing trees with great ease and
activity. She has occasionally committed consider-
able havoc in the poultry-yard, and has more than
once greatly alarmed a horse by jumping on its back
in the stable. In this last feat, however, the Ocelot
seemed to be actuated rather by a desire for society
than the love of mischief, for she coiled herself up
on the hind quarter, evidently with the view of ef-
fecting a settlement for the purpose of repose : but
the plunging of the horse induced her to use her
claws to render her seat more secure. Upon this
the steed, as might be expected, redoubled his exer-
tions to dislodge the enemy, and the Ocelot was at
last thrown, receiving in her descent a kick which
sha never afterwards forgot ; for it has been since
observed, that, on seeing a horse, she immediately
betakes herself to her den. A house-dog and ' puss'
speedily acquired a knowledge of each other's powers,
and neither seemed disposed to court an attack. It
is believed, however, that no dog could have any
chance with this animal : her jaws would have crush-
ed at once any bone in its body. A few days be-
,bre her departure from Liverpool to London, she
occasioned a serious alarm. Being secured by a
long chain, in front of a cottage door, she suddenly
threw down a young girl of four years old, and, to
the horror of the beholders, appeared to seize the
child by the throat. This was, however, intended
merely as play, tor neither ner siiarp teeth nor crook-

THE OCELOT. 211

ed talons inflicted the slightest injury, and, aftet
tumbling over each other more than once, the child
was taken up severely frightened, but no way hurt*.'*
So much for this Ocelot in particular.

Our second illustration (PI. XVII.) is from a spe-
cimen in the Museum of the College. It had also
been kept tame for some time, and, though exces-
sively mischievous, it exhibited all the playful fami-
liarity of the preceding. The ground-colour of the
skin of this specimen was paler than usual, and of
a general tinge, more approaching to a tawny-yel-
low. The chain-like markings were of greater length
than in the last, and there were few intermediate
spots. The markings on the back also were neither
so dark nor so much joined.

It is in this place we must mention an animal fi-
gured and described by Major Smith •(• under the
name of

THE LINKED OCELOT.

Felis catenata — HAMILTON SMITH.

THIS is considered by that gentleman as an un-
doubted species, though two specimens only had
been seen of it, the one in Mr Bullock's museum,
the other in the museum at Berlin. The latter was
examined also by Professor Lichtenstein, and the
conclusion arrived at was, that it was distinct from

• Wilson's lllust. ZooL t In Griffith's Cuvier.

212 THE LINKED OCELOT.

the F. pardalis. The great distinction is in the
lengthened arrangement of the markings, which even
upon the legs assume the form of lengthened spots
with an open centre. We give the Major's descrip-
tion in his own words. " It is about the size of a
wild cat ; the legs are, in proportion, shorter than the
ocelot ; the head and body heavier ; the mane, fore-
head, under the eyes, arms, shoulders, back, rump,
hind-legs, and tail, are of a reddish-yellow colour ;
the temples ochrey ; the cheeks, throat, belly, and
inside of the legs, white. Several rows of black spots
from the ears converge on the forehead. There is a
single streak from the outer angle of the eye to be-
low the ear. On the shoulders, back, sides, rump,
arid hams, there are long chain-like streaks of black
and reddish brown intermixed ; the belly and throat
have black streaks, and the tail has imperfect black
annuli."

THE LONG-TAILED OCELOT.

Felts macrourus — NEUWIED.

Felis macrourup, Prince Maximilian of Neuwied. — Felis
oceloide, Temminck, Monographies, 147. — Neuwied Cat,
Griffith's Synopsis.

THIS elegant little species was discovered by the
Prince Maximilian of Neuwied, during his travels in
Brazil, where it is known under the name of " Gotto
Pintado Domato." Temminck considers that this

».1K LONG-TAILED OCELOT. 213

has long been known to naturalists as a variety of
the common ocelot, and thinks that even the cha-
racters which Linnaeus drew up for his F. pardalis
were partly taken from this animal.

Temminck gives the total length *>f an adult male
as 3 feet 8 inches, of which the tail made 1 foot 7
inches ; that of a young male was only 2 feet 4
inches. The ground-colour of the skin is of a
clear ochraceous-yellow, and brighter upon the sides.
The lower parts are white. The forehead is marked
with five bands, more or less distinct, and upon
the cheeks there are two which run transverse-
ly, the upper one from the corner of the eye, the
lower from the whiskers. On the throat and fore
part of the neck, there are four crescent-shaped bands,
and upon the upper part of the back there are six
longitudinal streaks, four of which run upon the
back, and the two lateral ones bend down upon the
fore-limbs. The rest of the body is covered with
irregular lengthened blotches, which form an inter-
rupted line upon the back, and which, on the limbs,
assume the form of small round spots. There are
none of the beautifully surrounded spots, with a pale
centre, which so strikingly characterise the ocelot.
The tail is semi-annuiated, ana biack at the tip. In
habit it resemoies the shape or tne ocelot.

214

THE MARGAY.

Felis tigrina — LINNAUS.

Felis tigrina, Linnaus — Le Margay, Buffon — Felis mar.
gay, F. tigrina, Temminck^ Monographic s, p. 152. — Des-
marest, Mammalogie^ p. 232.

THIS little species rivals the ocelot in the beauty
of its markings. The ground-colour of the skin is of a
pale fawn colour, white on the lower parts. The head
and neck are adorned with black longitudinal bands,
narrow and distinct upon the crown, and becoming
broad upon the neck. Upon the cheeks are three
lines ; upon the throat a crescent- shaped gorget ; and
upon the neck and breast numerous transverse bands.
The back and sides are marked with open circular
rings, surrounding a centre of a redder tinge than
that of the body, the whole surrounded irregularly
with a black line. The thighs and tail are ringed
with black arid tawny bands ; the insides of the for-
mer with black and white. Mr Temminck considers
this to have been confounded with the last, but says
it is easily distinguished by its comparatively small
size, and the shortness of its tail. The whole length
is only 2 feet 2 inches, of which the tail makes near-
ly 8J inches. It is a native of Brazil, and M. Tem-
minck has also received it frum Surinam.

SUMATRAN AND JAVANESE CATS.

Fells minuta — TEMMINCK.
PLATES XVIII. and XIX.

PI. xviii. Felis Sumatrana, Horsfield, Zoo/. Researches in
Java. — Kuwuk Javanese, — PI. xix. Felis Javanensis,
Horsf. Zoo/. Researches in Java. — Felis servalin, Felis
minuta, Temminck, Monographies, p. 130.

THE figures which accompany this description re-
present animals, at first sight, apparently very dif-
ferent, and they have, in fact, been described as
different species. It is now, however, pretty well
ascertained, that they are the young and the adult
states of die same animal ; and, on this account, we
have thought it better to adopt the name given to it
by Temminck (though it is a bad one), than to re-
tain the former names given to them from the coun-
try in which they are found.

Both states are figured by Dr Horsfield, in his
excellent Zoological Researches, from specimens col-
lected by Sir Stamford Raffles. The general colour
of the adult is ferruginous, inclining to yellowish-grey,
more intense on the back, the crown of the head,
mid upper part of the tail, paler on the sides, and
passing into whitish-grey on the cheeks, breast, ab-
ii, and the interior o: the thighs and legs. The

216 SUMATRAN AND JAVANESE CATS.

back is marked with four dark brown lines, consisting
of oblong confluent spots, which commence at the fore-
head, between the eyes, and pass along the back to
the root of the tail. The throat is marked with several
transverse bands. The spots on the sides of the body
are angular and scattered, without almost any regu-
larity, and are intensely brown, inclining to black.
As the various longitudinal series of spots approach
the lower part of the back and thighs, they increase
in number, so as almost to cover those parts with ir-
regular oblong spots. Towards the feet the colour
is more uniformly rufous, and the marks are more mi-
nute. On the upper part of the base of the tail, nar-
row transverse lines are crowded together ; they are
paler and more distinct in the middle, and the tip
is uniformly brown.

Temminck gives the entire length of this animal
as 2 feet, of which the tail measures about 8 inches.
The height is between 8 and 9 inches. This is con-
siderably less than the dimensions given by Dr Hors-
field of the young or F. Javanensis, or of the size of
the specimen from which we took the drawing of
the latter, which we shall now describe

The specimen from which we took our figure of
Plate XIX. forms part of the collection in the Royal
Edinburgh Museum. The total length of the body
is 21 inches; the height, at the shoulders, 10^
inches *. The ground-colour of the upper parts is

* Dr Horsfield thus gives the dimensions of his F. Java-
nensis, length of the body 1 foot 11 inches; of the tail 8$
inches ; height at the shoulder, 7 inches.

8UMATRAN 4ND JAVANESE CATS. 217

a reddish-grey, changing gradually to pure white
on the under parts of the body. On the hack there
are four lines of lengthened spots, of a deep rich
brown ; on the sides there are about four regular
rows of rounder shaped brown spots, and the limbs
are dotted with similar markings, decreasing in size
as they approach the feet *. On the throat and
breast there are transverse bands of the same colour.
The upper part of the tail is crossed with bands con-
sisting of spots.

The Felis minuta has been found in Java and Su-
matra, but not upon the continent of India. It is
found in the extensive forests, where it forms a re-
treat in hollow trees, remaining concealed during
the day. At night, it ranges about in quest of
food, and often visits the villages at the skirts of the
forests, committing depredations among the hen-
roosts. The natives ascribe to it an uncommon
sagacity, asserting that, in order to approach the
fowls unsuspected, and to surprise them, it imitates
their voice. It feeds chiefly on birds, and small
quadrupeds ; but, in cases of necessity, it also de-
vours carrion. This animal is perfectly untame-
able, and its natural fierceness is never subdued by
confinement f.

* In the specimen in the Museum, the spots are rather
more crowded than they have been represented in the
Plate.

•f- Dr Horsfield's Researches in Java.

218 SUMATRAN AND JAVANESE CATS.

M. Temminck's account confirms this fierce and
untameable disposition. He kept two of these cats
alive for two years, and the most gentle treatment
was unavailing. They always kept themselves squat-
ted and concealed in the darkest corner of the cage,
aod only came out when forced by hunger.

219

THE BENGAL CAT.

Felis Bengalensis. — PENNANT ?

PLATE XX.

THE very different appearance which we have
seen that many of the Feline animals assume at va-
rious ages, is extremely puzzling, especially when
only one or two skins can be examined. On this
account, the next three figures are given with consi-
derable doubt, and we at once confess that they do
not exactly agree with the descriptions of the ani-
mals which have been similarly named. They are,
however, very nearly allied, and those to which they
are referred, are the only animals from the same
country to which they bear any resemblance. It is
possible they may be un described altogether, but
with a species of each only before us, we can scarce-
ly decide. The figures and descriptions may be de-
pended upon, and some of our subscribers may have
an opportunity of seeing similar skins, and will per-
haps be so kind as inform us of the result of their
observations.

The length of the body to the base of the tail is
18 inches; the tail wanted a little of the tip, and
could not therefore be exactly measured. The height
of the shoul()er is 9 inches. The ground colour of

220 THE BENGAL CAT.

the upper parts is yellowish-brown, paler upon the
legs ; the body thickly marked with lengthened spots,
sometimes taking a turn as if to form a circle. These
become smaller and more numerous, and are round
upon the legs and toes. The ears are black at the
bases and tips. The forehead is marked with irregular
lines, which extend backwards and terminate in two
broader stripes upon the back of the neck. There
are two dark lines upon the cheeks. The tail at the
base is spotted irregularly, and towards the end be-
comes indistinctly ringed. The under jaw is pure
white, surrounded by a band of brownish-black. The
belly is white, spotted with large black spots or
patches, as in the jaguar ; the base of the fore legs
has two dark bands. The whole hair is of a woolly
texture, and the markings are more blended with the
ground colour than what is represented in the plate.
This animal was received from Java.

221

DTARD'S CAT.

Felix Diardii — DESMOULINS.
PLATE XXI. MALE.— XXII. FEMALE.

THE total length of the subject of Plate XXI. is
3 feet, of which the tail measures 16 inches, and the
height of the shoulder, when standing erect, appears
to have been from 9 to 1 1 inches. The general co-
lour of the fur of this specimen is of a yellowish-
urey, the yellowish tinge predominating upon the
face, breast, and limbs ; the centre of the belly and
inside of the limbs are greyish-white. A stripe of
deep black arises above each eyebrow, and running
close to the base of the ears, becomes broader upon
the back of the neck, and joining there, it forms a
conspicuous black irregular line along the middle of
the back. This line is bordered on each side with a
narrow one of a yellowish shade, which is again bar-
red by another line of black, making that in the
centre well marked and conspicuous. The centre of
the forehead is marked with irregular lines and spots
running backward. Next to the central dorsal line
the markings continue lengthened but irregular, but
upon the sides they assume the form of irregular
patches having a paler centre, and surrounded with

222 DIARD'S CAT.

a double margin of black. Two or -three of these
markings on the sides are very well defined. On
the shoulders and hind thighs they become less so,
but still keep the general appearance ; upon the limbs
they assume the form of rounded spots, diminishing
in size as they reach the extremity, and between the
fore legs and upon the fore part of the belly, they
are conspicuous among the white as brown blotches.
From beneath the eye arise two lines of black, which
approach and join upon the cheek ; the parts, where
the whiskers spring, are marked with very nar-
row dark streaks. The ears are short and rounded,
black at the base and tips, the intermediate spaces
grey, which is extended to the edge of the lower
lobe ; at the base of the ear, on the side of the neck,
there is a grey spot, which gradually shades or is
lost in the colour of the neck. Under the throat
there is an indistinct trace of a collar, and the mark-
ings on the sides of the neck run indistinctly across
the breast in about three bands. The tail, of which
the fur is very ample, may be said to be grey above,
assuming a yellow tinge beneath, and for its whole
length on the upper side is indistinctly clouded with
a dull black, which sometimes runs so as to surround
a spot of the grey. On the lower side there are no
spots.

The subject of Plate XXII. is we believe a young
male (though in the Plate it is marked female). The
length of the body is 1 9 inches, and not so stoutly
made as in the former, but the tail is longer, being

- -

- :

-

•±

DIARU S CAT. 223

nearly 18 inches. In the whole fur of this specimen
the yellow tinge predominates, and is darkest upon the
head. The forehead is marked in the same manner,
and the lines form the strongly defined dorsal streak ;
upon the sides the markings are more irregular than
in the former, and only in one or two places therp
is an indication to surround a paler centre. Upon
the limbs the spots are as in the former. The cheeks
bear the same markings, hut the lines upon the whis-
kers are more distinct, the edge of the upper lip is
biack, and the collar upon the throat with the pec-
toral bands are well defined. The black markings
on the tail are also more distinct. Both specimens
were received from Java.

In both these specimens, the markings about the
cheeks and head, and the enclosed spots upon the
sides, strongly remind us of the Ocelot of the Ne\v
World ; while the ample fur of the tail, and the
same distribution of markings, approach them to the
group which will contain the F. macrocelis from their
own country.

The great discrepancy in our species and the de-
scription by Desmoulins * of the F. Diardii, is the
great size given of that animal, 5 feet 4 inches, and
we must consider that this is some mistake. In the
plate Driven by Griffith, there is no appearance of the
open black rings with grey centres, and the length of
the tail is by no means proportional.

* Dictionnaire Classiqne cTHistoire Natureile.

NEPAUL CAT.

Fells Nepalensis. — HORSFIELD and VIGORS.
PLATE XXIII.

Felis Nepalensis, Horsfield and Vigors, Zoological Jour,
nal, No. xv. p. 382.

THIS species of cat is described by Messrs Hors-
field and Vigors in the Zoological Journal, from a
specimen in the Society's Museum at Bruton Street,
which was said to have been sent from Nepaul. The
distinguishing characters of this species, say its de-
scribers, are its comparatively lengthened habit, and
the slenderness and proportional length of the tail ;
the disposition of the marks on the flanks, and the
characters of these marks, as far as regards their di-
versified form ; and the saturated or black patch
with which tfyey are individually marked at their up-
per or posterior edge. We have given a copy of
this animal from the Zoological Journal, and shall
also give the description which accompanies it ; they
are the only published authorities for this species.

The length of the body is 1 foot 10^ inches, that
of the tail 10J. Length of the outer extremities
10 inches, the posterior 12. We may remark here,

NEPAUL CAT. 225

ti.at some of the cats are of proportions long and
sender, and appear to run into the viverrine groups
of the carnivore, hy means of the genus Prionodon.
and that this will most probably rank here.

iC The size of this animal is that of the Felis Ja-
vanensis ; its habit more slender, the tail and nerk
proportionally elongate. The ground colour is gi'oy,
with a very slight admixture of tawny ; the bands
and spots of the head, back, neck, throat, abdomen,
and thighs, are of a deep black colour ; the superior
longitudinal bands resembling those of the Felis Ja-
vanenti*. The ground colour of the throat and ab-
domen is nearly white, the lower flanks being mark-
ed with a faint tawny longitudinal streak. The
cheeks are streaked with two parallel longitudinal
lines, at the termination of which follows a transverse
lunar mark, which passes with a bold curve to the
angle of the mouth, near which a very narrow band
crosses the throat.

" The sides of the neck appear marked with two
broad waving bands, at the termination of which
stands an oblong regularly transverse band. The
neck underneath is nearly immaculate. The shoul-
der and flanks exhibit irregular diversified marks,
the anterior oblong, the posterior angular; these are
of a mixed tawny and black colour, and individually
bear above or posteriorly a broad dash of a saturated
black colour : they are scattered over the sides with-
out any regular longitudinal disposition ; but they
have generally an oblique direction.
P

226 NEPAUL CAT.

" The abdomen is marked throughout with ue>
form oval spots, the anterior thighs within exhibiting
on«, the posterior thighs two, broad black bands. The
rump and thighs are marked externally with round-
ish or oblong spots. The tail above, to within about
an inch of the tip, has uniform roundish spots, which
posteriorly are arranged in regular transverse bands."

227

THE SKRVAL.
Frits Serval — F. CUVIER.
PLATE XXIV.

Le Serval, F. Cnvier, Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes.
— Mareschal, Menagerie du Museum National.— Fdis
Serval, Felis Serval et Capensis, Temminck, Monogra-
phies, p. 103.

THE length of Frederic Cuvier's Serval, exclusive
of the tail, is 1 foot 11^ inches, that of the tail 9
inches; when standing erect, it is about 12 inches
high at the shoulder, at the hind quarters about. 15.
All the upper parts are of a clear yellowish tint, with
black spots, the lower parts white, also with black
spots, but in less numbers. The most conspicuous
markings are upon the head and neck, where they
form symmetrical lines on both sides, which point
or run towards the shoulders. The spots on the
other part of the body are placed irregularly. Their
form ou the back is lengthened, and they seem to
be there disposed in four rows ; upon the sides of
the body and thighs they are larger and round, and
they are smaller, but equally round on the limbs ;
while upon the head and muzzle they are remark-

228 THE SERVAL.

ably minute. The back of the ears is black at the
base, which is succeeded by a transverse white bar ;
the tips are of the same colour with the body. On
the inside of the fore-limbs, there are two conspi-
cuous black transverse bars, and the hind limbs have
similar markings, but not so well defined ; the last
joints of , the limbs are paler than the general tint of
the body, and the spots on them are round and very
small. The tail has eight black rings, and is finished
by a tip of the same colour.

This serval was a very young male, and was re-
markable for its gentleness and mild temper. It
sported in the manner of the common cat, attempt-
ing often to catch its tail, and playing with whatever
it could roll about with its foot. The country where
this specimen came from was not known.

We have given this as the serval of Frederic Cu-
vier. Azara described a cat from South America,
which has been referred to under the above name,
and until the publication of Tern miners Monograph,
it does not seem to have been very clearly known to
what part of the world the animal belonged. The
species of Azara is now thought to have been the
margay, which he had confounded with it in the
Paris museum ; and what should now stand as the
true serval, is a native of South Africa, where it is
far from uncommon, and is often imported by the
continental furriers. Temrninck also makes the ser-
val of F. Cuvier identical with the F. serval and
Capensis of Linnaeus, and with the animal described

THE SERVAL. 229

under the latter name in Miller's Cimelia Physica.
He also gives the plate of Buffon among his synonyms.
Though the skins are said to be frequently im-
ported from the Cape, this animal is not common
either in mena^f ne« or collections ur this country ;
and tluj continental museum* see»o only to possess a
few specimens.

230

HIMALAYAN

Felis flimatayanus.
PLATE XXIV» .

OUR attention was directed to this curious cat by
Mr Warwick of the Surry Zoological Gardens, whose
assistance we have already had occasion to mention.
The skin was received from the Himalayan district
of India ; and Mr Warwick procured for us a cha-
racteristic drawing by Mr Leer, of which our plate
is a copy ; and the accuracy of that gentleman's zoo-
logical portraits are so well known, that we can place
every dependence upon it. As far as we can judge
from this drawing, and Mr Warwick's description
which accompanied it, we are aware of no animal
that this can be referred to ; the size is much beyond
what has been just now given of the common serval,
and the peculiar tint of the ground shade is different
from that of the spotted cats. We have therefore
named it provisionally as above, and shall now give
the dimensions and descriptions as they were sent
to us.

Total length from the nose to the end of the tail,
is 3 feet 2 inches ; that of the tail 9^ inches, consi-
derably shorter in comparison than that of the serval.

THE HIMALAYAN SERVAL. 231

Tlie girth round the body is 1 foot 7 inches ; the
height at the shoulder 1 foot 2 inches. The colour
of the upper parts of this animal are greyish-brown,
which becomes paler towards the belly, and on the
lower parts is nearly pure white. Along the back
there are four rows of extremely elongated spots,
which run in stripes between the ears over the fore-
head ; upon the sides the spots become shorter and
more irregular in their lengthened distribution, and
upon the sides of the breast and limbs, are round
and smaller. A streak extends from the corner of the
eye upon the cheek, until in a line with the base of
the ear ; beneath it another streak of less length but
parallel to it The tail is obscurely ringed, with
eight or nine bars, — all these dark markings are o
very deep chocolate brown.

SERV ALINE CAT.

Felis servalina.
PLATE XXV.

THE animal from which our Twenty-Third Illus-
tration is given, under the title of F. ornata, is a
very perfect specimen in the Edinburgh Museum.
Upon our first examination, we considered it as
identical with an animal which Mr Gray has figured
in his interesting illustrations of Indian zoology, se-
lected from the drawings of General Hardwicke ;
but upon submitting our plate to the discrimina-
tion of that gentleman, he considered them dis-
tinct, and we have therefore thought it just to Mr
Gray to keep them separate, until a comparison
of specimens enables us to judge of the correct-
ness or incorrectness of our suspicions. Both ani-
mals are fiom India; the colour and markings are
very nearly similar, and there is no other Indian
Kpecies to which it bears any resemblance. The
following is a description from our specimen, a fe-
male, and apparently an adult.

In this animal the fur is longer and more wiry
than that of the small cats of Lower India, where
it is soft and almost woolly ; and in this it re

Of 7».£

UNIVERSITY

SK11V ALINE CAT. ^33

the serval of Africa. Its length, from the nose to
the base of the tail, is 1 5 inches ; that of the tail
10^ inches; the height of the shoulder rather ex-
ceeds ten inches. The ground colour is a pule
tawny, slightly paler on ihe lower parts, and inside
of the legs; and upon the chin and throat white.
From between the eyes, over the head, and upon
the hack of the neck, run four very indistinct lines ;
from the corner of the eye, under the ear, runs
one better defined ; and upon the cheeks and whis-
kers are a few irregular lines and spots. The
body is spotted with comparatively few roundish
and irregular markings, which on the shoulders as-
sume the form of indistinct bands running forward
upon the breast ; and upon the legs, bars with a trans-
verse direction. The inside of the fore-legs is
marked with two rather indistinct bars. All these
markings are of a rich brown. The heels are deep
brown, which renches a short way up the back of
the legs, as in the booted lynx ; the tail is marked
very indistinctly with pale brown rings for two-thirds
of its length ; it is after that distinctly ringed with
black, and is black at the tip. The ears are more
lengthened than in F. minuta or Diardii, where
they are of a peculiar rounded form ; and the tips
are furnished with short tufts, as in the lynxes.
This is a character which Mr Gray's figure also ex-
hibits.

£34

THE COLOCOLO

Feiis coiocoh. — H. SMITH.

PLATE XXVI
F. colocolo, Molina, Hist. ofChih .*

WE regret that we have been unable to obtain in
time, Frederic Cuvier's description of this beautiful
and curious species. Molina is the first who notices
an animal somewhat similar to this, which has fur-
nished most naturalists with materials for their de-
scriptions. The only other materials which we now
have in our power to use, are those given by Major
Smith in Griffith's Cuvier.

" The specimen I have named conditionally Co-
locolo ? from Molina, seems to terminate this little
group, and, by the character of its markings, to ap-
proximate to the Servals and Tiger-Cats of the Old
World.

" It does not appear certain, though it may be
probable, that this is the animal Molina indicated as
the Colocolo, as he calls the marks spots, and not
streaks ; at least the word is so translated.

THE COLOCOLO. 235

" This fierce animal was shot in the interior of
Guiana, hy an officer of Lewenstein's Riflemen, and
by him stuffed and sent to England, for his Royal
Highness the Duke of York, but probably never
reached its destination. A whimsical occurrence
took place with it. The gentleman who had shot
it, placed it on the awning of the boat to air, as he
was descending the river Paramaribo ; the boat often
passed under the branches of large trees, which over-
hung the river, and on which were the resting-places
of numerous monkeys, sometimes hanging to the ex-
tremest branches above the water. Although the
vessel would on other occasions excite but little at-
tention, no sooner was the stuffed specimen in sight,
than the whole community would troop off with pro-
digious screams and bowlings. It was of course sur-
mised, from the excessive terror of these animals,
that this species of cat must be an active enemy to
them.

" This animal was larger than the wild cat. The
head was remarkably flat and broad ; the ears large
and round ; the body slender ; the tail just touched
the ground when the animal was standing; the legs
were very strong ; the colour of the neck and back
was whitish-grey ; the head, throat, shoulders, sides,
belly, and inside of the limbs, white. The back was
marked with lengthened streaks of black, edged with
tawny ; and towards the shoulders and thighs, with
streaks of tawny. There was a black streak from
the corner of the eyes to the jaws, and some barry

236 THE CPT.OCOLO.

marks on the forehead. The outside of the ears
were dark-grey, the insides pink and naked as well
as the nose. The tail was senii-annulated with black,
having a black tip, and it exhibited a great peculia-
rity i?i the lep-s. which we^n t\]} rf them of a very
da/k grey colour up to the knees."

OAi\

Fclis maniculata — RUPPEL.
PLATE XXVII.

Kleinpfotigc Katze, Felis maniculata, foem., Ruppel, Atla*

Zuder Reise in Nordlichen Afrika, tab. i Felis gante,,

Felis maniculata, Temminck, Monoyraphies, p. 128.

THIS very interesting species is a native of the
north of Africa, and has been first described and figur-
ed in the Zoological Atlas of figures of the produc-
tions which M. Ruppel discovered during his first
travels in Nubia. We shall transcribe his very im-
portant remarks, and the description of the superin-
tendants of the Frankfort Collection.

Tbe total length is 2 feet 5 inches, of which the
tail measures about 9. and the height of the shoulder
is about 9^ inches. " Its size is that of a middle-sized
domestic cat, and smaller than the European wild cat
(Felis catusferus, Linn.) by one-third. All the pro-
portions of its limbs are on a smaller scale, correspond-
ing with those of the latter, with the sole exception of
the tail, which in this smaller species is found to be
longer. The woolly or ground hair is in general of a
?lirty ochre colour, which on the back and the pos-

238 THE EGYPTIAN CAT.

terior parts assumes a darker hue, and gradually be-
comes lighter on the anterior and lateral parts ; its
bristles are of a swarthy dirty white colour and
wrinkled, thus giving the animal an appearance of a
greyish yellow hue. The skin of the labial edges
and tfie nose are bare, and of a black colour. The
beard and bristles of the eyebrows are of a shining
white colour, but are brown at their roots ; the edges
of the eyelids are black ; the iris is of a glaring yellow.
From the inner corner at the eye, a dark brown
streak runs in the direction of the nose, and side-
ways at that streak, and towards the middle, runs
another white streak as far up as the arch of the
eyebrows ; between these two streaks is to be found
another streak of a greyish colour, extending on
the forehead by the side of the ears, and under the
eyes. The exterior of the ears is grey, the inte-
rior white and without tufts of hair ; eight slen-
der black undulating lines, taking their origin on
the forehead, and from thence running along the oc-
ciput, lose themselves in the upper part of the neck ;
the cheeks, throat, and anterior part of the neck are
of a shining white. Two lines of an ochre-yellow
colour, the one starting from the outer corner of the
eye, the other from the middle of the cheek, meet
both together under the ear ; two rings of the same
ochre-yellow colour encircle the white neck, and be-
low these rings similar coloured spots occur. The
chest and belly are of a dirty white colour, and pre-

THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 239

sent similar spots or semicircular lines. Along the
back runs a dark streak, which, after rising of a lighter
colour over the shoulders, becomes darker on the cross,
and gradually loses itself on the upper part of the tail,
the lower surface of which is of a white-yellow co-
lour ; the tail itself is almost of an equal thickness,
rather slender, and presenting at its point two dark
rings. The extremities, with proportionally less
hair on the outer side, show everywhere the general
colour of the animal, having, besides, five or six
blackish semicircular bands on the fore-legs, and
six distinct dark cross-streaks on the hind le<rs.
The inner sides are of a lighter colour, the anterior
parts of which present two black spots, and on the
posterior parts are seen the cross streaks winding
around the thighs towards the inner side. The foot
soles, as well as the hind parts of the ankles and
wrists, are of a shining black hue.

"The model which served for the above description
is an aged female. The teats and their nipples con-
cealed under the skin, indicate her having suckled
at the time that she was killed. The bones of the
extremities and skull, and her teeth, bear ample proof
of her being aged, and of course full grown.

" Ruppel has found this cat in Nubia, west of the
Nile, near Ambunol. Its abode is rocky and bushy
regions.

" This cat must, in more than one respect, excite
the interest of natural philosophers, as there can be
V> doubt but that from it is descended the domestic

240 THE EGYPTIAN CAT.

cat of the ancient Egyptians. It is a well known
fact, that this nation, of which nothing now remains
hut some monuments, had brought up the cat to he
a domestic animal, as may he judged hy the cat-
mummies, and their representations on the monu-
ments of Thebes *."

A question arises now, whether this domestic rat
might have been bequeathed or transferred hy the
Egyptians to the contemporary civilized Europeans ?
Great difficulties lie in the way of giving a satisfac-
tory answer to this question, in as far as there are
such great varieties of cats to be met with among
us, as to make it no easy matter to decide, by the
aid of drawings, and an account of figure, which of
them is to be considered as the type for our domestic
animal. We have strictly compared the wild cat of
Nubia with our own domestic cat, and, after a careful
examination, found that there is among us a kind of
grey- white cat. possessed of the principal features of
the Fells maniculata; such as the eight small streaks
on the forehead, the two streaks running along the
cheeks, and the two rings around the chest, and
likewise ih ' cross streaks and hands on the extre-
mities. We have farther observed in the same kind

* See Description de PEgypte, Hypagees" de Thebes,
vol. ii. planche 45. No. 14. a cat represented; again, in the
same volume, planche 51. No. 3, a cat's mummy, and,
planche 54. No. 7, the skeleton of a cat's mummy, which,
from thesizeof its body, form of its head, and, above all, from
its long tail, may be considered as in perfect accordance
•jrilh our Felis maniculata.

THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 24 i

the thin long tail, and a size of the body perfectly
similar with our Felis maniculata. Another simila-
rity is its disposition for propagating, under the same
roof, for many years, provided the external circum-
stances remain unchanged. All this, taken together,
must strongly favour the opinion, that Felis manicu-
lata is the type of our domestic cat, as the Egyp-
tians undoubtedly had domesticated this animal much
sooner than the Europeans. Still there are, on the
xther hand, among the varieties of our domestic cats,
many which have all the characteristic features of the
wild cats of our forests, such as few, broad, widely-
separated streaks on the head, 8-12 similar streaks
on the lateral parts of the animal, the short, thick,
and woolly tail, with four or more black rings, and a
body larger by one-third, and so forth.

'' This investigation and comparative view now
leads us to the conclusion, that it is with the house
cat the same as with other domestic animals ; namely,
many people, during the progress and development
of social life, while living in totally different cli-
mates, had domesticated different small kinds of
cats, which, when these people approximated to each
other, and intermixed, would equally intermix ; and
hence produced those great varieties. At the same
time we must bear in mind, that the whole genus
of cats, even in a wild state, is susceptible of varying
their colour, as has really happened in the case of
Felis onca, Linn., and others. Of the former species
even perfectly black ones have been found.

242 THE EGYPTIAN CAT.

" In order to obtain further elucidation with respect
to the Felis maniculata, as the original type of the
Egyptian domestic cat, we have enjoined our travel-
lers, busied with zoological researches in Egypt, to
send us all such varieties of the domestic cat as may
be found in Northern Africa, trusting that a compa-
rative examination of them may lead to some farther
results. We have felt the more inclined to do so,
from some accounts of M. Ruppel, that among the
animals he saw in Kordostan, he discovered a new
small species of this genus."

M . Temminck is also of the same opinion with
M. Ruppel, that this is the type or stock from which
our domestic cat has sprung. The opinion generally
accepted before this, by most naturalists, was, that
the wild cat of Europe was the original stock ; but
although, since the introduction of our house cat to
this country, there may have been an accidental
cross with the wild native species, an attentive exa-
mination of the greater numbers will at once shew
a very different form than that exhibited by the wild
cat ; the most prominent distinctions are the shortness
of the legs, and shortness and thickness of the tail.

The domestic cat is the only one of this race which
has been generally used in the economy of man.
Some of the other small species have snewn that
they might be applied to similar purposes ; and we
have «een that the general disposition of this family
will not prevent their training. Much pains would
have been necessary to effect this, and none of the

THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 243

European nations were likely to have attempted
h. The scarcity of cats in Europe, in its earlier
ages, is also well known, and in the tenth and
eleventh centuries, a good mouser brought a high
price.

Although, however, our opinion coincides with
that of die above mentioned authorities, and we think
that we are indebted to the superstition of the an-
cient Egyptians for having domesticated the species
described by Ruppel. We have no doubt that since
its introduction to this country, and more particu-
larly to the north of Scotland, there has been occa-
sional crossing with our own native species, and that
the result of these crosses have been kept in our
houses. We have seen many cats very closely re-
sembling the wild cat. and one or two that were
very tame, which could scarcely be distinguished
from it.

There is perhaps no animal that so soon loses it«
cultivation, and returns apparently to a state com-
pletely wild. A trifling neglect of proper feeding
or attention, will often cause them to depend upon
their own resources ; and the tasting of some wild
and living food, will tempt them to seek it again,
and to leave their civilized home. They then prowl
about in the same manner as their congeners, crouch-
ing among cover, and carefully concealing themselves
from all publicity. They breed in the woods or
thickets, and support themselves upon birds or young

244 THE EGYPTIAN CAT.

animals. Few extensive rabbit warrens want two
or three depredators of this kind, where they com-
mit great havoc, particularly among the young in
summer. They sleep and repose in the holes, and
are often taken in the snares set for their prey. I
once came upon a cat, which had thus left her home :
she had newly kittened in the ridge of an uncut
com field. Upon approaching she shewed every dis-
position to defend her progeny, and beside her lay
dead two half grown leverets. We have also known
cats, which, though they sought their prey in the
woods and fields, regularly carried it home before
devouring it, and in this way various young game
and hares were brought in.

Cats are also particularly fond of fish, and in a
few instances have been known to catch them from
shallow streams. There is generally, however, a
dislike to water, and the examples of this departure
from their general habits are rare. They will also
often pursue and feed upon some of the larger
insects. There is one mentioned by Bingley, who
was a great enemy to cockroaches ; and we have
often seen them catch the common cricket, and
the white ghost-moth (Hepialus humuli), which may
be seen flying about a foot from the ground in the
summer evenings. One individual used to hunt
these insects regularly, and ^boutdusk might be seen
looking along the lawn for them ; when one was per-
reived, she crouched and approached rapidly, and

THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 245

when within a proper distance, always sprung, and
generally brought the insect to the ground with her
paws or breast.

The domestic cat is capable of great attachment
to, and long recollection of, those who have been
kind to it, but not more so than many of its conge-
ners ; for the very limited number of those which are
subjected to the care and tuition of man, have in
many instances shewn as strong feelings towards their
keepers. Several examples of this have been already
mentioned, particularly the mildness of the Chati of
Frederic Cuvier, and the attachment of the panther
which Mrs Bowdirh brought with her to England.

One of the most singular instances of attachment
or fancy, in the common cat, took place with one
which we have often seen in attendance upon the
watchman in St James' Square, Edinburgh. When
the man commenced his rounds, the cat was as regu-
larly at his post, and continued walking with him
during the whole night. This continued, we believe,
for nearly two years ; and when we last saw the man
the cat was in his company. Upon the approach
of any person, the cat would run up to the guardian
of the night, and rub against his legs until the indi-
vidual had passed. In the quieter hours, towards
morning, he ventured to a greater distance, but
would always appear at the call or whistle of his
protector.

The common cat, like all other animals in a state
of domestication, is subject to an almost infinite dif-

246 THE EGYPTIAN CAT.

ference of colour and markings. The more remark-
abk? varieties, perhaps, are the Chartreuse cat, of a
bluish-grey colour ; the Persian cat, with long white
or grey hair; the pendant-eared cat of China, a va-
riety apparently but very little known. Another is
the Angora cat, which we have represented on Plate
XXVIII, from a specimen in the Edinburgh Mu-
seum ; it is of a brownish white colour, and the hair
is remarkably long and silky. They are frequently
kept in this country as drawing-room pets, and are
said to be more mild and gentle in their tempers
than the common cat. Their long covering takes
off to a certain extent the cat-like appearance ; and
beins: generally well fed and kept, the hair assumes
ail the glossy beauty of a healthy state. We have
not heard much in praise of their utility.

But the Spanish, or tortoise-shell cat, as it is more
generally called, is by far the most pleasing and
beautiful variety of this animal. They are often
kept for their beauty alone ; and at one period a
male tortoise-shell, among cat-fanciers, brought a
high price, obtaining its value from the scarcity
in which this sex with the tortoise-shell markings
was said to be.

In this place we ought to notice an animal which
has b^en figured by Griffith as the wild tortoise-shell
cat from South America. The species is in the
museum of Erlangen, about two feet in length, of
which the tail is ten or eleven inches. Th« hair is
extremely soft, long, and silky. The ground colour

THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 247

is white, but the animal is variously clouded with
shades of brown and yellow. May the tortoise shell
variety not have been introduced into America by
the Spaniards, and become wild ?

There is a singular breed of cats frequent in Corn-
wall, and also in the Isle of Man, without any tail.
This is analogous to a similar breed of shepherd's
dogs, which are much more frequent. Sir Stamford
Raffles afeo mentions a breed in the Malayan Archi-
pelago, with a twisted or knotted tail, and a similar
variety is also said to exist in Madagascar.

24$

THE COMMON WILD CAT.

Feli* Catus— LINNAUS.

PLATE XXIX.

Felis Catus ferus, Linnaus Fe'lis chat, Felis catus, Tem-

minck, Monographies, p. 126. — Desmarest^ Mammalogie
p. 232 — The Wild Cat, Bingletf* British Quadrupeds.—
Bewick's Quadrupeds.

THE Common Wild Cat is the only animal of this
family which extends its range to the British islands.
In the south of England, it was formerly much more
common than at the present time ; but, like its more
formidable congeners in warmer climates, it has been
forced to yield to the dominion of man, and in these
districts it is now almost extirpated. Among the
woody mountainous districts of Cumberland and
Westmoreland, they are still found ; but even here
they are not numerous. In the wild districts of the
north of Scotland, and in Ireland, they are, however
abundant ; and in some counties of the former, there
are men who obtain a livelihood by the hunting and
destroying of the wild rat, foxes, &c. which make
considerable inroads into the stocks of both flocks
and poultry.

In Ireland it abounds in similar situations ; and on

THE COMMON WILD CAT. 249

the continent of Europe, it is generally found in the
countries which will afford it cover and shelter. Ac-
cording to Temminck, it extends to Asia ; and those
of Hungary and Russia are of a larger size than the
animals from other parts of the continent, their fur
finer, and more esteemed by the furriers.

They are found exclusively in extensive wooded
tracts, which, in the north of Scotland, always ex-
tend over ground much broken with crags and preci-
pices. Among these they breed and seek shelter,
and flee often for refuge when pursued. They are
also active climbers, and instances have been record-
ed where they have produced their young in the de-
serted nests of some large birds. Their food is small
animals, and birds of all kinds, and their depredations
in a country well stocked with game are immense.

In the form and shape of the tail, this animal some-
what resembles the lynxes. The fur is very thick,
woolly, and long. The general colour is a greyish-
yellow, in some specimens inclining much to a shade
of bluish-grey. The forehead is irregularly marked
with dark brown spots, which turn into lines be-
tween the ears, and run over the back of the neck in
four broad dark stripes ; these join again at the
shoulders, and form a dark dorsal line to the insertion
of the tail. The sides are brindled indistinctly with
dark bands, and the legs are banded with two or
three broad black rings, diagonally surrounding the
limb. The heels of the hind-legs are black, running
up to the first joint. The chin and under lips are

250 THE COMMON WILD CAT.

white, and the throat is marked with a large white
patch. The breast and belly are a tawny grey, hav-
ing different shades of yellow in various individuals.
The tail is thick and furry, indistinctly ringed with
a darker shade at the base, and at the tip having two
or three black rings.

Temminck gives the average length as about three
feet ; that of a large specimen in possession of Mr
Ross, gun-maker, was 2 feet 9 inches, of which the
tail amounted to 1 1 inches.

Some persons have mentioned specimens which
exceeded five feet ; hut we have never been so for-
tunate as to find a specimen of SUCH extraordinary
dimensions, nor should we wish to encounter a wild
cat so nearly approaching the size or me puma ur
leoparo.

ZSl

1HE CARACAL.

rel\s caracal — LINNAEUS.

PLATS XXX.

Lc L'aracal, Bufon. — F£lis Caracal, Limi&us. — Temminck,
Desmarest.

WITH this animal we shall enter the group of
Lynxes, the first division of which have more slen-
der bodies, lengthened tails, and long ears, furnished
with a tuft of hair at the tips. This latter charac-
ter we should consider somewhat inconstant, and
only present in spring, or at the commencement of
the breeding season, like those adorning the ears of
many squirrels.

The Caracal has always been considered to be the
lynx mentioned by the ancients as possessing such
wonderful power of sight. It is a native of Southern
India and of Africa, no difference being perceptible
among the specimens which have been received from
these countries. Lynxes were said to have been
kept and trained for hunting, like the hunting-leo-
pard, by the sovereigns of the East ; but, in modern
times, no trace of this property can be found, at least
in the present animal ; and indeed the character of
all is great irritability in confinement, and a mis-

252 THE OARACAL.

trust towards their keepers, which ie never entirsly
overcome. The Caracal feeds on small animals and
birds ; the latter it pursues with great activity upon
the trees. M. Temminck says, that they hunt in
packs like the wild dogs, and thus run down their
prey. If this is the case, they rrill most probahly
use their nose, and will present a very interesting
deviation from the typical species. It is also said
to eat the leavings of the larger animals ofpreyfa^so
a more dog-like habit), and has, like the jackall, re-
ceived the name of the lion's provider, by being often
found in the rear of its monarch, and feeding on the
food which has been provided and left by him.

The total length of the Caracal, according to Tem-
minck, is 2 feet 10 inches, of which the tail measures
about 10; the average height is about 14 inches. The
prevailing colour of the fur is a pale reddish- brown,
tinged with a vinous shade ; the reddish colour becomes
paler as it reaches the lower parts. Above the eyes
there are two spots of pure white, the uppermost on
the inner side, the lower at its outer angle. The end
and edges of the upper lip, the chin, breast, belly,
and insides of the legs, are also pure white. The
parts where the whiskers spring are black ; the base
of the back of the ears is of a deep shade of the
same colour, assuming a greyer tint towards the
tips, which are furnished with tufts of long black
hair. The Turkish and Persian names both signify
" black ear," and have evidently been taken from
these markings.

THS CARACAL. 253

The specimen in the Edinburgh collection is from
the East, and the dimensions of it are generally less
than those of an adult which we have taken from
Temminck.

In this place mav be mentioned another animal,
which M. TemmmcK has described as distinct, un-
der the title of Felis auratz. The far is of a bright
reddish tint, paler upon the lower parts of the body,
and having the sides marked with small indistinct
spots. The length of this animal is 3 feet 4 inches,
<n n'nich the tail is about 1 foot. Its native country
\» not known.

FHE BOOTED LYNX.

Feli* caligata— TBMMINCK,
PLATE XXXL

The Booted Lynx, Bruce 's Travels, vol. v. c. 146

bott^, F. caligata, Temminclc, Monographic*, p. i23.

THE Booted Lynx of Bruce has been confounded
by many with the Fells chaus of Gueldenstad, fi-
gured upon our next Plate ; but they are very dif-
ferent animals, and that of Bruce will stand under
the designation applied to it by M. Temminck.

The Booted Lynx is sometimes 3 feet 3 inches
in length, of which the tail will measure about 15
inches. The more general or average length is from
two feet and a half to three feet. The fur of the
adult male is of a bluish-grey tint, sometimes in-
distinctly clouded with transverse bands of blackish.
The under parts are reddish. The ears are very
long, tipped with a pencil of blackish hair; the backs
are of a bright reddish brown, the inside white.
On the heel, and stretching up the back of the leg,
until nearly the first joint, is a large patch of deep
black ; whence its describers have taken its trivial
name. This boeted marking is common to many of

THE BOOTED LYNX. 255

the cats ; but it runs much further up the limb of
this animal than any of the others. The tail is black
at the tip, where there are two or three alternate
rings of black and white ; the portion next the body
of the animal is of the same uniform tint with the
upper parts. The female has a shade of a yellower
colour over the whole body ; and in the young, the
dark bands upon the sides are distinct and well de-
fined.

This species seems to be very generally distribut-
ed over Africa, and, according to Temminck, is also
found in Southern India. It feeds upon small ani-
mals and birds, and, in Africa, very much upon the
wild Guinea-fowl ; but it will also eat carrion, and
the remains of animals which the larger beasts o
prey nave killed.

256

THE CHAUS.

Felts chaus.*— GUELDENSTAD.
PLATE XXXII.— FEMALE.

F. Chaus, Gueldenstad. — Ac. Petropolitana, tab. 14. Tem-
mtncAr, Monographies, p. 121. — Kyrmischatz, female,
Ruppel* Atlas.

WE have taken our figure of this animal from the
beautiful atlas of M. Ruppel, before alluded to. We
have also transcribed his description, which explains
the confusion which existed between it and the sub-
ject of our preceding plate.

" This lynx is throughout strongly covered with
hair ; the woolly or ground hair is very soft and
covers the body very copiously, the bristles are more
scarce.

" The woolly hair has throughout a dirty light
ochre-yellow colour, which is darker on the back and
lighter on the belly ; the bristles have on the bottom
the same colour, wilii a dark brown ring in the mid-
dle, and on the top are greyish-yellow or white or
taffron-coloured, so as to make the appearance of the
Animal a mixture of greyish-yellow and impure white-
Many bristles are provided with a black point, and
on the lateral parts of the belly, where many are ly-

THE CHAUS. 257

inc together, they form pale black perpendicular or
oblique running spiral lines, and here and there sin-
gle black points. The bristles of tbe back have light
ochre-yellow nearly saffron- coloured points, and form,
from the shoulders to the tail, a yellow streak, which
is darkest on the cross ; the nose black, and its back
ochre-yellow ; above the eye there is a large white
spot, and under it another of the same colour but
smaller. From the inner corner of the eye runs a black
streak as far as the nose. The labial edges are small,
have a black border, and are encircled above and be-
low by a fine white ring. The eyebrows, cheeks, and
bristles of the beard are white, and among the latter
there are a few shining black hairs. The inner sur-
face of the oar, towards the outside, is bordered bv
white and yellow tufts of hair ; the back of the ear is
grey-brown, the tops brown, and terminate with a
black tuft ot hair half an inch long ; the cheeks, lower
jaw-bone, throat, neck, and chest, are ochre-yellow
coloured, the belly incHnes to whitish-yellow with
darker spots. The outer side of the anterior and
posterior extremities have the same general colour of
the animal, as far down as the ankles, which are of
a dirty ochre-yellow colour and black behind, and
their surface presents four or more black cross-bands.
The inner side of the extremities is yellow, and on
the fore-legs is a round large black spot. The tail
measures one-fourth of the whole body, and is of a
greyish colour ; its point is black and blunt ; towards
the point of the tail there are two black rings, lying

R

258 THE CHAUS.

between two greyish-white ones, neither of which
are very distinct.

" The female, which served as a model for the
above description, and which, to judge by the form
of her teeth and bones, is full grown, was killed at
the Lake of Menzale.

" The Felis chaus inhabits marshy and boggy7 re-
gions, and the banks of rivers. Travellers do nor
mention how far up the course of the Nile it is
found ; according to Guldenstadt it is met with in
the morasses and bushy lowlands along the Caspian
Sea, and along the banks of the rivers which flow
into it. These animals are said to be more nu-
merous in Persia. They go out hunting during the
night, in order to catch birds, small gnawing am-
mais, and fishes, but they very rarely climb up treesu
ana are not easily tamed."

THE CANADA LYNX.

Feiis cunadcnsis. — GEOFFROY.

PLATE XXXIII.

Felis canadensis, Geoff roy, Annal. du Museum. — Richard.
son, Fauna Boreali Americana, i. p. 101. — F£lis polaire,
F. borealis, Temminck, Monographies, p. 109.

WITH this animal we enter another form among
the lynxes, in which the body is more thickly made
than in the caracal and hooted lynx. The tail and
ears are short, and the fur is very thick and long
There are several species which are not well deter
mined or distinguished from each other, and even th<
two which we have selected to illustrate this division
appear to have been confounded by M. Temminck
who makes the lynx of Europe identical with that o
North America. The descriptions of the other ani
mals allied to the European and American species
are, in general, very short and unsatisfactory, anc
are noticed in the synopsis. For the present species
we have used Dr Richardson's description.

" This is the only species of the genus which ex-
ists north of the Great Lakes, arid eastward of th«
Rocky Mountains. It is rare on the sea coast, and
does not frequent the barren grounds, but it is not

260 THE CANADA LYNX.

uncommon in the woody districts of the interior,
since from 7000 to 9000 are annually procured by
the Hudson Bay Company.

" It is found on the Mackenzie River, as far
north as latitude 66°. It is a timid creature, inca-
pable of attacking any of the larger quadrupeds, but
well armed for the capture of the American hare, on
which it chiefly preys. Its large paws, slender loins,
and long but thick hind legs, with large buttocks,
scarcely relieved by a short thick tail, give it an
awkward clumsy appearance. It makes a poor fight,
when it is surprised by a hunter on a tree, for though
it spits like a cat, and sets its hair up, it is easily
destroyed by a blow on the back with a slender
stick, arid it never attacks a man. Its gait is by
bounds, straightforward, with the back a little arch-
ed, and lighting on all the feet at once. It swimg
well, and can cross the arm of a lake two miles wide,
but it is not swift on land. It breeds once a year,
and has two young at a time. The natives eat ita
flesh, which is white and tender, but rather flavour-
less, much resembling that of the American hare.

*' The head is round, the nose obtuse, and the
face resembles the domestic cat. The ears are
erect and tipped with a tuft of black hairs ; on their
posterior surface they have a dark mark beneath the
tip, which continues downwards to their bases. On
the body and extremities the fur is hoary, most of
the hairs being tipped with white ; on the crown of
the head and down the back, there is a considerable

THE CANADA LYNX. 261

tmxture of blackish-brown, and on the sides and legs
of pale wood-brown. In general there are no very
distinct markings, a rufous tinge is sometimes pre-
sent about the nape of the neck, and on the poste-
rior part of the thiijh. The tail is like the back,
except the tip, wnicii is black. The fur is close
and fine on the Ha~k, longer and paler on the belly.
The legs are thick, the toes very thick and furry,
and are armed with very sharp claws."

•26*2

THE EUROPEAN LYNX-

Felis lynx— LIN?.-LJ&.

PLATE XXXIV.

Felis lynx, Linnceus, Temminck^ Monographies^ p. 111.—
Desmarest) Mammaloyie, p. 223 — Le Lynx, Buffon, ir.
pi. xxi.

THE Common Lynx is extensively spread over the
aouth of Europe, the numbers decreasing as the nor-
thern districts are approached, and increasing as it
reaches the borders of Asia, which it also abundant-
ly inhabits. It has been occasionally found in France,
which may be termed its most northern range. Like
the cat, it is subject to very considerable variety of
marking and colour, and the characters of the fur of
the adult may be said to be scarcely fixed. It is
this species and the last that principally furnish the
immense quantities of furs that are known under the
name of lynx. The fur becomes much longer in
winter, and in the colder climates it probably is
much more ample than in those specimens which
are brought from the warmer regions bordering up-
on Asia, which have the fur much finer in its tex-
ture. The most ordinary tint of the upper parts is
a dull reddish-grey, marked upon the sides with ob-

263

limbs

arts are

ie tail is

5 tip. In

h greyish-

oe animal,

ppear more

h of the Eu-

Felia lynx, Lih
Desmarest, ML
pi. xxi.

THE Common L
south of Europe, thi
them districts are appi.
reaches the borders of As
ly inhabits. It has been occa.
which may be termed its most n*
the cat, it is subject to very consic.
marking and colour, and the character
the adult may be said to be scarcely n.
this species and the last that principally turn,
immense quantities of furs that are known undei
name of lynx. The fur becomes much longer in.
winter, and in the colder climates it probably is
much more ample than in those specimens which
are brought from the warmer regions bordering up-
on Asia, which have the fur much finer in its tex-
ture. The most ordinary tint of the upper parts is
* dull reddish-grey, marked upon the sides with ob-

THE EUROPEAN LYNX. 263

long spots of reddish-brown, which upon the limbs
become round and smaller. AH the lower parts are
white, clouded with blackish markings. The tail is
only about 7 inches long, and black at the tip. In
winter the long hair becomes tipped with greyish-
white, and gives a more hoary look to the animal,
and it also causes all the markings to appear more
clouded and indistinct. The entire length of the Eu-
ropean lynx is about 3 feet.

SYNOPSIS.

FELINES.

. Front teeth in each jaw, six ; canine teeth, tw«
in each jaw, very powerful, and formed for tearing ;
molar or cheek teeth, four in the upper jaw, three in
the under comparatively thin, pointed, and wedge-
shaped, formed for cutting.* Head, large and round ;
eyes, with the pupil often oblong ; tongue, with strong
horny papillae, directed backwards. Feet, formed for
walking; toes, on the fore-feet five, on the hind- feet
four ; claws, very strong, hooked and sharp, retracted
when the animal walks or is at rest, by a peculiar me-
chanism.-f- Food, animals or birds, sometimes fish and
reptiles, seldom carrion, except when pressed by hun-
ger. Inhabit forests, or wooded rocks where shel-
ter can be obtained in the clefts. Native countries,
Europe, Asia, Africa, America; species most numerous
and abundant within the Tropics.

GENUS I. — LEO. Leach.

PL. I. II — 1. L. AFRICANUS, African Lion.— Males with a
shaggy mane and tuft of hair at the extremity of the
tail. Varies —

• For a particular account of the teeth of the various genera of Mam-
malia, see Fred. Cuvier, Leg Dents des Mammifercs. 1 vol. 80. 1825.

f Their mechanism, see p. 79. of this volume. In F. jubata they ar«
Dot retracted.

266 SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINE

1. The colour brown tawny yellow ; the mane, near-

ly black and very ample.

2. The colour much lighter, the mane more scanty,

and slightly darker than the body. Both very
generally diffused over Africa.

PL. III*. — 2. L. ASIATICUS, Asiatic Lion— Somewhat less
than the first. Of a very pale yellowish-tawny co-
lour ; the mane long, and mixed with longer straight
hairs, nearly of the same shade with the body. In-
habits the Continent of India, Persia.

The females of both species are less than the males,
and want the mane ; the young resemble them till
nearly three years old.

Under this division will most probably also rank the Maneiess
Lion, which is said to have been recently discovered. — See
page 122.

GENUS II.— PUMA.

Pi« IV — 3. P. CONCOLOR, The Puma — Above pale reddish,
brown, shading into white upon the lower parts ; back
of the ears, and parts from which the whiskers spring,
deep brownish-black ; tail at the tip black. Length,
by Azara, 6 feet 2 inches, tail 2 feet 2 inches ; Tem-
minck, nearly 5 feet, tail from 1 foot 8 inches to 1
foot 10 inches. Inhabits both continents of Ameri-
ca; extensively distributed over the Southern.

Pi. V 4. P. NIGRA, The Black Puma Fur entirely of a

glossy black ; the tail thick and furry. Length, by
Azara, 33^ inches, that of the tail 13 inches. Inha-
bits Paraguay.

5. P. YAGUARUNDI, The Yaguarundi. — Fur deep black-
ish-grey, hairs ringed with black and white alter-
nately. Length, by Azara, 36| inches, tail 13| inch-
es ; by Temminck, reaching to 4 feet 4 inches, the
tail 1 foot 10 inches. Inhabits Paraguay and Guia-
na,—Azara; Surinam and the Essequebo, — Tern,
mi nek.

SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINES. 267

(w P. KYRA, The Eyra. — Fur entirely pale reddish-brown ;
chin white. Length 31 inches, that of the tail 11£,
Azara. Inhabits Paraguay.

7. P. PAJEROS, The Pampa Puma. — Grey above, lower

parts white ; transverse greyish-cinnamon coloured
bands on the throat and breast ; on the belly indis-
tinct bands of the same colour, legs ringed with cin-
namon colour. Length 34^ inches, tail 11£ inches,
Azara. Inhabits the plains of Buenos Ayres.

8. P. ? CHALYBEATA, Liver-coloured Puma. — Greyish li-

ver-colour, with numerous dark brown simple spots ;
tail darker than the body, ringed with black. Length
4 feet tail 1 foot 3 inches. Inhabits Chili.

GENUS III — FELIS. Auctorum.

PL. VI — 9. F. TIGRIS. The Tiger — Fur rich tawny yellow,
paler upon the lower parts, and almost approaching
to pure white on the belly and inside of the limbs;
body brindled with deep black stripes. Inhabits
continent of India, China, Indian Archipelago.

10. F. PARDUS, The Panther — Ground-colour of the fur
fine tawny yellow, paler towards the lower parts ; the
body covered with well-defined circles, formed of
from three to five spots, less numerous than in the
next. Length 6 feet 6 inches, Desm. Inhabits In-
dia and Africa.

Most abundant, perhaps, in the latter. Form more stout than
that of the nex»; the animal more powerful. Major Smith's
F. antiquorum may prove a distirct species. Fur buff-yel-
low, approaching to reddish on the nose, having about se-
ven vertical rows of open spots. Length, exclusive of the
tail, 5 feet 8 inches.

PL. VIII.— 11. F. LEOPARDUS, The Leopard, F. Cuvier

Ground-colour of the fur tawny yellow, paler towards
the lower parts; the sides and back with numerous
circles, formed of from three to five spots ; the head,

268 SYNOPSIS OF THE FELIN/E.

forequarter, and limbs, numerously marked with ir-
regularly shaped spots. Inhabits India and Africa.
Most abundant, perhaps, in the former. Form slender and
elegant. Distinctions between this and the last not yet well
defined.

Pi~ X. XI. XII — 12. F. ONCA, The Jaguar.— Fur rich
tawny yellow above, beneath nearly white ; bodj
marked with open circles of deep brown, often with
a central spot, more irregular and closer upon the
back ; head and legs spotted ; belly with large deep
brown blotches. In the young the markings assumo
the form of imperfect circles, sometimes only irregu-
lar spots. Length 6 feet 9 inches, Desm. Inhabits
South America.

Varies to a black ground colour, with the rings seen distinctly
only in particular lights ; very rarely white.

Major Smith is of opinion that there are two decided and
almost permanent varieties of this animal, chiefly distin.
guished by the greater and lesser size.

PL. XIII — 13. F. UNCIA, The Ounce — Fur long, rather
shaggy; ground-colour very pale tawny yellow; the
body marked with irregular and rather large spots or
blotches, sometimes assuming the form of irregular
rings; on the head and limbs the spots are smaller,
and round, Size about that of the Leopard — Ham.
Smith. Inhabits Persia.

Yet wants confirmation. Distinguished by its long hair.

PLS. XVI. XVII.— 14. F. PARDALIS, The Ocelot Deep

tawny-yellow, more rufous upon the nose and fore-
head ; the markings in longitudinal open rows, with
a pale centre, surrounded with a biack margin. The
limbs spotted. The tail black at the tip and ringed.
Length from 2 to 3 feet, tail from 11 to 13 inches.
Inhabits South America.
Varies much in the markings.

15. F. CATENATA, Linked Ocelot. — Ground-colour red-
dieh-yellow, the temples, cheeks, throat, belly, and
inside of the legs white ; body marked with long
chain-like marking; belly and throat with black

SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINE. 269

streaks ; the rings upon the tail imperfect. Size of
the Lost. Inhabits South America.

This is considered distinct from the last by Major Smith, «n
account of the uniform lengthened markings.

16. F. MACROURUS, Long-tailed Ocelot. — Greyish- tawny-

yellow, paler on the lower parts, the body with Ion-
gitudinal markings very irregular in form. Length
3 feet 8 inches, tail 1 foot 7 inches, adult male —
Temm. Inhabits Brazil.

Distinguished from the two last by the length of the tail and
by the unenclosed form of the markings. Discovered by
Prince Maximilian of Neuweid.

17. F. TIGRINA, The Margay — Tawny-yellow, black lon-
gitudinal lines upon the head and neck, upon the
throat dark bands ; body with open spots, enclosing
a centre of a redder tinge than the common colour,
these are again surrounded with a black line ; the
limbs are spotted, the tail ringed with black. Length
from 2 feet to 2J feet. Inhabits Brazil.

PL. IX.— 18. F. MACROCELIS, The Rimau- Dalian.— The
head rather small in proportion ; ground-colour of
the fur very pale tawny-yellow ; six black bands up-
on the upper part and sides of the neck; the body
covered with irregular large patches, paler in the
centre, and towards the hind-part bordered with vel-
vety-black. The form very powerful. Tail long,
thick, and furry. Length 5 feet 6 inches, of which
the tail is 2 feet 6 inches. Inhabits Sumatra; accord-
ing to Temminck, also Siam.

The form of this animal differs from that of F. tigris leopar-
dus, onca, &c. which we consider typical of Fehs, particu-
larly in its robust proportions, small head, and thick bushy
tail. An allied animal, if distinct, will be the F. nebulosa of
Griffith. Its characters are : " Head small, body long, heavy;
legs thick, short, and muscular ; tail very thick, long and
annulated ; body covered with large irregular patches, form-
ing enclosures, deeper than the ground-colour, but lighter
round the edge. Inhabits Sumatra, China." — Griff. Cuv. v.

PL. XIV.— 19. F. MITIS, The Chati — Fur pale tawny-yel

270 SYNOPSIS OP THE FELINE.

low, white on the under parts ; back of the neck with
black spots, which run in lines, continued obliquely
over the shoulder ; back with four longitudinal rows
of lengthened spots; body and hind quarters with
blotches or irregularly formed circles of black, con-
tinued also upon the legs, but decreasing in size as
they reach the feet ; on the fore-legs assuming the
shape of bands ; tail half ringed above with black.
Length 2 feet 8 inches, of which the tail is 11 inches.
Inhabits South America.

PLS, XVIII. XIX — 20. F. MINUTA — F. Sumatrana and
Javanensis of Horsfield.

Adult. — Fur greyish-brown, lower parts and in-
sides of the limbs white. From the forehead along
the back there are four lines, of irregular lengthened
blotches of dark brown, towards the tail these be-
come very small \ the sides are marked with blotches
of the same colour, of an irregular but broader form ;
on the legs the spots are small but still irregular, and
on the insides they assume the form of bands. Tail
is imperfectly ringed, black at the tip. Young — The
fur is of a reddish-brown, paler on the loiver parts,
rows of lengthened spots run from the forehead along
the back, and upon the sides they continue in the
same direction, but are of a rounder form ; on the
legs and feet these are round, small, and numerous.
Tail without the black at the tip, and marked with
spots upon the Upper surface. Females are always
darker in the ground-shades.

Length 2 feet ; tail about 8£ inches. Inhabits Java
and Sumatra.

PL. XX — 21. F. BENQALENSIS, Bengal Cat ? (Desmarest).
— Fur above tawny-yellow, beneath pure white ; fore-
head with four brown lines rising between the eyes
and the nose. Upon the cheeks two brown lines, se-
parating at the upper corner of the eye, and again
uniting to form a collar upon the neck ; back marked
with dark lengthened spots, which form a dorsal line
body irregularly spotted with irregular markings

SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINE. 271

dispersed longitudinally, decreasing in size upon the
legs and feet. Tail with irregular spots on the upper
surface. Length 1 foot 6 inches. Inhabits Bengal.
This species is hardly confirmed by any author, and it is pro-
bable that the state described under this name is that of a
young animal. The description of Desmarest agrees with
the animal in the Edinburgh Museum nearly. In our figure
the spotting is too much united.

PLS XXI. XXII — 22. F. DIARDII, Diard's Cat. (Diction,
des Srien. Nat. — Cuv. Oss. Foss. ) — Fur yellowish-
grey ; the neck and vent with lengthened irregular
spots forming a dorsal line ; upon the body and thighs
black rings with a gray centre, and upon the limbs
full black spots. The tail with indistinct rings, long,
and more furry than usual ; the under parts are yel-
lowish-white, with brown patches upon the breast.
In the young the general colour of the fur is very rich
tawny-yellow, the ringed markings not defined, and
the .dorsal line and spots upon the limbs clouded.
Length of adult 3 feet, tail 1 foot 4 inches; of young,
1 foot 7 inches; female, 1 foot 6 inches. Inhabits
Java.

A very interesting species, and apparently the prototype of the
ocelot. The surrounded spaces with a light centre bring it
near in marking to the F. macrocelis, and the tail is also pro-
portionally long and thick.

Messrs Vigors and Horsfield describe another Sumatran cat,
which seems previously unknown— F. Temminckii— entirely
reddish-brown, the lower parts white, from each eye a grey
line runs to the occiput, gradually increasing: in breadth ;
cheeks streaked with reddish- brown. Length 31 £ inches, of
which tail 12J inches.

PL. XXIII 23. T. NEPALENSIS, Nepaul Cat — Tawny-
grey, nearly white below, the marking on the back
runs in irregular lines, that of the body in irregu-
lar rather angular blotches, upon the legs in spots.
Length 2 feet 1£ inches. Inhabits Nepaul.

Distinguished by the long and •tender form of the body and

smaller head. It may \&A tc JTiemodon.
Messrs Vigors and HOM£%*. l*a» MMovered another cat. which
tney cocfiidar aH^.4 %< ^g£ttuwl9j — F. planiceps. In the

272 SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINJE.

shortness of the tail it resembles the Lynxes. General co-
lour dark brown tinged with reddish about the head, the
lower parts white ; two light coloured streaks between the
eyes run backwards towards the occiput. Length 23J inches.
Tail 5$ inches. Inhabits Sumatra.

Pi,. XXIV — 26. F. SERVAL, The Serval Upper parts of

an ochry yellow, deepest on the back, and shading
into pure white upon the lower parts ; the body with
dark brown or black markings, those on the shoulders
and neck longitudinal, on the body round ; inside of
the fore-legs with two transverse black bands ; tail
black at the tip, and ringed with black. The fur on
this animal is long, almost shaggy, particularly upon
the flanks. Length 4 feet; that of tail 13£ inches.
Inhabits South Africa.

Temminck considers the Cape cat, F. capensis, identical with
this.

PL. XXIV. — F. HIMALAYANUS, Himalayan Serval. — Up-
per parts dull rich brown, paler as it reaches the
lower third of the body, changing into white on the
breast, belly, and inside of the limbs ; cheeks with
two streaks ; the fore and upper part of the back
marked with lines slightly interrupted ; the sides with
longitudinal marks, the white parts with blotches,
and the-limbs with spots, all of very deep brownish-
black. Length 3 feet 2 inches, tail 9£ inches. In-
habits Alpine India.

PL. XXV — 26. F. SERVALINA, Servaline Cat — Very pale
tawny; the head with brown lines, which run upon
the back of the neck and diverge upon each shoulder ;
sides and limbs with irregular spots of the same co-
lour, inside of the limbs barred with deep brown ;
tail black and ringed at the tip, the rings indistinct
at the base ; ears with very short tufts. Length 15
inches, tail 10^. Inhabits India.

Mr Gray's Felis ornata is thus characterised.— FeUs ornata,
Gray. — Yellowish-brown ; forehead spotted ; black stripe
from the corner of the eye, and another from the whiskers
approaching it ; body irregularly marked with round black

SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINE. 273

spots, on the sides of the breast, the hams, and fore-legs, ta-
king the form of short bands; belly and inside of the limbt
pale; tail at the base with very obscure rings, tip black, arxi
next to it four well marked black rin^s ; ears rather length-
ened, slight tufts at the tip. — lllust. Ind. Zool.

PL. XXVI.— 27. F. COLOCOLO, The Colocolo.— Whitish-
gray ; body covered with lengthened streaks of black
and tawny; legs to the knees dark-grey; tail ringed
with black, and black at the tip. Larger than a
Wild Cat.— Ham. Smith. Inhabits S. America.

PL. XXVII — 28. F. MANICULATA, Egyptian Cat.— AboTe,
of an ochry gray, with a darker dorsal line ; beneath
grayish- white ; forehead with eight small streaks;
limbs with blackish semicircular bands ; heels black ;
tail rather slender, with two dark lings at the tip.
Length 2 feet 5 inches, tail 9 inches. Inhabits North -
ern Africa.

PL. XXIX — 29. F. CATUS, Common Wild Cat — Fur long
and thick, but not shaggy; ground colour varying
from a yellowish-gray to a blackish-gray, darkest on
the back, where it forms a dorsal line, diverging into
four on the neck and head; sides brindled with
broaa dark but indistinct bands ; legs with two or
three black bars, running generally transversely up-
wards ; tail thick, black at the tip, ringed with black,
becoming nearly indistinct at the base. Length 33
inches ; tail 11 inches. Inhabits Britain and North-
ern Europe.

GENUS IV.— CYNAILURUS. Wagler.

PL. XV — 30. C. JUBATA, Maned Hunting Leopard —
Bright tawny yellow, covered with full round black
spots ; legs longer than usual, the claws not retrac-
tile ; back of the neck with a ridge of longer hair in
the form of a mane. Length 3 feet 6 inches. Inha-
bits Africa, India.

Griffiths describes a second species, very similar to thw, with-
out the mane, but It wants confirmation. It inhabits India,
and will stand under the title cf C. venatica.

274 SYNOPSIS OF THE FELJNJE.

GENUS V.— LYNCHUS. Gray.

Pi. XXX — 31. L. CARACAL, The Caracal— Upper parts

vinous reddish-brown, shading into white upon the

breast and belly ; ears very long, with tufts of hair at

tips ; tail of middling length. Length 2 feet 10 inches ;

tail 10 inches. Inhabits Africa, South-eastern Asia.

Varies in the shade of the fur, and with having clouded

markings upon the sides, most probably the different state*

incident to age.

32. L. AURATA, Golden Caracal Very bright yellowish-
red, the lower parts reddish- white ; the throat white;
the sides marked with very small indistinct dark
spots ; ears short and without tufts ; tip of the tail
black. Length 3 feet 4 inches, tail 12 inches. In-
habits

33. L. CHELIDOGASTER, Temm. — Uniform deep gray,
marked with spots of chocolate brown ; breast with
from six to ten circular bands; under parts pure
white, blotched with chocolate brown ; tail irregular-
ly spotted with clear brown. Length about 3 feet
3 inches, of which the tail is 13 inches. Inhabits
Chili.

In the museum at Leyden.

PL. XXXI — 34. L. CALIGATA, Booted Lynx, Bruce. —
Fur bluish-gray, tinged with reddish on the lower
parts ; ears very long, with tufts at the tips, reddish-
brown upon the back ; heels black, running nearly up
to the first joint of the leg; tail black at the tip, fol-
lowed by two or three alternate rings of black and
white. Sides of the young with distinct dark bands.
Length 2§ feet to 3 feet ; tail 13 to 15 inches. Inha-
bits Africa, — S. India, Temm.

35. L. NIGRIPES, Black-footed Cat, Burchell. — Light-
brown ochre, entirely covered with rather lengthened
black spots; thighs and shoulders with cross black
bands ; tail confusedly spotted ; feet black. Length,

SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINE. 275

exclusive of the tail, from 16 to 18 inches. Inhabits
S. Africa.

PL. XXXII.— L. CHAUS, The Chaus, Gueldenstad, Ruppel.
— Upon the back deep yellowish-brown, paler and
yellower upon the lower parts and inside of the legs ;
legs are slightly banded with a darker shade, the
heels very deep brown; ears with small tufts; tail
black at the tip, with three or four alternate rings of
black and white. Length about 2 feet 9 inches \ tail
about 8 inches. Inhabits Northern Africa.

PL. XXXIII — L. CANADENSIS, Canada Lynx — Fur very
long, particularly in winter ; on the back brownish-
gray, changing to pure white on the lower parts; tail
short, and black at the tip. Length about 3 feet 5
inches ; tail 4 inches. Inhabits Canada, as far north
as 66°.

38. L. RUFA, Bay Lynx — Fur very long, grayish-brown
with a darker dorsal stripe \ neck and sides pale
chestnut, varied with short transverse stripes of
blacKish-brown ; belly white, marked with large
blackish-brown spots ; tail reddish- white beneath.
Length 37 inches, tail 4. Inhabits banks of Colombia
river, United States, not Canada, Temm.

39. L. FASCIATA, Banded Lynx, Richardson — Fur long,

above reddish-brown, irregularly varied with small
spots of dark brown, and upon the back banded with
black stripes. Length about that of the Canada
Lynx. Tail 2 inches, black at the tip. Inhabits N.
America, — Woody countries in the neighbourhood of
the Pacific, Lewis and Clark.

There is yet considerable confusion among the Lynxes of
America, and, except the Canada Lynx, the species are per-
haps not well determined. Messrs Vigors and Horsfield de-
scribe one under the title of F. maculata. from Mexico,
above reddish-gray, very dark upon the back, and with tb«
limbs spotted with brown ; belly white, blotched with brown?
tail black at the tip, and with 3 or 4 alternate white aud
black band* Length 3 feet, tailSf. Inhabit* Mexico.

276

SYNOPSIS OF THE FELINJE.

PL. XXXIV — 40. L. LYNX, European Lynx — Fur
long, above of a dull reddish-gray, marked upot
Bides with oblong spots of reddish-brown, upon
limbs becoming round and smaller ; lower j
white, clouded with black motlings. Length a
3 feet. Inhabits S. Europe, Asia.

Another Asiatic Lynx may be perhaps added in the Fell,
nis of Gray, figured in his Illust of Ind. Zool. : the i
parts reddish-brown, with a tinge of yellow; lower
paler ; feet and legs brown ; tail short, black at the tip,
four black bands; ears lengthened, margined wiiL »
tips black.

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