The Tiger, if taken young, may, for a short time at least, till his ferocity comes with his age, be in some measure domesticated, and rendered mild and playful. A beautiful young Tiger, brought in the Pitt East Indiaman from China, in the year 1790, was so far domesti cated as to admit of every kind of familiarity from the people on board the ship. It seemed to be quite harmless, and was as playful as a kitten. It frequently slept with the sailors in their hammocks; and would suffer two or three of them to repose their heads on its back, as upon a pillow, while it lay stretched out upon the deck. In return for this indulgence, it would, however, now and then steal their meat. Having one day stolen a piece of beef from the carpenter, he followed the animal, took the meat out of its mouth and beat it severely for the theft; which punishment it

suffered with all the patience of a Dog. It would frequently run out on the bowsprit; climb about the ship like a cat; and perform many other tricks, with an agility that was truly astonishing. There was a Dog on board, with which it would often play in the most diverting manner imaginable. This animal was taken on board the ship when it was only a month or six weeks old, and arrived in England before it had quite completed

its first year. On its arrival it was presented to the king, and was afterwards deposited in the Tower of London. It even there continued to be perfectly good-natured, and was in no instance known to be guilty of any savage or mischievous tricks.

In the year 1801, one day after this Tiger had been fed, his keeper put into the den to him a small, rough, black Terrier puppy, a female. The beast suffered it to remain uninjured, and soon afterwards became so much attached to it, as to be restless and unhappy whenever the animal was taken away to be fed. On its return, the Tiger invariably expressed the greatest symptoms of delight, always welcoming its arrival by gently licking over every part of its body. In one or two instances, the Terrier was left in the den, by mistake, during the time, the Tiger had his food. The Dog sometimes ventured to eat with him, but the Tiger generally appeared dissatisfied with this liberty. After a residence with the Tiger of several months, the Terrier was removed to make way for a little female Dutch Mastiff. It was, however, thought advisable, before the Terrier was taken away, to shut up the Mastiff for three or four days among the straw of the Tiger's bed, to take off, if possible, any smell that might be offensive to the animal. The exchange was made soon after the animals had been fed; the Tiger seemed perfectly satisfied with his new companion, and imme

diately began to lick it, as he had before done the Terrier. The Dog seemed at first in considerable alarm with so formidable an inmate, but in the course of the day he became perfectly reconciled to his situa tion. This diminutive creature the Tiger would suffer to play with him, with the greatest good nature. I have myself seen it bark at him, and bite him by the foot and mouth, without his expressing the least displeasure. When the Dog, in its frolic, seized his foot, he merely lifted it up out of its mouth, and seemed otherwise heedless of its attacks.

Strange Dogs were several times put into the Tiger's den after his feeding, and he in no instance attempted to injure them. Mr. Cross, the keeper of Exeter 'Change, and who formerly had the care of the animals in the Tower, informed me that he could himself have ventured in safety into the den. The ship-carpenter, who came over with the Tiger, came to the Tower to see him. The animal, though they had been separated more than two years, instantly recognized a former acquaintance, rubbed himself backwards and forwards against the grating of his den, and appeared highly delighted. Notwithstanding the urgent request that he would not expose himself to so much. danger, the man begged to be let into the den, and with so much entreaty, that he was at last suffered to enter. The emotions of the animal seemed roused in the most grateful manner. He rubbed himself against him, licked his hands, fawned upon him like a Cat, and in no respect attempted to injure him. The man remained there two or three hours; and he at last began to fancy there would be some difficulty in getting out alone. Such was the affection of the animal towards his former friend, and so close did he keep to his person, as to render his escape by no means so easy as he had expected. With some care, however, he got the Tiger beyond the partition of the two dens, and the keeper, watching his opportunity, closed the slide, and separated them.

At Exeter 'Change, Mr. Cross succeeded in having a young Tiger and a Lioness kept in the same cage. They were each so tame, that, although nearly eighteen months old, the keeper could without danger go into the cage, and play with them as he would have done with two Dogs.

The Tigress, like the Lioness, produces four or five young-ones at a litter. In a wild state she is at all times furious; but her rage rises to the utmost extremity when robbed of her offspring. She then braves every danger, and pursues her plunderers with a degree of ferocity which is indescribable. In India the Tiger is hunted by the native princes mounted on Elephants and attended by a numerous train of hunters.

The skin of the Tiger is in great esteem in all the eastern countries; and particularly in China, where the mandarins cover their seats of justice with it. It is also applied to many ornamental and usful purposes. The Indian physicians attribute medical virtues to various parts of the Tiger's body.

The length of the Panther is usually more than six feet, exclusive of the tail, which is about three feet long. The color of the upper parts of the body is bright

tawny-yellow, with numerous black, roundish, or somewhat annular marks, several of which have in the centre of each a black spot. The under parts of the body are white.

In nearly all its habits of life the Panther resembles the Tiger. Like that ferocious beast, he lurks in ambush amongst bushes or verdure, on the borders of the forests, and springs with a

THE PANTHER.

sudden and tremendous leap on such animals as pass by. So prompt, so rapid, and so well-timed are his movements, that few escape. In vain may the wretched victim seek for refuge even in the trees: the Panther, notwithstanding the size and the weight of his body, still pursues, with an agility which seems almost incredible, and there dispatches his victim.

The Panther has none of the noble qualities of the Lion. His thirst for blood is insatiable; and his ferocity is such, that even when subjugated and in the power of man, he seems rather to be subdued than tamed.

One of these animals which was seen by M. de Buffon, had, he says, a ferocious countenance, and a restless eye: his motions were precipitate, and his cry similar to that of an enraged Dog, but more strong and harsh. This individual, like nearly all those that are brought into Enrope, was a native of Barbary, and was taken in the forests adjacent to Mount Atlas.

The mode adopted to destroy the Panther is usually this. A bait, consisting of a piece of flesh, is suspended on a tree, in the immediate neighborhood of which the hunter has previously erected a hut for his own concealment. The smell of the flesh attracts the animal to the spot, and, whilst he is in the act of seizing it, the hunter shoots him, with an aim so correct as almost always to wound him mortally. On the following day, and not before, he ventures to issue from his hidingplace, and, by means of a Dog trained for the purpose, tracks the animal to his retreat. If he be still alive, the Dog inevitably falls a sacrifice to his rage, and his cries give warning to the hunter to retreat from similar danger; but if he be dead, which most commonly is the case, the man seizes upon his prize unmolested.

An instance is recorded by Poiret, of a Moor who was pursued by a wounded Panther. He says, that the man escaped only by the strata

gem of throwing a part of his clothes upon a bush as he passed by it. These the animals sprang upon and tore into a thousand fragments.

THE OUNCE.

The Ounce is much smaller than the Panther: its body seldom

THE OUNCE.

exceeds the length of about three feet and a half. The hair is long and somewhat shaggy. Its color is a tawny white, with numerous irregular black marks. The length of the tail is about three feet.

The inhabitants of several provinces of Persia, tame the Ounce, for the purpose of employing it in the chase. In the hot climates of Asia Dogs are rarely to be found, unless they have been transported thither from Europe; and even in this case they soon lose not only their voice, but their faculty of hunting.

The scent of the Ounce is inferior to that of the Dog, and he con

sequently hunts almost wholly by the eye; but so perfect are all his other faculties, that he is infinitely more expeditious in the killing of game than any number of Dogs could possibly be.

Some of these animals are so small, that the Persians are able to carry them on horseback, upon small leathern pads made for the purpose; and they are so gentle towards those who are accustomed to attend and feed them, that they will without difficulty suffer themselves to be handled and caressed. The horseman no sooner perceives a Gazelle or an Antelope within proper distance, than he makes the Ounce descend; and, if the animal be at all expert in his business, he generally is enabled to seize his prey by the neck in five or six leaps.

THE HUNTING LEOPARD.

The Hunting Leopard is about the height of a large Greyhound; of a light tawny brown color, marked with numerous circular black spots. The legs and tail are long. Its form is more lengthened than that of the Tiger, and the chest is narrower.

This is an Indian animal, is likewise frequently tamed, and is used in the chase of Antelopes. It is carried in a kind of small wagon, chained and hooded, lest, on approaching the herd, it should be too precipitate, or should not make choice of a proper animal. When first unchained, it does not immediately spring towards its prey; but winds,