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with the utmost caution, along the ground, stopping at intervals, and carefully concealing itself until a 0940 2

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favorable opportunity offers: it

then darts on the herd with astonishing swiftness, and overtakes them by the rapidity of its bounds. If, however, in its first attempt, which consists of five or six amazing leaps, it does not succeed, it loses its breath; and, finding itself unequal in speed, stands still for a while to recover; then giving up the point for that time, quietly returns to its keeper.

THE HUNTING LEOPARD.

THE LEOPARD.

This animal is about four feet in length; of a yellowish color, and marked with numerous annular spots. The tail is about two feet and a half long. It is an inhabitant of Senegal, Guinea, and most parts of Africa.

The general appearance of the Leopard is ferocious and cruel. His eye is restless, his countenance forbidding, and all his motions are short and preci

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pitate. In his general habits he resembles the Panther; he lies in ambush for prey, and thence springs ha upon and devours almost every species of animal which which o he has the strength to overcome. Оссаsionally these

beasts have

been known to d

descend in great

numbers from their lurking-places, and commit dreadful slaughter among the numerous herds of cattle which graze in the plains.

In the year 1708, if we may believe the account recorded by Kolben, a male and female Leopard, with three young-ones, entered a sheepfold at the Cape. They killed nearly a hundred Sheep, and regaleo themselves with the blood. When the old ones were satiated, they

tore a carcass into three pieces, and gave one of these to each of their offspring. They then took each a whole Sheep; and, thus laden, began

LEOPARD LYING IN AMBUSH.

to move off. Having, however, been observed, they were way-laid on their return, and the female and three young-ones killed; but the male effected his escape. The same writer also informs us, that the Leopard will not eat carrion, nor deign to touch what has been killed by any other beast.

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The Negroes take these animals by means of pitfalls covered slightly over with hurdles, on which a piece of flesh is placed as a bait. They are not, however, employed in the chase, like the Ounce or the Hunting Leopard.

The late Sir Ashton Lever had a Leopard, which he kept in a cage at Leicester House. It had become so tame, as always to seem highly pleased by caresses and attention, purring and rubbing its sides against the cage like a Cat. Sir Ashton gave it to the royal menagerie in the Tower; where a person, before acquainted with it, saw it after an interval of more than a year, notwithstanding which it appeared instantly to recognize him, and began as usual to renew its caresses.

The flesh of the Leopard, says Kolben, is white and well-tasted, and eats much better than the finest veal! It is both nourishing and delicious; that of the young is as tender as a chicken! The skins are brought into Europe, where they are in great estimation: some of the most beautiful of them sell for more than ten guineas each.

THE PUMA, OR SOUTH AMERICAN LION.

The length of the body of the Puma is about five feet, and its height two feet and a half; and its tail is about two feet long. The head is round, and the ears are short. Its color is a pale, brownish red, somewhat darker in some parts than in others. The under parts are white.

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THE PUMA.

By the Spaniards of Peru and Chili this animal has been denominated the Lion of South America;

and in its color, its voice, and general shape, except that it is destitute of mane it is not altogether unlike that animal.

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The Puma inhabits the thickest forests, and the most inaccessible ountains, from which it makes incursions into the plains to attack

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domestic animals, particularly Horses, whose flesh it prefers to that of any other. In the mode of seizing its prey it resembles the Cat: it approaches by crawling along upon its belly; it glides softly through the shrubs and bushes, conceals itself in ditches, or, if it show itself it assumes a mild and fawning appearance. But all this time it is only watching a favorable opportunity to seize the animal which it has marked for its victim: at one leap it fastens itself upon the back of its prey, and, in a few minutes, tears it to pieces. It then sucks the blood, devours the flesh of the breast, and carries the remainder of the carcass into the nearest wood, where it conceals it with the leaves and boughs of trees, in order to eat it at leisure.

It is a common practice for the husbandmen of Chili to fasten two of their horses together in the fields; and whenever the Puma finds them in this situation, Molina informs us, that it kills one and drags it away, and compels the other to follow, by striking it from time to time with its paw. The favorite haunts of the Puma are the streams to which animals usually repair to drink: here it conceals itself upon a tree, and scarcely ever fails of seizing one of them. The horses, however, have an instinctive dread of these places, and even when pressed by thirst, they approach them with great caution, carefully examining on every side to discover if there be danger. Cows defend themselves against these animals. As soon as one of them appears, they range themselves in a circle round their calves, and with their horns turned toward the assailant, await his attack, and not unfre-. quently destroy him.

All such animals that have not young-ones, attempt, at the approach of the Puma, to save themselves by flight. The ass alone, from want of speed, is compelled to defend himself with his heels, and frequently proves successful. But should the Puma leap upon his back, the ass

immediately throws himself upon the ground, or runs with all his force against the trunks of trees; and thus endeavors to free himself from his assailant.

The Puma is naturally a coward, and the appearance of even a woman or a child is sufficient to make him fly and abandon his prey. He is hunted with dogs trained for the purpose, and when hard pressed, either leaps upon a tree, seeks an asylum on a rock, or placing himself against the trunk of some large tree, defends himself in a furious manner.

In captivity the Puma loses much of his savage nature, and may be rendered almost as gentle as a domestic animal. A Puma mentioned in the supplementary volumes of M. de Buffon, would suffer himself to be patted with the hand; and children were frequently known to mount astride upon his back, without his exhibiting the slightest symptoms of resentment. Mr. Keen the actor, when in London, had generally in his house a Puma, belonging to Mr. Cross, then proprietor of the menagerie of Exeter 'Change. The animal was sometimes introduced into the room when he had company; and by many persons was considered to be a Lion.

THE JAGUAR, OR SOUTH AMERICAN TIGER.

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The Jaguar is somewhat larger than the Wolf, of a brownish yellow

THE JAGUAR.

color, variegated on the upper parts of the body with streaks, and open oblong spots or markings of black. The thighs and legs also have black spots, but without central spaces; the breast and belly are whitish. The tail is about two feet and a half in length.

It is a native

of Brazil, and several other parts of South America. The Jaguar has most of the habits, and nearly all the propensities of the Puma. He is so strong and voracious, that he is able to seize and carry off a Sheep or Deer with the utmost facility; and yet he is so cowardly, that he may sometimes be put to flight by a shout. Cows and Horses are not always secure from his attack. These animals, as he is unable to drag them to his retreat in the forests, he tears to pieces on the spot, and satiates himself with their blood. The

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