Page 24 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

READING LESSONS. 23
body is three feet, of his tail two et three inches, and his height somewhat more than two et. He is distinguished om all other species by his graceful­ ness and elegance; by the vividness of bis colouring, yellow on the upper parts, white on the breast, belly, and inside of the limbs; and by the beauty of his markings, which consist of numerous rows of large rose-like spots passing along the sides, each rmed of the con uence of several smaller black spots, into an irregular circle, enclosing a wn-coloured centre: his whiskers are long and white. His prey consists of antelopes, hares, and monkeys, which last he pur­ sues up the trees. When mished, be ,Yill attack, but by stealth, the human race. He may be tamed, but can never be entirely trusted. A male leopard, in the Tower, 1829, allowed herself to be patted by her keepers, but discovered a strange propensity r snatching umbrellas, parasols, bats, mu s, and other articles of dress, and tearing them in pieces, to the great astonishment of the plundered visiters. The male was sullen and savage.
2. The Panther is classed with the leopard ; but as yet it is not decided by naturalists, whether it is to be considered a distinct species, or only a larger variety of the same, though the rmer opinion ap­ pears to predominate. The panther is und chie y, if not solely, in A ica; is more than six feet in length, independent of the tail, which is about three. Major Denham killed one that measured more than ten. He is spotted like the leopard, but the colours of his skin are not so brilliant. His habits are similar
to those of the tiger.
Arn.MAN'S ANIMAL KINGDOM.