dry, and other tangible qualities. This sense is the coarsest, but, at the same time, the surest of all others; it is besides the most universal. We see and hear with small portions of our bodies, but we feel with all. Nature has bestowed that general sensation wherever there are nerves, and they are every where, where there is life. Were it otherwise, the parts divested of it might be destroyed without our knowledge. It seems that upon this account, nature has provided that this sensation should not require a particular organization. The structure of the nervous papillæ is not absolutely necessary to it. The lips of a fresh wound, the periosteum, and the tendons, when uncovered, are extremely sensible without them. These nervous extremities serve only to the perfection of feeling, and to diversify sensation. Feeling is the basis of all other sensations.

FELAPTON, in logic, one of the six moods of the third figure of syllogisms, wherein the first proposition is an universal negative, the sccond an universal affirmative, and the third a particular negative.

FELIS, the cat, in natural history, a genus of Mammalia, of the order Feræ. Generic character: six foreteeth, intermediate ones equal, three grinders on each side; tongue prickly backwards; claws retractile. Animals of this comprehensive class never unite in companies for mutual defence, but accomplish their ferocious and bloody purposes with solitary energy. They are swift and strong, have many of them a peculiar facility in climbing trees, and falling from any considerable height, alight on their feet. They spring on their prey with the suddenness of lightning, and suck its blood before they devour it. They will eat vegetables only when other food is not within their reach. They are principally distinguished by their large and pointed claws, which are lodged in a sheath, and protruded or withdrawn at pleasure. The numerous species of this genus differ extremely in size and in colour, but in form and character possess a family resemblance, and are crafty, fierce, and sanguinary. There are twenty-three species, of which we shall notice those which follow.

F. leo, or the lion. This is the largest species of the Felis genus, and has occasionally been known to measure eight feet in length, exclusively of its tail, which is about three or four. Its colour is of a pale tawny, and the male possesses an

extremely full and flowing mane. The female is destitute of this, and is considerably smaller than the male. It has been known to live, in a state of confinement, to the age of sixty-three or seventy years, though, from a philosophical examination of its general structure, it would be concluded that its average duration would not exceed twenty-five. The parental affection of the lioness is extreme in support of her young she braves the most formidable dangers, and is wrought up to a pitch of agitation and exertion, which render her, in such circumstances, a more terrible adversary than the lion himself. She produces her young in the most remote and sequestered situations, and to provide for their wants, engages in the most rapid excursions, and most daring attacks, returning to her cubs with the fruit of her toils and dangers, with the most impatient impetuosity, and feeding them with the yet convulsed members of her prey. It is reported, by some authors, that she endeavours, occasionally, to obscure the track to her den, by brushing out the marks of it with her tail, and when suspicious of particular danger to her young, will remove them in her mouth to a place of greater security, with looks of unutterable menace and antipathy at any creature, however formidable, which may shew the slightest disposition to impede her progress. She produces but one litter, consisting of four or five in number, in the year. These are at first extremely small, little exceeding the size of a half grown kitten, and they are five years in attaining their full growth.

The lion is found in the warmer regions of Asia, but attains his highest perfection in the interior of Africa. His strength is such, that with a single stroke of his paw he has broken the back of a horse, and he has been known, not unfrequently, to carry off a young buffalo between his teeth. He rarely engages in full daylight in the pursuit of prey, but on the approach of night quits his habitation, and with a roar which can be resembled only to a peal of thunder, and overwhelms the other inhabitants of the wilderness or forest with consternation, commences his career of havock. sense of smell is far from being acute, and he depends in the chase only upon actual sight or probable inference. He frequently consumes at one repast sufficient to satisfy him for two or three days; he breaks the bones of the buffalo with perfect ease, and frequently swallows them;

His

and the reversed prickles on his tongue are of extraordinary strength and extension. After a full repast, he returns to his den and enjoys a state of slumber and repose, till the calls of hunger rouse him to fresh activity, and impel him to recommence the work of blood. The lion, in the exertion of his full energies, must present one of the most impressive images that can be conceived. The general majesty of his countenance, surrounded by his full mane intensely erected, and lighted up by the glaring indignation of his eye, connected with the thunder of his voice, and all the apparatus of destruction in his mouth and paws, has, in every age, caused him to be considered as furnishing admirable materials for sublime and terrific imagery.

At the Cape of Good Hope, it is by no means uncommon to hunt the lion, and in an open and spacious plain, in which he finds it impossible to escape his pursuers by flight, he checks his progress, and fronts his adversaries, awaiting their attack. Several of the dogs which first dare to assault him generally fall under his stroke, but in a few moments he is overwhelmed by numbers, and literally torn to pieces. The negroes of the Cape are reported to eat his flesh; and his skin, which was formerly deemed a mantle for a hero, is now more frequently employed for the bed of a Hottentot.

It is imagined that lions are inexpressibly less numerous in Africa now than formerly, and it is stated by Shaw, that all Libya could at this time scarcely supply that number, which was sometimes exported to Rome even in a single year. In proportion as population has extended, and national intercourse has advanced, their range has necessarily become more limited, and their acquaintance with man seems to have considerably checked that daring, which was supposed by many incapable of being daunted. The lion's valour diminishes in proportion as he resides near the habitations of men, whose ingenuity and resources he seems well aware must always secure them a superiority in the conflict with other animals, and whose appearance therefore, he shuns as that of his most formidable adversary. In the neighbourhood of the small towns of Africa, even women and children have not unfrequently driven lions from their lurking places. When taken young, they can be taught to sustain coufinement without difficulty, and will not only manifest tranquillity and contentment, but occasionally engage in sports and gambols

with smaller animals, among which they have been led to associate. They are susceptible of attachment and gratitude, will caress their keepers, display a magnanimous forbearance with respect to the of fensive freedom and petulant insults of weaker creatures, and after having once, as it were, pledged themselves for the security of any, which, by an act of wantonness, may have been thrown as victims into their den, will endure extreme hunger before they can permit themselves to destroy them.. The natural excitabili ty of these animals, however, is so great, that all the discipline of education is frequently insufficient effectually to repress their passions within secure limits, and in some unlucky coincidence of circumstances, those familiarities with them, which had been permitted without the slightest resistance or reluctance, have proved fatal to the persons who engaged in them. Though the lion frequently attacks his prey in open chase, he generally adopts the system of ambuscade, and will lurk on his belly in some thicket, frequently near the water, awaiting the approach of any animal which its evil destiny may impel near it, on which he will spring with a sudden bound, rarely failing of success, and sometimes reach... ing to the distance of twenty-feet. When this leap is unsuccessful, the object is per-, mitted to escape without pursuit, and he retraces his steps slowly to the thicket, as it were abashed by his failure, and anticipating the consequences of greater adroitness in his ensuing effort.

Lions have in various countries been employed as emblems of state, and insignia of sovereignty. In Persia, two large lions with fetters of gold are stationed, on days of peculiar ceremony and splendour, on each side of the hall of audience; and in Rome, Anthony was drawn through the streets by lions harnessed to his chariot. To furnish entertainment for the inhabitants of that splendid and luxurious city, lions were conveyed in vast numbers from the interior of Africa, to exhi bit at the public festivals, at which they fought with each other, with other animals, and even at length with men. This diversion was first exhibited by Quintus Scævola, but was afterwards carried to far greater extent. Sylla displayed in the Arena a hundred lions, during his pretorship. Julius Cæsar, to conciliate the people, entertained them with no fewer than four hundred and Pompey imported, at vast expence, and with the most elaborate research, the immense number

:

It is recorded by Mr. Pennant, that, in the beginning of the last century as a British party in India were indulging themselves in rural recreation and festivity, totally unsuspicious of danger, an immense tiger was seen advancing towards them, and was so near as to be almost in the act to bound upon them. Dismay and consternation instantly pervaded every individual present but one, who was a lady, and who, a with promptness and self-possession probably never exceeded, furled a large umbrella in the face of the tiger, and thus most happily effected its retreat.

The catastrophe of Mr. Monro, in similar circumstances, was recorded by one of his companions, and may be not improperly noticed in this connection. In the year 1792, several British gentlemen, together with Mr. Monro, went to shoot deer on Sangar island, on the shores of which they observed innumerable traces of the feet of both these animals, not only of the deer, but of the tiger. They continued their sport, however, for a very considerable time; and after completing it, were sitting down for refreshment near a jungle, when a tiger, with a most horrible roar, darted from the jungle, and seizing on Mr. Monro, hurried back with him to the thicket, dragging him through the thickest bushes with amazing rapidity, and making every thing bend and yield to its prodigious strength. A tigress accompanied it in its progress. The tiger was fired at by the two remain ing gentlemen, and was obliged to drop its prey; and in a few moments after wards, their unfortunate friend was advancing towards them weltering in his blood. He had received, however, such deep wounds from the teeth and claws of the tiger, as precluded the possibility of recovery, and after twenty-four hours of agony, he expired. The scene was dreadful beyond all the expression of

words. At the time of the assault, an immense fire of several whole trees was burning by the spot, and shortly after their departure from these fatal shores the gentlemen observed the tigress to make her re-appearance, in all the agitation of unbounded fierceness and disappointed vengeance. The tigress produces but one litter, consisting generally of five young in a year. In her defence of these, that fury, which, even in ordinary times, seems to mark her character, is wrought up to a paroxysm, in which she defies all danger, and exposes herself

frequently to certain destruction. See Mammalia, Plate XIV. fig. 3.

F. pardus, the panther. It was for some time a question, whether the panther were not to be found in the new as

well as in the old world; it is now, however, fully ascertained not to belong to coast of Barbary to the south of Guinea, in America. It is found in Africa, from the

numbers. Its length is about six feet and the last of which it is found in considerable a half without the tail, which generally measures three; its colour is a bright tawny yellow, thickly studded along the upper part of its body, with circles of black spots containing a single spot in the centre. It is extremely ferocious, and its depredations in Africa resemble those of the tiger in Asia; though the panther, indeed, abstains, unless when urged by extreme hunger, from attack on man. mode of attack is always by surprise, and bursting from the thicket with an immense spring, or approaching with extreme silence and caution on its belly, it lights instantly upon its prey, and the moment of alarm is made by it, frequently, the moment of destruction. In China,

ambitious

Its

where the skins of beautiful and brilliant quadrupeds are in high estimation, there is a variety of this species, the skin of which is sold for about six guineas. The number of panthers imported by the rich and among the Romans, to supply the popular sports of that city, is almost incredible; four hundred and ten were exibibited by Augustus within only a few days, and the immense demands which were made on Africa, for this purpose, tended at length to render them procurable, in the territory of Mauritania, only with very great labour and expence. In that country they are at present rare, comparatively with what they must have been before those vast exportations; but farther to the south they are extremely

numerous.

fig. 2.

See Mammalia, Plate XIV.

F. leopardus, or the leopard. This animal is principally distinguished from the preceding by its less lively yellow colour, its inferior size, and the closer arrangement of the spots with which it is diversified. Its manners are similar to those of the panther, and both inhabit the same territories. Among the vast herds of Lower Guinea they commit the most destructive havoc; and when they are impelled by hunger, every creatures exposed to their attack. They are often

taken in pit-falls by the negroes, who highly value their flesh, which in appear ance, is not a little like that of veal; their teeth are arranged in fanciful dispositions by the women of the country, and hung about their necks and arms, both as amulets and ornaments; and their skins are exported to various parts of Europe, where they are particularly admired, and are sold for corresponding prices. There is in India a variety of this species trained with great success to hunt the antelope and other beasts. It is conveyed in a small vehicle to the spot of its intended exertions, and chained and hooded till it is let down as near to the herd as is thought convenient; it then makes every effort to reach them unobserved, advancing with extreme vigilance and caution, and when it perceives itself in a proper situation, it rushes with a succession of amazing bounds, five or six in number, towards its destined object, and is almost uniformly successful in securing it. On failure it returns to its owner, and after a short interval recommences its efforts, See Mammalia, Plate XIV. fig. 1.

F. uncia, or the ounce, is about three feet and a half in length, and has a skin beautifully varied with single spots, or oval collections of them, on a light-grey ground-colour. It is a native of China, Persia, and Barbary. Its sense of smell is not extremely acute, but its eye possesses exquisite discernment, on which account it is disciplined to the chase with wonderful success; and so gentle are its manners, that it is taken to the hunt on the crupper of the horse, behind its owner. It is not remarkable for speed in running, or at least for a continuance of rapid exertion, and is, indeed, incapable of it; but it seizes its prey by a few rapid bounds, in which it displays astonishing nimbleness and dexterity. It frequently ascends trees, from which it may dart on any animals leisurely and fearlessly pass ing beneath.

F. onca, the jaguar, is the most formidable of all the animals found in the new continent, and abounds particularly in the Deserts of Guiana; in passing which the Indians, who have an extreme dread of this animal, always kindle fires to keep it at a distance. In some of its manners and habits, it strongly resembles the tiger. It sucks the blood previous to devouring the flesh of its prey, in pursuit of which it is very swift, and will ascend trees of the loftiest and smoothest kind with astonishing facility; its howl is terrific. The female is said to produce two

young at a birth. Its ground colour is a light brownish-yellow, which is varied with streaks and open spots of black. It is rather larger than a wolf, but is said to find a formidable, and often fatal, antago. nist in the ant-eater, which, on being attacked by the jaguar, throws itself on its back, and with its long claws fixes on his throat, and kills him by suffocation.

It is

F. concolor, the brown tiger, puma or cougouar. The body is tawny, immacu late, thin and long, beneath whitish, been called the American lion. the largest of the American beasts prey, and is extremely fierce and ravenous. It inhabits in many parts from Canada to Florida, and is found also in Mexico and Brazil. In the warmer cli mates it possesses its greatest perfection in vigour and courage, and will frequently cross rapid torrents to seize cattle grazing in inclosures near the habitations of man. It has been known to attack a wolf. It is a formidable enemy to the moose-deer, and others of that tribe; and will often mount trees to watch the animals that pass beneath, selecting the victims of its rapacity, and quitting them only after having exhausted their last drop of blood. This fierce animal, strange as it may appear, if taken young, is trained to become as inoffensive nearly as the common cat, like which animal also it purs; and will permit, without rage or resentment, all the rough caresses and violent gambols of boys. When satiated with food, it conceals the remainder.

The fur is used in the dress of the Aborigines, and the flesh is much esteemed by them as an article of food.

F. discolor, or the black tiger, is considered by many only as a variety of the former species. It is exceedingly strong in its limbs, and attains the size of a heifer of a year old. It is found in Brazil and Guiana; and is rapacious and savage in its disposition; and fortunately, therefore, not abundant. It eats the buds of the Indian fig occasionally, but more frequently the eggs of turtles deposited on the shore. Lizards, fishes, and young alligators, are all made prey by it. It swims with great rapidity. In quest of the alligator it employs the stratagem of lying down on its belly at the edge of the water, and striking it with its paws; the noise and motion induce the alligator to lift its head above the surface, when the claw of the black tiger is instantly fixed in its eye, and drags it to the lard.

F. pardalis, or ocelot, is about four times the size of a domestic cat, the shape