eautifully sleek, yellow above,
and white beneath, are marked with spots of brilliant black, disposed in
patterns according to the species; nor are these spots for ornament
alone; as was remarked by one of the ablest of the writers in the
"Quarterly," the different and characteristic markings of the larger
feline animals, bear a direct relation to the circumstances under which
they carry on their predatory pursuits. The tawny color of the lion
harmonizes with the parched grass or yellow sand, along which he steals
towards, or on which he lies in wait to spring upon, a passing prey; and
a like relation to the place in which other large feline animals carry
on their predatory pursuits, may be traced in their different and
characteristic markings. The royal tiger, for instance, which stalks or
lurks in the jungle of richly-wooded India, is less likely to be
discerned as he glides along the straight stems of the underwood, by
having the tawny ground-color of his coat variegated by dark vertical
stripes, than if it were uniform like the lion's. The leopard and
panther again, which await the approach of their prey, crouching on the
outstretched branch of some tree, derive a similar advantage, by having
the tawny ground-color broken by dark spots like the leaves around them;
but amidst all this variety, in which may be traced the principle of
adaptation to special ends, there is a certain unity of plan, the
differences not being established from the beginning. Thus the young
lion is spotted, during his first year, with dark spots on its lighter
ground, and transitorily shows the livery that is most common in the
genus. It is singular that man has, in a semi-barbarous state,
recognized the same principle as that which constitutes these
differences, and applied it to the same purpose. It is well-known that
the _setts_, or patterns of several of the highland tartans were
originally composed with special reference to concealment among the
heather. And with the Highlanders, perhaps, the hint was taken from the
ptarmigans and hares of their own native mountains, which change their
colors with the season, donning a snow white vest when the ground on
which they tread bears the garb of winter, and resuming their garments
of grayish brown when the summer's sun has restored to the rocks their
natural tints.

There are three species sufficiently resembling each other in size and
general appearance, to be confounded by persons unacquainted