tained over the five nations of Canaan. They did not rest till, completely victorious, they had reduced the whole country to obedience. The forces of Joshua did not, like some uncivilized hordes of modern times, literally eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slain,' for such inhuman conduct was equally opposed to the character of their God and the whole tenor of their law. Such hyperbolical expressions are frequent in the sacred volume. Thus in the reproof which the Psalmist addresses to wicked judges, he declares, The righteous shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.' And in his prayer at the removing of the ark: The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring again my people from the depths of the sea: that thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies,' &c. (Psalm lxviii. 2, 4). Such phrases merely denote that the victory which was to crown their exertions should be completely decisive."

6

THE LEOPARD.

CONSIDERABLE difference of opinion exists among naturalists whether the panther and the leopard are to be regarded as distinct animals, or are only climatal varieties of one original species. The remarkable similarity in their habits and dispositions induces us to regard them as the same animal, the difference probably arising from some variations in the climate or locality in which they are found, or from other accidental causes.

The leopard is a native of Africa. It is also found in some parts of Asia. The upper part of its body is of a bright tawny yellow, with numerous black roundish spots. These however vary in intensity in different specimens, and are often slightly ocellated or have the middle paler. Instances sometimes occur in which the animal is black with the spots of a deeper shade. Of a young but full-grown animal measured by F. Cuvier, the body was three feet six inches in length, and the tail two feet three inches; when standing, its height was about two feet.

The leopard is an inhabitant of the wooded parts

of the country, and preys upon the smaller races of animals, such as deer, antelopes, &c. He is said to be a most expert climber, and pursues the monkeys among the branches of the trees with great agility. His common mode of attack however is by lying in ambush, whence he springs upon his prey with almost unerring precision. Should he happen to miss his aim, he continues the pursuit, and such are the promptness and agility of his motions, that few animals are able to escape.

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The following instance of the determination with which the leopard defends himself in case of attack, is from the pen of an eye-witness. I was at Jafna, at the northern extremity of the island of Ceylon, in the beginning of the year 1819, when one morning my servant called me an hour or two before my usual time, with 'Master, master! people sent for master's dogs; tiger in the town!' Now my dogs chanced to be some very degenerate specimens of a fine species called the Poligar dog, which I should designate as a sort of wiry greyhound, without scent. I kept them to hunt jackals; but tigers are very different things. By the way, there are no real tigers in Ceylon,