Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-02-22
Cor the Daily Free Press.)
Il III Il T. NTH II.

This animal has been met with, occasionally in
Vermont from the time Of its earliest settlement but
was never very common and in the las; 40 years
the whole number killed within the State has not .
probably exceeded half dozen The opportunity
therefore, which have recently had to examine
one OF these animals, killed only few days ago
within the State and presented to the University at
this place, has afforded me much satisfaction Ii
was taken by Mr.. Dunitt, OH the western slope of
the Green Mountain, IN Manchester, Bennington
| County On the 9Th OF Feb. 1850, in common Bear
! trap. Being caught by one of its paws ONLY and
mahifesting great fcrocity, it was deemed mpruden
10 atlelnpt TO secure him alive, and he was there.
''e h''Ieo by shooting him through the body. He
was purchased by the Hon. H. SARGEANT, and few
'''.' Se'''iemeh OF Manchester, and, with public
spun qua zeal Tor the Advancement of science
"nlch Is truly comnendable and worthy of the imi-
'ulloh OF others, was forwarded to Burlington free
u. e"Pehse,a as contribution the collections for
illustrating the subject of Natural History in the
University OF Vermont. The specimen was received
Ill Inc condition, and is regarged most valuable
accession to the Museum of the University
In lis general characters, it agrees very we with
The description OF this animal, given in my History
OF Vermont, Part |, page 81. 1t was male. and
was, evidently, young animal probably about two
years old, not having attained its full growth. 1t.
length from the noe to the insertion of the tail was
Just feet. The tail vcrtebrn measured 2et inches
and the skin and hair extended u inch beyond the
veiebrT, making the total length, from the nose to
the extremity of the tall feet inches Its weigh,
was So pounds. The average length of the Amer.
ican Panther, measured as above when iully grown
IS not tar from Il feet and its average weight abou,
100 pounds. The height, at the shoulders of the
specimen recently presented to the University when
'he NGs We're IN their most natural position was 26
inches, and at the rump 81 inches The profile of
| the face measured 10 inches and was considerably
| archcd. The width of the head between The eors
was from 4! to inches, and between the eyes 81
inches The cars are rounded and their height was 81
inches. The neck was small in proportion TO the
size OF the body, having a.ccu inference OF only l6
inches next the head. The circumference of BODY
last behind the fore legs was 81 inches and the body
was less cylindrical, or nater vertically than is
usually represented to be-
Its general color is darker, with less red than is
common in the full grown animal, being dark
slightly reddish gray, lighter beneath Apr oachinq
TO ASH on the belly and tawny white between the
nina legs The extremity of the ia il, the outsdes of
the ears, and the rartssoi the upper lip from which
the whlskcrs proceed are black. The chin and Inns
with the above exceptions, and most of the wbiskers
are OF clear white.
III It's teeth 1t agrees completely as to number and
POSITION with our domestic cat having incisors and
CANNES OF tusks IN each jaw, and moars in the
""u Ill the upper jaw, making 30 in the
"hoie' he CANNES prof ect inch above the gums
ana t"e carhlVerous moars about of an inch, riv
ing the creature an ext remedy savage aspect when
the mouth Is open. The At h. or po.terior nolor !,
the upper Jaw is only partially developed, ofordiro
"uuiooial proof that 1t was a young animal The
ca"s are completely retracte. They measure ;bout |
o"e 'icn III length, are very sharp and strong and
are o' Il peary White color, with blood-rcd tinpc on
INC under SIDE near the base The limbs are exceed
"@y muscular and strong, but the fore legs and DAVIS
dIe h'uch more robust and powerful than those be-
iiu' characteristic, which has not been sufficient
" marked in any ofthe figures of the animal which
have seen
Inc vulgar names, which hi. animal has received
are very numerous. In New England it was in early
ncS' very generally called the Catamouut I'm,
In''s'y 49, perhaps, more frequently called the
a"'"eT' In the southern and,western states il is
,d''ed tne c0nsar, and also the Fainter Ia corrun
ION Oh rahther0 Further south it is called the Puma
ma inc american Lion. Wheeler it is identical or
'o'' win The Jaguar of South American is not vc,
ven settled The scientific name OF our auiunl !.
retS concotor, and although here called the Panther
~ Il different species from the PQrdahs, or firm,
PANTHER OF the eastern continent. The ..;ep,;Go
lame OF the Panther of the ancients is Feh, porJus
'ul II Is not iound on the western continent
III skinnng the specimen above described tho
lead' neck breast and the inward sides of the fire
egs' were found to be filled with Hedge Hog onills
which had pierced the skin and in MANY n,ce. h,d ,
penetrated deeply into the flesh.
T. THOMPSON.
Burlington, Feb IA, 1850.