The Fine Fur At The Bottom Of The Belly, Is Used
For Making Hats, In Some Places.
The Fur itself is fit for several Uses;
as for making Muffs, facing Caps, &c. but the black Cub-skin is preferable
to all sorts of that kind, for Muffs.
Its Grain is like Hog-Skin.
{Panther.}
The Panther is of the Cat's kind; about the height of a very large Greyhound
of a reddish Colour, the same as a Lion. He climbs Trees
with the greatest Agility imaginable, is very strong-limb'd,
catching a piece of Meat from any Creature he strikes at.
His Tail is exceeding long; his Eyes look very fierce and lively,
are large, and of a grayish Colour; his Prey is, Swines-flesh, Deer,
or any thing he can take; no Creature is so nice and clean, as this,
in his Food. When he has got his Prey, he fills his Belly with the Slaughter,
and carefully lays up the Remainder, covering it very neatly with Leaves,
which if any thing touches, he never eats any more of it.
He purrs as Cats do; if taken when Young, is never to be reclaim'd
from his wild Nature. He hollows like a Man in the Woods, when kill'd,
which is by making him take a Tree, as the least Cur will presently do;
then the Huntsmen shoot him; if they do not kill him outright,
he is a dangerous Enemy, when wounded, especially to the Dogs
that approach him. This Beast is the greatest Enemy to the Planter,
of any Vermine in Carolina. His Flesh looks as well
as any Shambles-Meat whatsoever; a great many People eat him, as choice Food;
but I never tasted of a Panther, so cannot commend the Meat,
by my own Experience. His Skin is a warm Covering for the Indians
in Winter, though not esteem'd amongst the choice Furs. This Skin dress'd,
makes fine Womens Shooes, or Mens Gloves.
{Cat-a-Mount.}
The Mountain-Cat, so call'd, because he lives in the Mountainous Parts
of America. He is a Beast of Prey, as the Panther is, and nearest to him
in Bigness and Nature.
{Wild Cat.}
This Cat is quite different from those in Europe; being more
nimble and fierce, and larger; his Tail does not exceed four Inches.
He makes a very odd sort of Cry in the Woods, in the Night.
He is spotted as the Leopard is, tho' some of them are not,
(which may happen, when their Furs are out of Season)
he climbs a Tree very dexterously, and preys as the Panther does.
He is a great Destroyer of young Swine. I knew an Island,
which was possess'd by these Vermine, unknown to the Planter,
who put thereon a considerable Stock of Swine; but never took one back;
for the wild Cats destroy'd them all. He takes most of his Prey by Surprize,
getting up the Trees, which they pass by or under, and thence leaping
directly upon them.
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