250 Sir T. S. Raffles's Descriptive Catalogue 



Tigers are very numerous in Sumatra, and are very destructive 

 on the west coast. The natives distinguish several varieties, such 

 as the Rimau Kumbang, or black Tiger ; the Rimau samplat, 

 and others. 



It may be proper also to notice the variety of the domestic Cat 

 peculiar to the Malayan Archipelago, and remarkable by having 

 a twisted or knobbed tail, in which particular it agrees with that 

 of Madagascar. Sometimes they have no tail at all. This co- 

 incidence with the Madagascar variety is the more remarkable, 

 as the similarity between the language and customs of the in- 

 habitants of Madagascar and the Malay islands has frequently 

 been a subject of observation. 



Besides these, native accounts have been obtained of two other 

 species existing in Sumatra, the Chigau or Jigau, jL=- and the 

 Rimau dahan. 



The former, called the Rimau mang'in in the southern di- 

 stricts, is described as larger than the Tiger, more dangerous and 

 destructive, and as making his attack in a different manner, not 

 crouching and darting from a covert, but rushing furiously and 

 steadily forward, and even forcing his way into villages and 

 houses. It is stated to have a mane of Ion q- hair on its head and 

 neck, to have a tuft at the extremity of its tail, to be of a more 

 uniform and dark colour, and to have a larger and longer head 

 than the Tiger. All these particulars of form and habits indi- 

 cate its being a kind of Lion. It has been seen in various parts 

 of the country, but is by no means common. 



The Rimau Dahan, ^b y^j is about the size of a Leopard, 

 but is of a darker colour and less regularly spotted. It lives 

 principally on trees, pursuing and feeding on birds, &c, and is 

 said by the natives to be in the habit of sleeping stretched across 

 the fork of a large bough. 



MEPHITIS 



