156 



THE CHATI. 



stranger to this country. One of the tirst specimens was exhibited for some time in a travel- 

 ling menagerie, where it died. So indifferent or so ignorant were its proprietors, that after 

 its death no trace was found of this unique animal, excepting a tradition that its hide had 

 been cut up for the purpose of making caps for the keepers. 



The spots and marks which cover the fur of the Rimau-dahan are so very irregular in 

 shape and arrangement that a detailed description is almost impossible. Some of the patches 

 are nearly oval, some are angular, some are particularly open, while others are enclosed within 

 a well-defined dark edging. There are stripes like those of the tiger, solid spots like those of 

 the leopard, hollow spots resembling those of the jaguar, and large black-edged spots like 

 those of the ocelots. The black has a peculiarly rich and velvety appearance. 



KIMAU-DAHAN. Leopardtm macrocflat. 



The ground color of the fur is gray, tinged with brown, and however the other markings 

 may vary, there are always two bold uninterrupted bands of velvety -black running along the 

 entire length of the animal, beginning at the back of the head, and only ending at the root of 

 the tail. The tail itself is covered with dark rings, which contrast well with the very light 

 ground of the fur. The hair is rather long, and beautifully fine in its texture. Altogether, 

 the Rimau-dahan, although so large an animal, bears a close resemblance to the Marbled Cat, 

 which has already been mentioned. 



An allied species, named popularly the TORTOISE-SHELL or SMALLER CLOUDED TIGER, and 

 scientifically termed Leopardus macroceloides, is found in the same locality as the Rimau- 

 dahan. It possesses many of the properties which belong to its larger relative, and is equally 

 fond of climbing up, or resting on, the branches of trees. 



ALTHOUGH so gentle in its demeanor when domesticated as to have earned for itself the 

 name of "mitis" or "placid," the Chati is, when wild, a sufficiently destructive animal It 

 is not quite so large as the ocelots, with which creatures it is a compatriot. 



