408 



THE CAT. 



[chap. XII. 



(18.) The Sep^valine Cat {Felis servalimi).* 



This animal is apparently of about the same size as F. ncglcda, 

 but is distinguished from it by its colour, which is yellow, fulvous 

 above, and white beneath. The middle of the back is darker, with 

 very numerous small black spots, spots on sides rather larger, on 

 the belly much larger ; tail short, fulvous, with five or six imperfect 

 black rings, and a pale tip. No cheek streaks. 



The type is said to be in the British Museum. 



Habitat, Sierra Leone. 



(19.) The Ocelot {F. pardalis).\ 



§ 8. This beautiful cat, always handsomely marked, is either one 

 of several closely allied species, or else, as is more probable, is subject 

 to much variation as to coloration and the intensity of its markings. 

 Besides the typical form, Dr. Gray has distinguished four marked 

 varieties (or species) which he has named F. grisca, F. mcJanura, 

 F. pida and F. pardoidcs, and certainly these forms are not only 

 very different when adult, but, as Dr. Gray says, their characters are 

 to a certain extent permanent, the young, in some instances at least, 

 being like their parents, so that they are at least varieties which 

 "breed true." 



The ground colour of the ocelot may be tawny yeUow or reddish 

 grey. It is always marked with black spots, which are aggregated 

 in chain-like streaks and blotches, generally forming elongated spots, 

 each with a black border, enclosing an area which is rather darker 

 than is the general ground colour. The head and limbs bear small 

 black spots, and there are two black stripes over each cheek and one 

 or two transverse dark bands within each fore-leg. The tail tends 

 to be ringed, and the ventral parts of the trunk and limbs are 

 whitish. 



Length from snout to tail-root ranges from twenty-six to thirty- 

 three inches ; that of the tail varies from eleven to fifteen inches. 



The pupil contracts into a vertical slit. The orbit is not enclosed 

 by bone. 



The creature is a ready climber, and is said to be exceedingly 

 bloodthirsty. 



The variety called F. grisca J is of a grey colour, even some- 

 Avhat whitish at the sides ; that named F. picfa,^ differs from the 

 typical F. parda/i'.s in its less intense coloration, the less degree of 

 approximation of its stripes and the less amount of difference which 



* Ogilby, Tro. Zool. vSoc, 1830, j.. 4 ; 

 Gray, I'ro. Zool. Soc, 18G7, ]>. 3!)r) ; and 



Catalogue of 

 24 



Caniivoia of lliit. Mus., 

 1). 24 ; Scliitor, Tro. Zool. Soc, 1874, 

 ]>. 495, plat.' (J3. Mr. Klliot i<lrntifics 

 this in his Monogi'aiih with the Scrval, 

 Init in this I cannot at all agree with 

 him. 

 t Dcscriheil ami figured in Elliot's 



Lronograph. He considers the here 

 enumerated varieties to be merely 

 varieties. Sec also Godman and Sal- 

 vin"s J'.iologia, ]\lammalia, ]>. 60. 



:J; Gray, Ann. and Wag. of Nat. Hist., 

 voL x.,']i. '-'()(», 1842; and Pro. Zool. 

 Soc, 18G7, p. 403. 



§ Gray, /. c. 



