1 8 FAUX A AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



there seems little reason to doubt its existence. The range of the Lion 

 has become more circumscribed than that of other beasts of prey by the 

 settlement of man, from its habit of resorting to open country. The 

 sculptures of Nineveh abound with illustrations of Lion hunting as the 

 most royal of sports. 



The Asiatic Lion was formerly believed to be distinct from that of 

 Africa, but though frequently smaller, its specific identity is now estab- 

 lished. 



69. Fclis pardus. L. Syst. Nat. i., p. 61. The Leopard. Heb. "I&.J. 

 Arab, y^i ; Ninir. 



Unlike the Lion, the skulking Leopard still maintains itself in 

 Palestine, though in very small numbers. It is found all round the Dead 

 Sea, in Gilead and Bashan, and occasionally in the wooded districts of 

 the west. I saw a fine pair which had been killed on Mount Carmel. It 

 sometimes lurks near watering-places, to pounce at night upon the catde. 

 Its ancient abundance in the Holy Land is testified not only by the 

 numerous allusions in Scripture, but also by the frequent occurrence of 

 the word Niinr in the names of places. 



The Leopard extends over the whole of Africa, Southern Asia, Japan, 

 China, and the islands of the Malayan Archipelago. 



70. Felis vianiculata. Rtipp. Zool. Atlas, i., p. i, t. i. Egyptian 

 Wild Cat. Arab. lUI ks, Kot d klila. 



The Wild Cat is scarce west of Jordan, very common on the east side. 

 Some of my specimens are the largest I have ever seen, the body being two 

 feet in length, and the tail eleven inches, more bushy than in the Domestic 

 Cat. This species is the probable original of the Domestic Cat, now as 

 common in Palestine as elsewhere, though not mentioned in ancient times. 



The Egyptian Cat is found throughout all Africa, Arabia, and Syria. 

 The Syrian has sometimes been held to be a separate species, but I am 

 unable to recognise its distinctness from Egyptian examples. 



71. Fclis chaus. Giild. Nov. Comm. Acad. Imp. Petrop., t. 20, 

 p. 483, pi. 14. Jungle Cat. Arab. ^)\ la5, Kot buri. 



This large Cat, somewhat approaching the Lynx in its characteristics, 



