THE CLOUDED TIGER 49 



Zealand, cannot now be found as suck, and was 

 probably an apteryx.^ In the same way the snow 

 leopard, described as a predaceous beast with spotted 

 coat and ample brush, might well be confused with 

 the clouded tiger, an animal notable for its blotched 

 coloration and long tail. Dr. Jerdon had a kitten of 

 the F. nebulosa which was taken at Darjeeling; it is 

 interesting to remember that in this very region 

 the thickets are said to lead up in ascending sequence 

 through the zone of maple woods and pine forests to 

 the high Alpine glens, bright with gentian and 

 ranunculus, the chosen home of the snow leopard! ^ 



As already mentioned, the clouded tiger is a 

 forest species: it spends nearly all its time in the 

 denser jungles, sleeping in the forks of the trees and 



1 The apteryxes or kiwis are wingless birds which from their hair-like 

 feathers, nocturnal haV>its and great running powers recall rats or rabbits. 

 At the present time, no less than eleven of these almost extinct birds— 

 probably the largest series ever exhibited at one time in captivity — are 

 in the London Zoological Gardens, 



2 The snow leopard (Fclis uncia) is a beautiful creature, remarkable 

 for the thickness of its greyish white fur, which is ornamented with black 

 rosettes, as in the common leopard. Once so rare that its very habitat 

 was unknown, it has of recent years on several occasions been brought 

 alive to Europe. A specimen, said to have cost £200, was exhibited in the 

 London Zoological Gardens in 1891, and another at Antwerp about the 

 same time. A third example, sent to Liverpool, is now in the Manchester 

 Museum ; a fourth — formerly a lady's pet — was living in the Regent's 

 Park Collection in 1897 (?) and has been beautifully portrayed in a well- 

 known series of animal photograplis. Another example, taken in the 

 Pamirs, was presented to the Zoo by Captain McKintosh in 1904 ; in the 

 same year a magiiifictent exhibit of three snow leopards — two females and 

 a male— was displayed at the New York Zoological Park, all being the 

 valuable gift of one donor. One of the females having escaped through a 

 skylight was unfortunately shot ; the others are still on exiiibition at the 

 time of writing. The snow leopard has never been known to attack man 

 and reseml)les Grevy's zebra amongst the Equidae in its relative tracta- 

 bility and in the ease with which it can V>e tamed ; unfortunately, the 

 damp climate of Plngland is detrimental to it, and all the London 

 specimens are now dead. 



B 



