THE OUNCE. 93 



Uncia irbis^ Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, vol. xiv. p. 



394 (1854); id.. Cat. Carniv. Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 9 



(1869). ' 



is uncioides, Horsfield, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, vol. 



xvi. p. 105 (1855). 



{Plate VI.) 



Characters. — Although in respect of coloration and the length 

 of the pelage, the light coloured variety of the Leopard (F. 

 tulliand) is somewhat intermediate, the Ounce, or Snow- 

 Leopard, may be distinguished from the Leopard by the 

 following characters. 



Ground-colour white, with the spots larger and not well 

 defined, except on the head. Skull with a more swollen palate, 

 flatter tympanic bulla, and the nasals shorter and more like 

 those of the Lion. 



Tail thick, scarcely tapering, and about three-quarters the 

 length of the head and body. " The spots on the back, sides, 

 and tail are large black interrupted rings or rosettes of rather 

 irregular shape, much larger than in Leopards, the space inside 

 each ring being usually rather darker than the ground-colour; 

 spots on the head, limbs, and terminal portion of the tail with- 

 out pale centres ; those on belly few in number and rather in- 

 distinct. From near the middle of the back to the root of the 

 tail is a median dark band. Ears black, each with a large 

 yellowish spot." (Blcuiford.) 



Distribution. — All the high ranges of Central Asia, includ- 

 ing Gilgit, Hunza, Turkestan, Trans Baikalia, Amurland, and 

 Western China ; generally at elevations of over 8,000 feet, 

 although in Gilgit descending as low as 6,000 during the 

 winter. It is also supposed to occur in Persia. 



Habits. — From the arid and inaccessible nature of the country 

 where it dwells, not much is known of the mode of life of the 



