THE LEOPARD-CAT. 127 



Asiatic species is inferior in size to the last. With the mark- 

 ings extremely variable, the ground-colour of the fur on the 

 upper-parts shades from yellowish-grey to bright yellow, while 

 on the under-parts it is white, the ornamentation taking the 

 form of dark brown markings. Tail long and spotted ; its 

 length being about half that of the head and body. Skull shorter 

 and rounder than in the last, with the nasal region only slightly 

 narrowed, the orbits incomplete behind, and the anterior upper 

 pre-molar tooth present. Ears moderate, and rounded at the 

 tips ; pupil of the eye generally circular. 



The spots extend over both the upper- and under-parts, 

 but towards the end of the tail usually assume the form of 

 transverse bars. According to Mr. Blanford, " there is almost 

 always a white band running up to the forehead from the inside 

 of each eye. Four longitudinal black bands commence on the 

 forehead, and are continued over the head to the hind-neck, 

 breaking up into short bands and elongate spots on the shoul- 

 ders ; less distinct bands of spots occasionally come in between 

 the two median head-stripes on the forehead and shoulders, 

 but these two stripes frequently coalesce on the back of the 

 neck, diverging again between the shoulders, and being con- 

 tinued as rows of spots to the tail. There are generally two 

 well-marked horizontal cheek-stripes, the lower of which is often 

 joined to a transverse stripe across the throat ; other transverse 

 stripes, sometimes broken into rows of spots, cross the lower 

 neck and breast. There are the usual two dark bands inside 

 the fore-arm, and a large whitish spot on the black outer sur- 

 face of each ear." Length of head and body, from 24 to 26 

 inches ; of tail, from 11 to 12 inches, or more. 



Nearly allied to the under-mentioned smaller Indian species 

 known as the Rusty-spotted Cat (Felts rubiginosa), the Leopard- 

 Cat is one of the most variable, and, therefore, one of the 

 most difficult species the zoologist has to deal with. That it 



