THE LEOPARD-CAT. 131 



In the Malayan region, as well as the Philippine Islands, 

 we meet with the smaller races described as F minuta and 

 F sumatrana, in which the spots are more numerous and 

 rounded than ordinary ; while in some, although not all, cases 

 the tail is shorter than usual. The Javan race (F javajietisis) 

 is a well-marked local form, easily recognised by its small size, 

 grey ground-colour of the fur, and small spots, those on the 

 back being elongate in form and blackish-brown in colour, 

 while those on the sides are brown. As already mentioned, 

 the so-called F. jerdoni seems indistinguishable from this 

 variety, and probably came from some Malayan locality. 



Distribution.— India, from the outer Himalaya to the extreme 

 south, but exclusive of Ceylon, Assam, Burma, the Malay 

 Peninsula ; the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo ; the 

 Philippines, Formosa, China, and Amurland. 



Habits.— With a geographical distribution almost as extensive 

 as that of the Tiger, the Leopard-Cat, with its numerous varieties, 

 is essentially a forest-dwelling species, subsisting on the smaller 

 mammals and birds, which it captures with the stealth and 

 agility of all its kind. In disposition, it displays the usual Cat- 

 like ferocity ; Mr. Blyth observing that of many specimens kept 

 by himself in confinement, none ever displayed the slightest 

 disposition to become tame and confiding. None of these 

 examples were, however, captured at a very early age. Fre- 

 quently taking up its residence in the hollow trunk of a decayed 

 forest-tree, the Leopard-Cat prowls forth at night to commit 

 depredations on the nearest poultry-roost, and is consequently 

 destroyed by the natives whenever an opportunity occurs. The 

 young, of which there are either three or four in a litter in In- 

 dia, are born during the month of May, the breeding-lair being 

 generally either in a cavern or beneath the protection of some 

 overhanging mass of rock. Dr. J. Anderson describes this 

 Cat as essentially arboreal in its habits, and was told by the 



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