142 



LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



brown intermixed ; the belly and throat have black streaks, 

 and the tail has imperfect black annuli." 



From the marked difference in these varieties, and the fact 

 that they breed true, it is probable that each has a definite 

 local distribution; and hence those zoologists who are inclined 

 to rank every well-marked variation as of specific importance, 

 would probably regard them as representing as many species. 



The specimen depicted in our first illustration was a female, 

 measuring 2 feet 9% inches to the root of the tail, our plate 

 being copied from Wilson's " Illustrations of Zoology." In this 

 example " the upper part of the head is deep tawny, streaked 

 with blackish-brown. A blackish streak passes from the upper 

 and inner canthus of each eye to the forehead, between the 

 ears, in a converging manner; and between them there are 

 several delicate lines of the same colour. Another strongly 

 expressed stripe passes from the outer canthus of the eyes to 

 the angles of the lower jaw, where an irregular blackish bar 

 passes upwards, to within an inch of the outer edge of the 

 ears. From the angles of the jaw, two stripes pass downwards, 

 and meet in front of the throat. The ears are thin, and 

 blackish externally, with a spot of pure white on the back of 

 each. There is a patch of pure white at the angles of the 

 mouth, beautifully speckled with three rows of black dots, 

 which lie at the roots of the vibrissas ; chin and throat white, 

 with blackish bars ; the ground-colour of the breast less pure ; 

 that of the belly and insides of the legs dull grey. Around 

 the eye are white marks, nearly enclosing the orbit, but inter- 

 rupted by the blackish stripes above described. There are 

 four chains of open lengthened spots on each side, more or 

 less distinct, sloping down from the shoulder towards the 

 flanks. The legs are irregularly marked with numerous black 

 spots, differing in size and shape. The tail is barred with 

 black on its sides and dorsal line, but is not annulated as in 

 some of the varieties." 



