28 



FELID^. 



surface of tlie annuli or rings more fulvous than tlie general colour of 

 tlie sides ; but in the leopard no such distinction appears^ nor is there 

 room^asthe small and more congregated dots are too close to admit it." 

 Gray {Gat. Mam. Br. Miis. 1869) also does not separate the pard and the 

 panther specifically, and as synonyms of Leopardus pardus gives, besides 

 those above, Fells panther a, ErxL, FeJis cJtali/heafe, Herms., Felis minor, 

 Ehr., Felis anticpioriim, Fischer., F. Pcecilura, Yalenc, Felis paleopardus, 

 Eitz., Var black. F. melas, Peron. If, however, it is found that the cha- 

 racters of the length of the tail, and number of caudal vertebrae 

 (22) in the panther, (instead of 28 as in the leopard) is constant, it 

 would certainly be entitled to specific separation. 



Hah. — The Indian Peninsula, Beloochistan, Persia, N.-W. Provinces 

 and Bengal, and in fact throughout India, and North, South and West 

 Africa. In Sind it is found, but is not common, and with the hunting 

 leopard, affects the hills approaching the Indus, where both prey on 

 the gazelle or ravine deer. Of the two, this species is said to be the 

 dread of the cultivators, as, unlike the hunting leopard, it is often 

 found hiding during the day in high jowaree fields, while the 

 hunting leopard seldom emerges from its hilly retreat. '' Every 

 where,'' says Mr. Blyth, '' it is a fearful foe to the canine races," and 

 Jerdon states it does not confine itself to the forests, but prowls 

 among villages carrying ofi' sheep, goats, and dogs, and sometimes 

 commits great depredations. On the hills in Sind, Lus Beyla, and in 

 Beloochistan, the inhabitants usually go leopard hunting, not with 

 fowling pieces, but with large heavy clubs, twenty or thirty of them 

 surrounding and beating the animal to death. 



Felis, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1867. — Of small size generally. Tail as long- as 

 the body, sometimes shorter. Ears I'ounded at the tip, not pencilled 

 with long hairs. Pupil linear. Orbits generally large. Skull moderate;, 

 rather ovate ; brain case obl'ong, moderate. 



Felis viverrina, Bennet, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 60 ; Jerdon, Maiivmals of 

 Ind., p. 10-j ; Murray, Rdhh., Zool., Sfc, 8ind. Felis viverriceps, 

 Eodgs. Viverriceps Bennetti, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 268, fig. 5; Gat. 

 Mam. Br. Mus. 16. — The Laege Tiger Cat. 



Head rather elongate ; ears rounded, not pencilled; cheeks white; 

 a black face stripe. Colour greyish or dark grey, tinged somewhat 

 tawny, with large dark spots more or less numerous, oblong on the 

 back and neck, and in lines more or less broken or coalescing on other 

 parts of the body. Beneath dull white, chest with 5 — 6 dark bands. 

 Belly spotted. Tail with 6 — 7 dark bands and a black tip. Feet un- 

 spotted. Eyes nocturnal. Pupil erect, linear. Skull elongate; face 

 produced, concave on the sides in front of the orbits, which are large 

 and complete behind. Canines conical. • 



Hah. — Not uncommon along the tamarisk fringed banks of the Indus. 

 Found also throughout Bengal up to the foot of the Himalayas, extend- 

 ing into Burmah and China. Common in Travancore^ Ceylon and the 

 Malabar Coast. 



