A THIRD COLLECTION OF SIAMESE MAMMALS. 2d1 



iiiaguuin to extremity of occipital crest, o-i ; greatest lengtii ot mandible, 

 132 ; lower cheek-teeth (alveoli) 41 mm. 



These dimensions slightly exceed those given by Blanford of a 

 skull from Assam ''larger than usual" (Fauna Urit. Lid. Mamm.. p. 73)- 



0. Felis temmincki \'ig. & Uortf. 



Kldss, autca, p. 79. 



1 J ad., Chiengmai, North Slam, 800 ft. 14 March 19IG. Col- 

 lected by Mr. K. G. Gairdner [No. 2605J. 



This is the specimen of which Mr Gairdner has already gi\en 

 some account on p. 251 : tliough adult it is not aged and would prob- 

 ably have grown larger if it had lived longer. The species was described 

 from Sumatran material and Hodgson independently described a Nejial 

 specimen and named it F. muorin''nsis. Nortiieru animals are net 

 infrequentl_y larger than tiieir equatorial representatives and it the 

 Iliinalayan animal is ditferent it will be known as V. t. niuorineiiitis but 

 a distinction on siz*i should not be made until good series from vaiious 

 districts have been compared, and unlbrtunately topotypes are ver}' rare. 



I have received some interesting notes from Mr. H. C. S*- J. 

 Vates who obtained the skin recorded on p. 79. Mr. Gairdner says 

 that this animal is alleged to be ver}' fierce and a match for the tigrr 

 but Mr. Yates notes that one was shot after being treed by a i)ariah 

 dog: reputation and behaviour are not reconcilable and the latter is 

 more wortli}' of credence as the aiiimil is not even a lecipard but only 

 a large cat. Mr. Yates writes. "Local properties assigned arc : — 



It is the master of all other tiger-cats and leojiards. 



If its fur is burnt by a bullock car.ivan when a tiger is near 

 the tiger is scared away. 



If it is cooked, skin, fur and all (and eaten \ it acts as a protec- 

 tion to a man against attack of any beast. 



It is said that the strength of the animal lies in its jaw which 

 is out of all proixirtion to the body (the jaw is really of noi-mal size). 

 Once it has hold it never looses its grip and always fastens on to the 

 throat. The following instance was given : a villager and his dog met 

 a " siiah fai " and the dog went for the cut which fixed on the otiier's 

 throat and was only taken ofT after it had been shot." 



VOL II, DEC- v.ni. 



