SPORT IN WESTERN CHINA i8i 



nearly black blotches. The skins are remarkably handsome 

 and rich in appearance. 



Lynx skins, locally known as " She-H p'i," are brought in 

 from the Thibetan regions to the north and west, to Sungpan, 

 where they find a ready market among the wealthy Chinese. 

 The pelt is rather dark grey, very thick and soft, and when 

 tanned weighs only a few ounces. They sell in Sungpan for 

 5 to 7 taels each, according to quality and the supply forth- 

 coming. Possibly this Lynx is a local race of the ordinary 

 Thibetan kind {Felis lynx isahcllina). 



A number of different kinds of Cats occur in Western China, 

 and their skins are commonly on sale in the shops at Chung- 

 king, Sui Fu, and Chengtu. The identification of these animals 

 is by no means easy, but the following have been recognized : 

 Chinese Marbled-cat [Felis scripta) ; Chinese Jungle-cat 

 (F. pallida) ; Fontanier's Cat or Asiatic Ocelot [F. tristis) ; 

 Leopard-cat (F. bengalensis) , and a local race of the Golden 

 or Bay-cat (F. tcmmincki mitchelli). In the mountains of 

 western Hupeh F. ingrami occurs. This latter is a rather 

 small tabby-coloured cat ; the head and body measures 

 1 9;^ inches ; the tail, 8 inches. It is a particularly vicious 

 animal. 



Civet-cats are common all over the warmer parts of central 

 and Western China. Several species occur, but exactly how 

 many is not at present known. The largest and most hand- 

 some closely resembles the Indian Civet {Viverra zibetha) and 

 may be this species or a local race. It has the same general 

 colouring and alternate white and black rings on the tail, these 

 being usually about nine in number. The other species are 

 smaller and less attractively marked. A dark grey Palm 

 Civet or Toddy-cat {Paradoxurus sp.) is also fairly common, 

 and is sometimes kept as a pet. 



Residents in Western China interested in natural history 

 would do well to collect skins and skulls of all the smaller Cats, 

 Civets, etc., for our knowledge of the species found in this 

 region is most inadequate. Such a collection would be a boon 

 to systematic zoologists, and new species and races would 

 undoubtedly be found. 



