646 Dr. Horsiield on the Felis Macrocdis. 



a deep black margin, than in any other of the large species of this 

 genus with which I am acquainted. The black has, on the larger 

 discolourations, most strikingly the appearance of velvet. The 

 form of the marks is in the highest degree irregular, and even a 

 detailed description can scarcely convey an accurate idea of them : 

 I must therefore rely, in great measure, for their illustration, on the 

 figure which accompanies this description, (tab. xxi.) The highest 

 parts of the neck and back are marked throughout with two longi' 

 tudinal bands, which, arising on the occiput between the ears, pass 

 along the spine to the rump, and finally disappear near the middle 

 of the tail. On the neck these longitudinal bands separate, and 

 form a curve outward, their course is then nearly parallel, but in 

 some individuals they meet in a single line on the back, and 

 diverge again in a small degree on the rump. Two smaller bands, 

 disposed within the principal pair, have nearly the same origin ; 

 they extend along the highest portion of the neck, and are lost on 

 the region of the shoulders. Here the large bands are interrupted 

 by transverse spots of the ground colour. The breadth of the 

 bands is not regular throughout ; they gradually increase in 

 breadth towards the posterior portion of the neck, and, in their 

 course along the spine, are occasionally interrupted by gray spots. 

 Exterior of these two principal bands, a smaller band arises on 

 each side, at the base of the ear, and passing along the neck, 

 terminates in a curve on the shoulder. The cheeks and sides of 

 the head are marked with two parallel bands, arising from the 

 angle of the eye and from the mouth, and terminating under the 

 car. At this point a broad band has its origin, which passes 

 transversely across the throat. Several oblong marks extend 

 longitudinally along the neck, and unite near the breast with 

 other marks, which have a transverse disposition. The upper lip 

 is very elegantly marked with three or four dotted lines, and an 

 interrupted series of oblong spots passes under the eyes towards 

 the cheeks, The border of the mouth is black. The forehead 

 at the sides is dotted, in the middle it is transversely marked with 

 several partially interrupted curves, adjoining to which a large 

 discolouration is disposed immediately behind the eyes, consisting 

 of numerous semiconfluent spots, arranged in a circular manner. 



