s 
& 
THE LEOPARD-CAT, E31 
In the Malayan region, as well as the Philippine Islands, 
we meet with the smaller races described as /. minuta and 
fF. sumatrana, in which the spots are more numerous and 
rounded than ordinary ; while in some, although not all, cases 
the tail is shorter than usual. The Javan race (/ javanensis) 
is a well-marked local form, easily recognised by its small size, 
grey ground-colour of the fur, and small spots, those on the 
back being elomgate in form and blackish-brown in colour, 
while those on the sides are brown. As already mentioned, 
the so-called / jerdoni seems indistinguishable from this 
variety, and probably came from some Malayan locality. 
Distribution.—India, from the outer Himalaya to the extreme 
south, but exclusive of Ceylon, Assam, Burma, the Malay 
Peninsula ; the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo; the 
Philippines, Formosa, China, and Amurland. 
Habits.—With a geographical distribution almost as extensive 
as that of the Tiger, the Leopard-Cat, with its numerous varieties, 
is essentially a forest-dwelling species, subsisting on the smaller 
mammals and birds, which it captures with the stealth and 
agility of all its kind. In disposition, it displays the usual Cat- 
like ferocity ; Mr. Blyth observing that of many specimens kept 
by himself in confinement, none ever displayed the slightest 
dispositicn to become tame and confiding. None of these 
examples were, however, captured at a very early age. Fre- 
quently taking up its residence in the hollow trunk of a decayed 
forest-tree, the Leopard-Cat prowls forth at night to commit 
depredations on the nearest poultry-roost, and is consequently 
destroyed by the natives whenever an opportunity occurs. The 
young, of which there are either three or four in a litter in In- 
dia, are born during the month of May, the breeding-lair being 
generally either in a cavern or beneath the protection of some 
overhanging mass of rock. Dr. J. Anderson describes this 
Cat as essentially arboreal in its habits, and was told by the 
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