THE CAFFRE CAT. I55 
XXIX. THE CAFFRE CAT. FELIS CAFFRA. 
Felis caffra, Desmarest, Mammalogie, Suppl. p. 540 (1822) ; 
Elliot, Monograph of Felidz, pl. xxxi. (1878-83). 
Felis obscura, Desmarest, of. cit. p. 230. 
felis nigrifes, Burchell, Travels, vol. ti. p. 592 (1824). 
felis maniculata, Cretzschmaer, in Rippell’s Atlas, vol. i. pl. i. 
(1826). 
Felis pulchella, Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 577 (1837). 
Chaus caffer, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 45 (1843). 
Leopardus inconspicuus, Gray, op. cit. p. 44. 
felis caligata, 1. Geoffroy, Jacquemont’s Voyage, p. 49 (1844). 
Felis lybica, 1. Geoffroy, of. cit. p. 56. 
felis margarita, Loche, Rev. Maz. Zool. ser. 2, vol. x. p. 49 
(1858). 
felis tnconspicua, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 273. 
(Plate XTX.) 
Characters.— With this species we once more revert to the Cats 
of the Old World. Somewhat larger than an ordinary Domestic 
Cat, it may be characterised as follows: Colour varying from 
pale fulvous to grey or pale yellowish, with dark transverse 
markings on the limbs and towards the end of the tail, and 
two transverse bars of the same colour on the cheek; tip of 
tail black. Frequently the hinder part of the soles of the hind- 
feet black ; but in the paler varieties this part not darker than 
the back. In some specimens from South Africa there are 
indistinct traces of transverse stripes on the back. ‘Tail and 
limbs relatively long. Length of head and body, from 24 to 
30 inches ; of tail, 14 to 15 inches. 
Distribution.—Africa, from Egypt and Algeria to the Cape; 
Syria and Arabia. 
Habits——This is the common Wild Cat of most parts of 
Africa; and although it is now well nigh exterminated in the 
