156 CARNIVORA. 



PANDA. 



Ailunis fidgcns. 

 French : Panda. German : Katzenbiir. 



The Panda is rarely met with, and but few skins find 

 their way to London. 



The fur is thick, close, and of some value, a perfect 

 skin fetching from 7s. to 21s. It is most used for 

 stuffing, ornamenting furriers' shops, and museums. 



The belly is black ; the back and sides are covered 

 with thick fur of a beautiful brownish-red colour, about 

 Ij inches in length, and with a dark ground ; it is lighter 

 at the shoulders ; the tail is moderately long (about 

 9 inches), of a yellow colour, and ringed with red; the 

 tail is very rarely red, with black rings ; the head is 

 round and broad, and has white markings between the 

 eyes ; the ears are of moderate length ; the tips of the 

 feet are usually white, but are sometimes red ; the soles 

 are covered with woolly hair as a protection from the 

 cold ; the toes are short, and the nails rather long and 

 blunted. 



The Panda is an inhabitant of Nepaul, and North-east 

 India. Dr. Mivart says that it is said to live amongst 

 rocks and trees at a height of 7,000 to 12,000 feet. 



It is one of the few animals, such as the Hamster 

 and Eatel, in which the belly is darker than the back. 

 It is a very beautiful animal, and it is a matter of regret 

 that its rarity prevents its greater commercial utility. 



