190 MammMatia OF INDIA. 
variable colouring and a short, thick, cylindrical tail reaching, when 
turned back, above half way up the spine. Blyth says of it: “In 
general the ground hue is pale fulvous, with under parts of the purest 
white, richly marked with deep black; black lines on the crown and 
nape ; angular spots on the body wholly or partially black, or, ex rosette, 
with deeper fulvous within and round; black spots on the limbs and 
tail ; sometimes the body markings unite more or less into longitudinal 
streaks and rarely a marbled appearance is assumed on the upper 
parts.” 
Size.—Head and body, 24 to 26 inches; tail 11 to 12. 
It is useless to lay down, as in Jerdon, a very accurate description of 
the markings of this cat, for it varies to such an extent as to have given 
rise to at least sixteen synonymous names, if not more. You will find 
the same cat repeated over and over again in Gray’s catalogue, and a dif- 
ferent name in almost every book of natural history ; it figures at large 
as Felis Bengalensis, undata, Javanensis, Sumatrana, minuta, torquata 
Nipalensis, wagati, pardochrous, undulata, Elliott, Horsfieldi, inconspicua, 
Chinensis, Reevesii, and Diardii, Blyth pertinently remarks: “* The 
varieties of this handsome little cat are endless, and nominal species 
may be made of it, ad Zditum, if not rather ad nauseam.” 
This is a very savage animal, and not tameable. Jerdon and Blyth 
both agree in this from specimens they kept alive. Hutton also writes : 
“‘T have a beautiful specimen alive, so savage that I dare not touch her.” 
I should like to possess a young one, having been successful with many 
so-called savage animals. I had a wild-cat once which was very savage 
at first, but which ultimately got so tame as to lie in my lap whilst I was 
at work in office or writing, but she would never allow me to touch or 
stroke her ; she would come and go of her own sweet will, and used to 
come daily, but she would spit and snarl if Iattempted a caress. Blyth 
says that in confinement it never paces its cage, but constantly remains 
crouched in a corner, though awake and vigilant; but I have always 
found that the confinement of a cage operates greatly against the chance 
of taming any wild animal. Sir Walter Elliot says that the Shikaris 
attribute to it the same habit as that which: used erroneously to be 
ascribed to the glutton, viz., that of dropping from trees ‘on to its prey 
and eating its way into the neck. It preys chiefly on small game— 
poultry, hares, and is said to destroy small deer. McMaster relates he 
“‘ saw one carry off a fowl nearly as large as itself, shaking it savagely 
meanwhile, and making a successful retreat in spite of the abuse, uproar, 
and missiles which the theft caused.” Dr. Anderson says it is essentially 
arboreal, and the natives assert it lives on birds and small mammals, such 
as Sguirrels and Tupaie. According to Hutton it breeds in May, 
producing three or four young in caves or beneath masses of rock. 
