102 ^ PELID^, 



107. Felis Diardi. 



Desmoulins. — Blytii, Synopsis, 7. — F. macroceUs, Temminck. — Figd. 

 HoRSFiELD, Zool, Res., Java. — F. nehidosa, Griffith, ed. Cuvier, witli 

 figure. — F. macroceloide^^ Hodgson, Cal. J. Nat. Hist. IV. 28G. — 

 Blytii, Cat. 175.— Figd. P. Z. S. 1853, pi. XXXVIII.— i^c'i'.s n. sp. 

 TiCKELL, J. A. S. XII. with figure. — Tunrjmar, Lepcli. — ZUc, Bhot. — 

 Lamcldttia of the Khas trilje. 



The Clouded Leopard. 



Descr. — Ground-colour variable, usually pale greenish-brown, or dull 

 clay -brown, changing to pale tawny on the lower parts and limbs internally, 

 almost white however in some ; in many specimens the fulvous or tawny 

 hue is the prevalent one ; a double line of small chain-like stripes from 

 the ears, diverging on the nape to give room to an inner and smaller 

 series ; large irregular clouded spots or patches on the back and sides, 

 edged very dark and ci'owded together ; loins, sides of belly, and belly 

 marked with irregular small patches and spots ; some black lines on the 

 cheeks and sides of neck, and a black band across the throat ; tail with 

 dark rings, thickly furred, long ; limbs bulky, and body heavy and stout ; 

 claws very powerful. 



Length of one, head and body, 3^- feet ; tail 3 feet ; but it grows to a 

 larger size. 



This handsome and powerful leopard is found, in our province, only 

 in the south-eastern portion of the Himalayas, usually at a moderate 

 elevation, 5,000 to 10,000 feet. It has been found in Nepal ? and Sikim, 

 extending through the mountainous regions of Burmah and the Malayan 

 peninsula in Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Hodgson states that it occurs 

 in Tibet ; but as it is quite a forest leopard I doubt that, and fancy that 

 his shikarees must have misled him. I obtained the young fi-om the 

 neighbourhood of Darjeeling, and it lived for some time, becoming very 

 tame and playful. It is stated by the Lepchas to be very destructive to 

 sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs. 



Mr. Blyth notices that some individuals have a cat-gray, and others a 

 fulvous ground-hue, and the markings vary to some extent, occasionally 

 even on the two sides of the same animal. 



Other Asiatic leopards are Leoparchts japonensis, Gray ; and Leopardus 

 brachyurus, Swinhoe ; respectively from Japan and Formosa. 



