FELLS RUBIGINOSA. 109 



Pondiclierry, and I never saw or beard of it in Central India, or on the 

 Malabar coast. It occurs in Ceylou also, but there, according to Kelaart, 

 is found, not in the northern provinces, which resemble the Carnatic, bnt 

 in the south, and on the hills, even at Newera-ellia. This distribution, 

 and the somewhat different character of the markings, incline me to 

 think that this may be a difierent species, and I think it possible that it 

 may be Felis Jerdoni of Blyth, which that gentleman recently writes 

 me is perhaps the representative of F. ruhiginosa on the Malabar coast. 

 In the British Museum there is a specimen stated to be from Malacca, 

 but Mr. Blyth is inclined to think this a mistake. 



This very pi-etty little cat frequents grass in the dry beds of tanks, 

 brushwood, and occasionally drains in the open country and near villages, 

 and is said not to be a denizen of the jungles. I had a kitten brought 

 me when very young (in 1846), and it became quite tame, and was the 

 delight and admiration of all who saw it. Its activity was quite marvel- 

 lous, and it was very playful and elegant in its motions. When it Avas 

 about eight months old, I introduced it into a room where there was a 

 small fawn of the Gazelle, and the little creature flew at it the moment 

 it saw it, seized it by the nape, and was with difficulty taken off. I lost 

 it shortly after this. It would occasionally find its way to the rafters 

 of bungalows and hunt for squiri^els. Mr. W. Elliot notices that he has 

 seen several imdoubted hybrids between this and the domestic cat, and 

 I have also observed the same. 



Felis 2^l(^>iice2)S, Vigors, from the Malayan peninsula, is the only 

 other Asiatic cat of this division known at present. There are many 

 from Africa and America, besides the wild cat of Europe, F. sylveslris. 

 The North African, F. maniculata and F. margarita, axe considered to be 

 two species, from which some of our domestic races may have originated, 

 but several species are known to breed freely with the domestic cat in 

 different parts of the world. 



Other well-known species are the Ocelot of South America, F. jJcir^ 

 dalis ; the Serval of Africa, F. served, a very beautiful long-limbed cat^ 

 allied to the Lynxine group ; and there are very many others. 



2nd. Lynxine group. Distinguished by a more slender form of 

 skeleton ; a somewhat large and pointed ear, which is more or less 

 tufted in general; and a short tail. Mr. Blyth approximates the 

 domestic cats and their alfines to this group. 



The first is bv no meana a typical form of Lynx. 



