Snow-Leopard 291 



legs. These large spots are widely separated from one another, and nearly 

 circular in shape, and are thus markedly different from the small, closely- 

 crowded, and irregularly -shaped solid spots on the tore- quarters ot the 

 African leopard, while they are equally different from the ringed spots 

 occupying the same position in the Indian leopard. The dark rings are, in 

 (act, much less broken up than in either of these races of the species. 



This leopard is definitely known to occur only in Manchuria and some 

 of the neighbouring districts of China, but it may have a much wider 

 distribution in North-Eastern Asia. In the Altai its place appears to be 

 taken by the snow-leopard. A leopard skin from Shensi, Northern China, 

 presented by Father Hugh to the British Museum, seems to be inter- 

 mediate between the Manchurian and the Persian or the Indian leopard. 

 It has the long fur and thick bushy tail of the former, but resembles Indian 

 skins in the rich tawny ground-colour of the fur, as well as in the prevalence 

 of rosettes, in place of solid spots, especially on the hind-quarters. 



The Manchurian leopard is chiefly known in England by trade-skins, 

 and well-preserved skins as well as skulls are much wanted. Careful 

 measurements of freshly killed specimens, and likewise observations on the 

 life-history of the animal, are also required. 



THE SNOW-LEOPARD 



[Ft'lis unci a) 



Nothing need be added to the account of this species given in Great 

 and Small Game of India, etc., except that it has a wide range in Central 

 Asia, where it is met with in the Altai and the Thian Shan, but not 

 apparently in Eastern Siberia. Its alleged occurrence in the Caucasus, 

 and probably also in Persia, is due to the Persian leopard having been 

 mistaken for this animal. 



