Tiger-Cat 407 



bright fulvous, the black markings numerous and intense, and the white 

 under-parts forming a brilliant contrast to the dark area above. Yet 

 another phase has received the name F. catenata. 



THE TIGER-CAT 



[Fe/is tigrina) 

 (Plate VIII. Fig. 9) 



The last of the smaller true cats of America that will be noticed here is 

 the tiger-cat, which appears to vary locally as much as the last. Sports- 

 men who desire to become acquainted with the distinctive features of 

 the other species must refer to special works. The present species ranges 

 from Mexico southwards on the east of the Andes as far as Paraguay 

 and the forest districts of the interior ot Argentina ; it is thus essentially a 

 tropical forest animal. 



Inclusive ot its local races, the tiger-cat differs from the ocelot by 

 the shorter form of the spots, which are often quite solid, and are not 

 aggregated into oblique chains. In the typical South American form, 

 often known as the margay, the tur is of a somewhat harsh nature, with a 

 dull grizzled grey ground-colour marked with long black spots and rings ; 

 the cheek having three black bars. The upper surface of the tail is 

 ornamented with black spots, which frequently unite into bars, although 

 never forming complete rings. The head and body measure about 20 

 inches and the tail 1 1 inches in length. 



In the variety known as the chati, or F. initis, the bodily size is some- 

 what greater, and the tur typically soft and bright fulvous in colour, 

 with short black-bordered spots of variable dimensions, whose centres are 

 not unfrequently of a pale tint. Dr. Matschie,^ who adopts the name 



^ S.B. G(s. naturfor. Berlin, 189^, p. 59. 



