THE SERVAL CAT. 



The study of the lesser Felidae or tiger cats, 

 although undertaken by few, save professional 

 naturalists, is interesting even to the general 

 reader, on account of the remarkable diversity of 

 appearance and disposition amongst the animals 

 concerned. As regards bodily contour, one finds 

 every modification of outline from the short, 

 stumpy figure of the flat-headed cat of Sumatra 

 to the elongated curves of the snake-bodied eyra 

 of Brazil. The texture of the coat ranges from 

 the short, coarse fur of the fishing-cat to the silky, 

 yet shaggy, pelt of the manul, fit covering for a 

 denizen of the snowy steppes of Siberia ; while 

 in coloration these felines exhibit an extensive 

 variety of hues silvery grey and warm chestnut, 

 bright fulvous and pale isabelline. There exist 

 also great differences of disposition, even amongst 

 individuals of the same species, one animal hissing, 

 spitting, and savagely resisting every attempt to 

 tame it ; whilst another proves amenable to kind- 

 ness, and well repays the care bestowed upon its 

 welfare, in captivity. All these interesting points 

 may be readily studied by taking a particular species 

 for detailed examination ; for this purpose we may 

 select one of the best known of the lesser felidae- 

 the serval cat of Africa. 



