VARIETIES OF THE TIGER AND LEOPARD. 57 



of the jungles during the monsoon, may have some 

 effect on the system. 



A second large species of Felis (F. irbis), de- 

 scribed as being clothed with long whitish fur, 

 having the spots very faintly defined, has been 

 found north of the Mouztagh or Celestial mountains, 

 which are in latitude 42 degrees. It may perhaps 

 be identical with the snow leopard inhabiting the 

 higher ranges of the Himalayas, which preys 

 principally upon the ruminants that inhabit that 

 lofty region. 



This snow leopard is represented by Colonel 

 Markham and Mr. Wilson as being found in con- 

 siderable numbers in the upper parts of the 

 mountains, but though tolerably numerous, it is so 

 shy and cautious in its habits as to be very rarely 

 seen. Mr. Wilson only shot one specimen, and that 

 a half -grown cub, during his sojourn in the hills, 

 which extended over a considerable period of time, 

 and during which he collected nearly all the rarer 

 Himalayan mammals and birds. 



The Felis irbis above referred to exists also, 

 I believe, in some of the Persian mountain ranges, 

 being most probably the animal alluded to by 

 Tennyson in his exquisite poem of " CEnone," 

 where he so accurately describes the deep yet 

 muffled voice of the animal as being heard from 

 the pine-fringed mountain glens during the twilight 



