211 



hunting leopard "felis jubata :" if there be two, I think, (vide 

 page 33) that the difference consists more in size and shape of 

 skull than in disposition of spots. 



The following letter from an excellent naturalist, whose name I 

 am not at liberty to give, was published in the South of India 

 Observer of the 10th of April 1869 ; it gives such valuable hints 

 to the sportsmen and naturalists to whom it is addressed that I 

 take the liberty of re-printing it : 



" I am sorry to say that up to the present time, we have n 

 " definite information about the larger " Spotted Cats" of India. 

 " There seems good reason to suppose that there are two species ; 

 " both commonly but erroneously called " Cheetah," which name 

 " properly belongs to the Felis Jubata, or Hunting Leopard. 

 " The larger of these two animals is strong enough to kill a 

 " bullock, and the pugs might be mistaken for those of a small 

 " tiger. The smaller one confines itself to killing goats, dogs, &c., 

 " and has been frequently known to climb trees. It is desirable 

 " that the specific difference (if any) between these two animals be 

 " described ; and I shall feel obliged to any one who will answer 

 " some or all of the following questions : 



" 1st. What are the measurements of the animal known to you 

 41 as the Panther or Leopard ? 



" 2nd. What proportion does the length of the tail bear to the 

 " rest of the body ? 



" 3rd. Is color in centre of " Rose Spots" more or less fulvous 

 " than general ground-color ? 



" 4th. Are spots along dorsal line entire or " rose pattern ?" 



*' 5th. How many vertebral joints are there to root of tail ^ 

 " and how many in tail ? 



" 6th. What is the color of terminal tuft of tail ? 



" 7th. Do you know of any other animal except the Hunting 

 " Cheetah which is marked with round black spots, without a 

 " lighter centre ? 



" I now believe that the larger of these cats is properly the 

 " Panther, and the smaller one, which has been known to climb 

 " trees, the Leopard. I am anxious to get as much information on 

 " the subject as possible : for, although making distinct species 



