THE RIMAU-DAHAN. 176 



on the abdomen, the interior of the thighs, and 

 the tail underneath, a slight admixture of tawny 

 *s observed in the fur, which appears to increase 

 with the age of the animal. This ground is more 

 closely covered, in the Felis macrocelis, with spots 

 and bands, defined posteriorly by a deep black 

 margin, than in any other of the large species of 

 this genus with which I am acquainted. The black 

 has, on the larger discolorations, most strikingly 

 the appearance of velvet. The form of the marks 

 is in the highest degree irregular, and we must 

 refer to our Plate for their illustration. The high- 

 est parts of the neck and back are marked through- 

 out with two longitudinal bands, which, arising on 

 the occiput between the ears, pass along the spine 

 to the rump, and finally disappear near the middle 

 of the tail. On the neck these longitudinal bands 

 separate, and form a curve outward : their course is 

 then nearly parallel, but in some individuals they 

 meet in a single line on the back, and diverge again 

 in a small degree on the rump. Two smaller bands, 

 disposed within the principal pair, have nearly the 

 same origin ; they extend along the highest portion of 

 the neck, and are lost on the region of the shoulders. 

 Here the large bands are interrupted by transverse 

 spots of the ground colour. The breadth of tfye 

 bands is not regular throughout ; they gradually in- 

 crease in breadth towards the posterior portion of 

 the neck, and, in their course along the spine, ar^ 

 occasionally interrupted oy grey spots. Exterior of 



