17ft THE RIMAU-DAHAN. 



* by which the tessellated character above men- 

 tioned is produced. In the specimen now before 

 me these lateral marks are subdivided and irregular ; 

 in another specimen, they were more connected, 

 which will be mentioned in the sequel. In a skin 

 contained in the Honourable East India Company' A 

 Museum, obtained by Dr Finlayson, they have con- 

 siderable uniformity, and a more oblique disposition, 

 In this individual they distantly resemble the marks 

 of the Bengal Tiger. On the rump and on the up- 

 per parts of the thighs, several series of marks are 

 disposed in succession : the highest of these is nearly 

 regular, and runs parallel to the spine, consisting of 

 four or five spots; the second has a curved direction, 

 and below this several irregular marks are scattered 

 on the rump and thighs. In all these, the character 

 of a dark posterior border is preserved, but their 

 contour is annular or elliptical uch'&ting a- slight re- 

 semblance to the spots of the -cpard, and several 

 marks of a similar charfTfeei re also observed on 

 the flanks near the abdomei.* below the principal 

 transverse compartments. The lowest portion of 

 the abdomen is marked with short, broad, trans- 

 verse bands, disposed apparently without regularity. 

 On the thighs, the marks differ greatly in size and 

 form ; they consist chiefly of simple spots, with an 

 irregular margin, but in some cases several of these 

 marks have an annular disposition, and a slight re- 

 semblance to the marks of a Leopard ; their number 

 gradually decreases towards the feet. The imerioi 



