THE CHATI. 195 



in Brest, without his being able to ascertain whence 

 it came. It now seems to be pretty well ascertained 

 that the species is a native of South America, and that 

 it will most probably be identified with some of the 

 doubtful species which have been described by the 

 older travellers in that country. 



" This is a very beautiful and graceful animal, and 



possesses all the general characters of the diurnal 



cats. It is about one-third larger than the domestic 



cat, being in length, exclusive of the tail, rather more 



than two feet ; and in height, at the middle of the 



back, about one foot two inches. The tail is eleven 



inches in length. The ground colour of the fur, on 



the upper parts of the body, is of a pale yellowish 



tinge ; on the lower parts it is pure white ; at the 



roots it is of a dull grey, and it is very thick and 



close. The whole body is covered with irregular 



dark patches ; those upon the back are entirely black, 



nd are disposed longitudinally in four rows. Those 



pen the sides are surrounded with black, have the 



entres of a clear fawn colour*, and are arranged 



n nearly five rows. The spots upon the lower part 



F the body, where the ground colour of the fur is 



hite, are full, and appear arranged in two ]ines, 



om posed of six or seven patches on each side. The 



mbs are covered with nearly round spots of smaller 



imensions ; and upon the fore legs, near the body, 



* Temminck calls these spots irregularly surrounded with 

 lack, and having the centre of a reddish fawn colour 

 lonographies, p, 150. 



