250 THE COMMON WILD CAT. 



white, and the throat is marked with a large white 

 patch. The breast and belly are a tawny grey, hav- 

 ing different shades of yellow in various individuals. 

 The tail is thick and furry, indistinctly ringed with 

 a darker shade at the base, and at the tip having two 

 or three black rings. 



Temminck gives the average length as about three 

 feet ; that of a large specimen in possession of Mr 

 Ross, gun-maker, was 2 feet 9 inches, of which the 

 tail amounted to 1 1 inches. 



Some persons have mentioned specimens which 

 exceeded five feet ; hut we have never been so for- 

 tunate as to find a specimen of SUCH extraordinary 

 dimensions, nor should we wish to encounter a wild 

 cat so nearly approaching the size or me puma ur 

 leoparo. 



