4. Felis chinensis, Gray. 



$ 158 Yen-an Fu, Shansi. Alt. 2800 ft. January 19th, 1909. Skin and 

 skull only brought in by natives. 12 caudal vertebrae remaining, measured 

 146 m.m. Measurement of ear while still fresh and soft w^as 50 m.m. 



This cat, though common over the greater part of China, is here very 

 seldom seen, and is difficult to capture. The Mongols of the Ordos trap 

 it in large iron gins, usually set for wolves and foxes. The fur is valued 

 by the Chinese. 



The present specimen was killed while it was raiding a chicken coop, 

 and it displayed great ferocity. 



5. Vormela negans, Miller. 



Proc. U.S. National Museum, xxxviii., page 385, August 19th, 1910. 

 Among some mammals collected in North-Western China and the Ordos 

 Desert were two spotted polecats, readily distinguishable from the 

 western Vormela peregusna by a peculiar inversion of the colour pattern 

 of back. 



The larger skin was brought to me in a very poor condition. The skull 

 was missing, as were also the leg bones, while the tail was torn in two, and 

 one eye was torn. I offered large rewards for a complete specimen ; but 

 though several Mongols and Chinese were induced to enter the Ordos in 

 search of them, I obtained nothing more than a small dry skin which 

 accompanies the above-named specimen. From what I could gather the 

 animal is not at all common. It frequents spots where trees exist, and 

 climbs freely. The Chinese name " Ma-nai-hou " would also signify this 

 fact, the last syllable " hou " meaning ** monkey " or " ape." They are 

 sometimes caught in traps set for foxes. Their skins, however, have no 

 market value. They are very savage when caught. The above-mentioned 

 facts were given and confirmed repeatedly by natives who had traded in 

 the Ordos. 



Type specimen. — Adult male (skin only). 



Cat. No. 155,001. U.S. National Museum. 



Taken bv natives in the Ordos Desert about 100 miles north of YU-lin 



Fu, Shensi. Original number 92. 



Diagnosis. — Like Vormela peregusna, but light markings paler and more 

 extensive, those on posterior half of back confluent, so that this region is 

 yellow mottled with brown, instead of brown mottled with yellow ; under 

 parts, fore-legs, and inner surface of hindlegs black instead of dark brown. 



173 



