84 FBLTDJE. 



Distrifadion. Tibet, extending into Ladak, vvlience there is a 

 specimen, procured by General K. Strachey, in the British Museum 

 collection. The species, however, does not appear to have been 

 observed on the south side of the main Himalayan range. To the 

 northward F. mannl is found as far as Siberia, being common in 

 Mongolia. 



Habits. According to Pallas this cat lives amongst rocks in the 

 deserts of Central Asia, and feeds on small animals. 



39. Felis ornata. The Indian desert Cat. 



Felis ornata, Gray, Hardwicke's 111. Ind. Zool \, pi. 2 (1832), bad 



figure ; id. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 401 ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxv, p. 441 ; id. 



Cat. p. 63 ; Elliot, Mon. Fel. pi. xxxii; Thomas, P. Z. S. 1886, p. 55. 

 Felis servalina, Jardine, Naturalists' 1 Library, Felines, p. 232, pi. 25 



(F. ornata on plate). 

 Felis torquata, Blyth, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 185, partim; Jerdon, Mam. 



p. 110, partim (nee. F. Guv., Chat du Nepal, Hist. Nat. Mam. 



pi. 126). ' 



Fig. 21. Felis ornata. (Elliot, Mon. Fel.) 



Size of a domestic cat. Tail tapering, about half the length of 

 the head and body. Ears well developed, pointed. Fur short. 



The skull is broader and shorter than those of F. chaus and 

 F. benyaltnsis. Lower edge of mandible very convex. Inner lobe 

 of upper flesh-tooth weh 1 developed, being quite as large as the 

 anterior outer lobe, or larger. 



Colour. Very pale sandy (fulvescent grey or light isabelline), with 

 numerous small black roundish spots on the body, and still smaller 

 elongate spots on the crown and nape, those on the crown having 

 a tendency to form longitudinal bands. Fur of back dusky grey 

 near the base, thence to near the end pale rufescent, tip still paler. 

 There are some narrow black cross lines outside the limbs, and two 

 distinct black bars inside each forearm, also the usual cheek-stripes, 

 which are brown. The lower parts are pale rufescent, with a few 



