FKLIS. 87 



Size exceeding that of a domestic cat. Pupil round. Ears 

 often with a few longer hairs at the end, not amounting, however, 

 to a distinct tuft as in the lynxes. Tail short, one third to two 

 fifths the length of the head and body. Eur variable, short in 

 specimens from plains of India, longer in Himalayan skins. 



Skull strong, elongate, postorbital processes bending sharply 

 downwards ; the brain-case broad behind the postorbital processes ; 

 nasal bones broad anteriorly, more or less concave at the side. 

 The lower jaw convex below. Inner lobe of upper flesh-tooth well 

 developed, as large as the outer anterior lobe. 



Colour of the body varying from sandy grey or yellowish grey 

 to greyish brown ; back darker, often rufescent, sometimes dusky ; 

 lower parts fulvescent or rufescent white. Eur in general fulves- 

 cent white (isabelline) from the base to near the tip, where it is 

 greyish white, the tip being black, sometimes on the back rufous 

 near the tip ; the underfur near the body in some specimens brown. 

 The limbs are sometimes transversely barred with dusky, sometimes 

 not ; there are usually the two broad dusky bands inside the fore- 

 arm. Foot and tarsus dusky brown beneath. Tail ringed with 

 black near the end, and the tip black. Cheek-stripes and band 

 across breast sometimes present and of a pale ferruginous tint. 

 Ears pale rufous outside, the tips generally blackish or black. 

 There is some long whitish hair on the anterior portion of the ear 

 inside. 



In adult specimens there are usually no markings on the body 

 or limbs, but exceptions occur. In some skins more or less distinct 

 vertical rows of spots or wavy lines may be traced on the sides. 

 A black variety is occasionally found, and Dr. Scott procured it both 

 near Hansi and in the neighbourhood of Umballa. 



Dimensions. Hodgson gives : head and body 22 inches, tail with 

 hair at the end 11, without 10, height at shoulder 16; weight 14 Ibs. 

 Jerdon's measurements are: head and body 26, tail 9 to 10, height 

 at shoulder 14 to 15 ; and of a large specimen killed at Umballa, 

 total length 39 inches, height 18, weight 18 Ibs. (Appendix, p. ii). 

 A moderate-sized skull is 3'75 inches long (basal length), and nearly 

 3 broad across the zygomatic arches. In a large male skull the 

 basal length is nearly 4 inches, in a small (? female) specimen 3-35. 



Distribution. F. chaus is the common wild cat of India from 

 the Himalaya to Cape Comorin, and from the level of the sea to 

 7000 or 8000 feet or perhaps higher on the Himalayas. It is 

 found in Ceylon and also extends into Burma, but has not been 

 recorded further east. A wild cat observed by Col. Tickell at the 

 Andaman Islands (J. A. S. B. xxxii, p. 86) may perhaps have been 

 this species. It has an extensive range through Western Asia and 

 Northern Africa. 



Habits. This cat frequents either jungles or open country, and 

 is very partial to long grass, reeds, cornfields, sugar-cane fields, 

 and similar places, being often seen in the neighbourhood of 

 villages. It feeds on birds and small mammals, and is said to be 

 especially destructive to partridges, peafowl, hares, and other game. 



