SERV ALINE CAT. 233 



the serval of Africa. Its length, from the nose to 

 the base of the tail, is 1 5 inches ; that of the tail 

 10^ inches; the height of the shoulder rather ex- 

 ceeds ten inches. The ground colour is a pule 

 tawny, slightly paler on the lower parts, and inside 

 of the legs ; and upon the chin and throat white. 

 From between the eyes, over the head, and upon 

 the hack of the ru^ck, run four very indistinct lines ; 

 from the corner of the eye, under the ear, runs 

 one better defined ; and upon the cheeks and whis- 

 kers are a few irregular lines and spots. The 

 body is spotted with comparatively few roundish 

 and irregular markings, which on the shoulders as- 

 sume the form of indistinct bands running forward 

 upon the breast ; and upon the legs, bars with a trans- 

 verse direction. The inside of the fore-legs is 

 marked with two rather indistinct bars. All these 

 markings are of a rich brown. The heels are deep 

 brown, which reaches a short way up the back of 

 the legs, as in the booted lynx ; the tail is marked 

 very indistinctly with pale brown rings for two-thirds 

 of its length ; it is after that distinctly ringed with 

 black, and is black at the tip. The ears are more 

 lengthened than in F. minuta or Diardii, where 

 they are of a peculiar rounded form ; and the tips 

 are furnished with short tufts, as in the lynxes. 

 This is a character which Mr Gray's figure also ex- 

 hibits. 



