110 FELIDJ2. 



114. Felis torquata, 



F. CUVIEK, fid. BLYTH, Synops. 16. F. arnata, GRAY. HABDWICKE, 

 111. Ind. Zool. (bad figure, the colour much too pronounced). BLYTII, 

 Cat. 184. F. servalina, JARDINE, Nat. Libr. pi. F. Huttoni, BLYTH. 

 Leopardus inconspicuus, GRAY. 



THE SPOTTED WILD CAT. 



Descr. Ground-colour of the fur cat-gray, more or less fulvescent, or 

 pale grayish-fulvous, with numerous small black roundish spots j on the 

 head, nape, and shoulders the spots are smaller, and tend to form longi- 

 tudinal Hues on the occiput and nape ; some distinct cross bands on the 

 limbs, -with one or two black streaks within the arm ; cheek striped as 

 usual ; the breast spotted, but the belly almost free from spots ; tail 

 short, with a well-defined series of dark rings and a black tip j ears 

 externally dull rufous, with a very small dusky pencil-tuft ; cheek- 

 stripes as usual ; paws blackish underneath. 



Length, head and body, about 16 to 18 inches, tail 10 to 11. 



The fur is more or less dense, and the markings are much brighter 

 and more distinct in some than in others, but never so much so, that I 

 have seen, as in the figure in Hardwicke's illustrations. Specimens 

 from the Salt range of the Punjab and Hazara, whence sent by Captain 

 Hutton, vary somewhat, and were at one time considered distinct by 

 Blyth. The markings in this variety often form somewhat large trans- 

 verse ill-defined stripes on the sides and limbs. Length 2 feet ; tail 1. 



Mr. Blyth first obtained it from the district of Humana, near Hansi ; 

 and Dr. Scott, who sent the specimens, stated that " it is very common 

 at Hansi, frequenting open sandy plains, where the field-rat must be 

 its principal food. I hardly ever remember seeing it in what could be 

 called jungle, or even in grass. One of these spotted cats lived for 

 a long time under my haystack, and I believe it to have been the 

 produce of a tame cat by a wild one. The wild one I have seen of half 

 a dozen shades of colour, and you also frequently see a tendency in 

 these cats to run into stripes, especially on the limbs." 



I have procured it at Hissar, where it is common ; at Mhow, far from 

 rare ; also at Saugor, and near Nagpore, rarely; but it does not appear 

 to extend into the Gangetic valley, and is rare south of the Nerbudda. 

 Those I obtained at Mhow and Saugor were generally killed by my 

 greyhounds in corn and stubble fields, but I have seen it in date-groves 



