112 PELID^E. 



the white lower parts ; a dark stripe from the eyes to the muzzle j ears 

 slightly tufted, rufous-black externally, white internally ; limbs with 

 two or three dark stripes internally, occasionally faintly marked ex- 

 ternally also ; tail short, more or less annulated with black, most con- 

 spicuously in the young. 



Length, head and body, 26 inches; tail 9 to 10; height at shoulder 

 14 to 15. 



A drawing of this species, in Buchanan Hamilton's collection, has the 

 marks on the limbs very conspicuous externally, and also those on the 

 belly, and the face very rufous ; whilst some from Sindh and the Punjab 

 Salt range (F. Jacquemontii) have no black markings on the limbs, and 

 there are two or three faint blackish rings at the end of the tail. 



This is the common wild cat over all India, from the Himalayas to 

 Cape Comorin, and from the level of the sea to 7,000 or 8, 000 feet of 

 elevation. It frequents alike jungles and the open country, and is very 

 partial to long grass and reeds, sugar-cane fields, corn-fields, &c. It does 

 much damage to game of all kinds hares, partridges, &c., and quite 

 recently I shot a peafowl at the edge of a sugar-cane field, when one of 

 these cats sprang out, seized the peafowl, and after a short struggle (for 

 the bird was not dead) carried it off before my astonished eyes, and in 

 spite of my running up, made good his escape with his booty. It must 

 have been stalking these very birds, so immediately did its spring follow 

 my shot. It is occasionally very destructive to poultry. 



It is said to breed twice a year, and to have three or four young at a 

 birth. I have very often had the young brought me, but always failed 

 in rearing them, and they always evinced a most savage and untameable 

 disposition. I have seen numbers of cats about villages in various parts 

 of the country, that must have been hybrids between this cat and tame 

 ones ; and Mr. Elliot, as quoted by Blyth, says the same. 



A melanoid variety is not very rare in some parts. Dr. Scott has 

 procured it both near Hansi and in the neighbourhood of Umballa. 



This jungle-cat appears to be found throughout Africa, most abundant 

 perhaps in the north. 



The next species is a true Lynx, with the ear pointed and the tuft 

 well developed. The small foremost upper false molar tooth is generally 

 deficient in the adult lynxes, if not in the young also. Their talons 

 though slender are very sharp. Most have a facial ruff, and pointed 

 tuft and beard, which are both wanting in the Indian species. 



