THE OUNCE AND CLOUDED LEOPARDS. 119 



black spots not rings, as they are on the skin of the latter 

 and its claws are not so retractile as those of the panther. I 

 have never heard of its being found in the Himalayas. The 

 snow-leopard or ounce (Felis undo), which is only found on 

 the higher ranges near the snow, differs from both the above 

 in having paler, softer, and longer pile, with its black mark- 

 ings less distinctly defined. Another kind the clouded 

 leopard (Felis diardi) a very beautiful animal, which is, I 

 believe, found only on the more eastern Himalayan ranges, is 

 about similar in size to the common leopard. Its black mark- 

 ings are more blotchy and irregular, and the ground colour of 

 its skin is darker and of a more greyish hue. 



It may here be worth mentioning that I once, in the moun- 

 tains, came suddenly upon a leopard in full chase after a 

 large sandy-coloured wild cat. A feline animal hunting one 

 of its own species I considered rather singular. Possibly its 

 intentions were more amorous than deadly. 



Kookerie, or Goorkha knife. 



