HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



back, becoming somewhat lighter down the sides. They 

 may be found in any bit of undergrowth, usually in some- 

 what uneven ground. 



The jungle cat (Felis chaus] I have never seen, though, 

 I believe, in some places they are common enough. Blan- 

 ford, in his " Fauna of British India," says that in size 

 they exceed that of the domestic cat. 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, &c. 

 &c. The limbs are sometimes transversely barred with 

 dusky bands, sometimes not ; there are usually two broad 

 dusky bands inside the forearm. Tail ringed with black 

 near the end, tip black. 



In adult specimens there are usually no markings 

 on body or limbs, but exceptions occur. 



As to dimensions, Blanford quotes Hodgson : " Head 

 and body, 22 inches; tail, n inches; height at shoulder, 

 1 6 inches; weight, 14 Ibs." 



Clark, in his " Sport in the Low Country of Cey- 

 lon," describes it as of a bright tawny colour, mottled 

 with black on the back ; large ears tipped with black hair, 

 and a tail with black rings at the end. 



There probably is a good deal of difference between 

 the Ceylon and Indian species, and colour exceptions 

 occur in both countries. This cat is said to be a very 

 savage little animal, and would probably successfully 

 stand up to a single dog. 



Our largest cat is the fishing cat (Felis viverrina), com- 

 monly known as the " tiger cat." This is a larger animal 

 than the above, and must reach at times nearly 4 feet 

 in length over all. I have never seen a live one, but 

 have examined several skins. The ground colour is dirty 



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