THE SNOW-LEOPARD OR OUNCE 



501 



The SNOW-LEOPARD or OUNCE (Felis uncia). 



Although the Persian leopard is in some degree intermediate in 

 respect to colour and the length of the coat, the ounce differs from the 

 leopard by the ground-colour of the long and dense fur being dirty 

 white, with the spots on the back, sides, and tail in the form of large, 

 irregular, ill-defined, and interrupted rings, and by the great thickness 

 of the tail, which scarcely tapers, and is about, three-quarters the 

 length of the head and body. Height at shoulder about 2 feet 4 

 inches. 



Distribution. The high ranges of Central Asia, including Gilgit, Hunza, 

 Turkestan, Trans-Baikalia, Ladak, Tibet, Amurland and Western 

 China, extending in the north-west to the Altai, and in the west, 

 it is said, to Persia. In Prince DemidofP s Hunting Trips in the 

 Caucasus a snow-leopard is figured as coming from that range, but 

 the animal found there is F. pardus panthera. The snow-leopard 

 generally dwells at elevations of over 8000 feet, but descends in 

 Gilgit during winter to 6000 feet. 



Weight. Locality. 



Central Asia 

 Tibet 



Skull, yj x 5 Baltistan 



Do. . 



Skull, 7^ x 4! Kashmir . 

 Near Leh 

 Pamir 



p 



(24 inches at shoulder) 



Owner 



. A. Ezra. 



Rowland Ward. 



B. C. Graham. 



R. Rank in. 

 . E. Langworthy. 

 . Major H. C. Tytler. 

 . Lieut. -Col. S. Frewen. 

 . Viscount Edmond de Poncins. 



Major F. J. Harden. 



The late R. A. Sterndale. 



- Owner's measurements. 



