BULLET AND SHOT 



THE SNOW PANTHER OR OUNCE (Felts undo) 



This beautiful animal has its home in the Hima- 

 layas, to which, and to the highlands of Central 

 Asia, its range is confined. 



The following is Sterndale's description of it : 

 " Pale yellow or whitish isabelline, with small spots 

 on the head and neck, but large blotchy rings and 

 crescents, irregularly dispersed on the shoulders, 

 sides, and haunches ; from middle of back to root 

 of tail a medium irregular dark band closely 

 bordered by a chain of oblong rings ; lower parts 

 dingy white, with some few dark spots about middle 

 of abdomen ; limbs with small spots ; ears externally 

 black ; tail bushy, with broad black rings." 



It is said to reach about 6|- feet in length, but no 

 measurements of really undoubted accuracy are 

 forthcoming. Colonel Ward believes that Jerdon's 

 statement of its length, viz., 7 feet 4 inches, is 

 excessive. 



The ounce is very rarely met with. Even General 

 Kinloch, who continually spent very frequent leave 

 in Cashmere, never met with it ; and Colonel Ward, 

 the author of The Sportsman s Guide to Cashmere 

 and Ladak, only saw it twice. He describes it as 

 less rare than hard to encounter, on account of its 

 nocturnal habits. From his account, it is an animal 

 which, if bagged by a fortunate European sports- 

 man, is usually met with quite by chance, and one 

 which cannot with any certainty be specially sought 



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