HABITS OF THE CLOUDED TIGER. 



51 



as they may destroy their poultry. The natives assert that they sleep and often lie in wait for their 

 prey on trees ; and from this circumstance they derive the name of Dahan, which signifies the fork 

 formed by the branch of a tree, across which they are said to rest, and occasionally stretch themselves. 



" Both specimens constantly amused themselves in frequently jumping and clinging to the top of 

 their cage, and throwing a somerset, or twisting themselves round in the manner of a Squirrel when 

 confined, the tail being extended and showing to great advantage when so expanded." 



Besides the localities we have mentioned, the Clouded Tiger is described by Consul Swinhoe as 

 existing in Hainan, and he gives a curious quotation respecting the animal from a native paper, the 

 Hainan Gazetteer : " Pao, or Leopard, resembling a Tiger in form, with white fur and round head. 



Those with spots like cash (Chinese coin) are called the ' Golden-cash Leopard ' (Felis pardus). 

 Those with spots shaped like the mint leaf are called Mint Leopard (F. macrocelis). They dread 

 Snakes. Hwai Nantzse has the following couplet : ' Snakes command the Leopard to stand : all 

 creatures have their masters.'" 



There was in 1876 a fine specimen in the Zoological Gardens, but it was not always to be seen, as 

 it was kept during the day fastened up in one of the little sleeping apartments at the back of a cage in 

 the Lion-house, and was let out only for about half an hour before the Gardens closed. It was well worth 

 stopping to see. As soon as the iron door of its cell was raised, it would come out into the large cage with 

 a peculiarly sailor-like slouch, for owing to the shortness of its legs its gait was quite different to that of 

 an ordinary Cat, and altogether less elegant. The expression of the face, too, was neither savage, nor 

 majestic, nor intelligent, but rather dull and stupid. It was fond of assuming all sorts of queer 

 attitudes. Brehm describes one as lying prone on a thick branch placed in its cage, with all four legs 

 hanging clown straight, two on each side of the branch, certainly a remarkable position for an animal 

 to assume of its own free will. 



