THE RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT. 57 



Oats, in which respects it approaches the Lynxes. It is distinguished from these, however, by the 

 absence of tufts of hair on the ears. The body is about forty inches in length, the tail about sixteen 

 inches. This, it will be seen, by a comparison with the dimensions given of the preceding kinds, 

 shows a much smaller proportion between the tail and the body than in most of the true Cats, but 

 the appendage is never as short as in a Lynx. The ground-colour of the skin is tawny, lighter 

 or darker according to circumstances, and spotted with black. The spots on the flank are all 

 elongated longitudinally, and, along the back, run into distinct bands which are continued on to the 

 forehead. This running together of spots into longitudinal stripes is very common in the Cat tribe. 

 The tail is regularly ringed with black. The fur, although coarse, is handsome, and much used. 



THE RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT.* 



Mr. Jerdon says, " This very pretty little Cat frequents grass in the dry beds of tanks, brush- 

 wood, and occasionally drains in the open country and near villages, and is said not to be a denizen 

 of the jungle. I had a kitten brought over when very young, and it became quite tame, and was the 

 delight and admiration of all who saw it. Its activity was quite marvellous, and it was very playful 

 and elegant in its motions. When it was about eight months old, I introduced it into a room 

 where there was a small fawn of the Gazelle, and the little creature flew at it the moment it saw 

 it, seized it by the nape, and was with difficulty taken off." There is something marvellous in this 

 destroying instinct. This kitten had, probably, never seen a Gazelle before in the whole course of 

 its short life, but it at once recognised its prey, and all the savagery of its long line of ancestors was 

 concentrated in the spring which landed it on the unlucky Gazelle's neck. 



The head and body of this species are together sixteen to eighteen inches long ; the tail, nine inches 



* Felis rubiginosa. 



