i86 THE RIMAU-DAHAN. 



THE very handsome animal which is known by the name of Rimau-dahan, or more 

 popularly as the Clouded or Tortoiseshell Tiger, was, until comparatively late years, a 

 stranger to this country. One of the first specimens which visited England was 

 exhibited for some time in a travelling menagerie, where it died. So indifferent or so 

 ignorant were its proprietors, that after its death no trace was found of this unique 

 animal, excepting a tradition that its hide had been cut up for the purpose of making 

 caps for the keepers. 



The spots and marks which cover the fur of the Rimau-dahan are so very irregular in 

 shape and arrangement that a detailed description is almost impossible. Some of the 

 patches are nearly oval, some are angular, some are particularly open, while others are 

 enclosed within a well-defined dark edging. There are stripes like those of the tiger, 

 solid spots. like those of the leopard, hollow spots resembling those of the jaguar, and 

 large black-edged spots like those of the ocelots. The black has a peculiarly rich and 

 velvety appearance. 



The ground color of the fur is gray, tinged with brown, and however the other mark- 

 ings may vary, there are always two bold uninterrupted bands of velvety-back run- 

 ning along the entire length of the animal, beginning at the back of the head, and only 

 ending at the root of the tail. The tail itself is covered with dark rings, which contrast 

 well with the very light ground of the fur. The hair is rather long, and beautifully fine 

 in its texture. Altogether, the Rimau-dahan, although so large an animal, bears a close 

 resemblance to the Marbled Cat, which has already been mentioned on page 182. 



It seems to be a gentle animal, in despite of its size and strength, which are greater 

 than those of the ocelots, and nearly approaches the tiger and leopard in those qualities. 

 Two specimens, which were in the possession of Sir S. Raffles, were exceedingly well- 

 behaved and playful animals, courting notice like petted cats, and rolling over on their 

 backs the better to enjoy the caresses of those who would pat or stroke their beautiful 

 soft fur. Nor did they confine their sportful propensities to human companions. One 

 of them, while on board ship, struck up a great friendship for a little dog that was its 

 co-voyager, and used to gambol with its diminutive playfellow in the most considerate 

 manner, taking great care to do no damage through its superior strength and size. 

 While on board, it was fed chiefly on fowls, and generally used to extract a little amuse- 

 ment out of its dinner before it proceeded to the meal. When it received the fowl, 

 it was accustomed to pounce upon the dead bird just as if it had been a living one and 

 tear it to suck the blood. It would then toss the bird about for hours, just as a cat tosses 

 a mouse, tumbling over it, and jumping about it, and, after it had thus amused itself 

 for an hour or so, would at last condescend to eat its feathered toy. 



The natives of Sumatra, where it is found, assert that it is by no means a savage 

 animal, and that it generally restricts it depredations to the smaller deer and to birds. 

 In the latter category are comprised the domesticated poultry, among which the Rimau- 

 dahan is apt to make sad havoc. The curious name which is given to this animal is 

 of native formation, and has been given to the creature on account of its arboreal pro- 

 pensities. It is said to spend much of its time upon the tree branches, and to lie in 

 wait for its prey, crawling along a bough, with its head resting in the fork of the 

 branches. The word " Dahan," or " Dayan," signifies the forked portion of a bough. 



If the physiognomy of an animal is to be any test of its mental qualities, the Rimau- 

 dahan is in truth for a wild feline a most gentle and forbearing creature. Its head is 

 small in proportion Ito the body, and there is a very mild and pleasant expression in its 

 countenance. It is not a very common animal, and even in its own land is not very 

 often found. The southern portions of Sumatra are the localities which are most ap- 

 proved by this beautiful creature. 



The tail of the Clouded Tiger is peculiarly capable of that curious expansion which 

 is so familiar to us in the domestic cat when she is either very much pleased or very 

 much irritated. Its limbs, although apparently rather short in proportion to the dimen- 

 sions of the body, are very thick and powerful ; and altogether, the Rimau-dahan pre- 

 sents the appearance of an animal which, if it chose to take up the offensive, might be 

 a truly fearful foe. 



An allied species, named popularly the TORTOISESHELL or SMALLER CLOUDED TIGER 

 and scientifically termed Leopardtis Macroceloides, is found in the same locality as the 



