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HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE SERVAL. 



(Le Scrval, Buff.) 



INHABITS the mountainous parts of India, and is 

 called by the natives of Malabar, the Marapute. It 

 is larger than the Wild Cat. Its general colour is 

 a pale yellow; white on the breast and belly; 

 variegated with round spots, which are equally 

 distributed over every part of its body : its eyes are 

 extremely brilliant, and have a wild, piercing look; 

 its whiskers are long and stiff; its tail short; and 

 its feet are armed with long hooked claws. 



It is seldom to be seen upon the ground; but 

 lives chiefly in trees, where it makes its bed, and 

 breeds its young. It feeds on young birds, and 

 leaps with great agility from tree to tree. It is 

 extremely fierce; but avoids mankind, unless pro- 

 voked; when it darts furiously upon the offender, 

 and tears and bites nearly in the same manner as 

 the Panther. 



