SMALLER CATS. 



419 



The Eyra (Felis eyra). 



Strangest in form of all the cats is the South American eyra, which, from its 

 long body, short legs, low withers, high rump, and extremely long tail, miglit 

 almost be mistaken for a member of the weasel family, were it not for its relatively 

 shorter face. In size it is almost equal to a rather small domestic cat, but with 

 proportionately shorter legs. The fur is soft and of a uniform coloration, varying 

 in tint from reddish-j-ellow to a brilliant chestnut, with the excejjtion of a distinct 

 whitish spot on each side of the upjjer lip. The pupil is round, and the skull still 

 more elongated and depressed than in the jaguarondi, to which it is evidently closely 

 allied, although the nose is not so much pinched in at the sides as in that species. 



THE EYRA (J nat. size). 



The range of the eyra is practically coextensive with that of the jaguarondi. 

 And both sjjeeies are described as being equally bloodthirsty in disposition, plaj^ing 

 sad havoc with the fowls of the inhabitants of the districts which they frequent. 

 The eyra, as might have been expected from its weasel-like shape, is, however, the 

 more lithe and active of the two. 



The Colocollo {Fells colocollo). 



Almost the last of the true American cats that will be noticed here is the 

 imperfectly known and rare colocollo, easily distinguished from all the other 

 members of the family by its remarkable coloration. The colocollo is, perhaps, 

 rather larger than an average domestic cat ; and is of a greyish-white ground 

 colour, oi'namentf 1 with dashes of black on the back and sides, and further dis- 

 tinguished by a black streak running from the eye to the jaw. The tail is 

 described as being imperfectly ringed with dark bands, while the lower limbs are 



