24 CARNIVORA. 



OUNCE, OE SNOW LEOPAED. 



Felis Uncia. 

 French : 1'Once. German : Irbiss or Unze. 



The Ounce inhabits Cashmere, the Himalayas, and 

 many parts of high lands of Central Asia. 



The general colour of the Ounce is almost white, with 

 thick pale long fur [2 inches] , which is bluer at the 

 ground, and rather harsh to the touch ; this is caused 

 by exposed and elevated plains in which it lives ; the 

 rings or spots are but faintly marked, and are just 

 distinguishable. 



The tail is very long in proportion to the body, and is 

 very thickly furred and marked with faint rings. It 

 seems to us very remarkable that in a wild state and in 

 cold climates the tails of most animals seem to become 

 shorter, as in the Wild Cat, Bison, Yak, etc. The 

 extraordinary length of tail of the Ounce must be sought 

 for in other causes. 



The spots on the head are small, black, and solid. 



It is not so rare an animal as many suppose ; a certain 

 number of skins are imported into Eussia, through 

 Siberia, annually. The price of a good skin is from 40s. 

 to 130s. ; and 140s. is the highest price paid. 



The mountains of the Leopard (Canticles, iv. 8) 

 appears to refer to the habitat of this animal in ancient 

 times in Palestine. 



THE CHINESE LEOPAKD (Felis Pardus) approaches 

 more closely to the common Leopard in colouring, but 

 has a rich fur, almost equalling that of foregoing variety 



