128 Carnivora Fissipedia. 



Reference to the classification charts will show that 

 there are more species of Leopaxd and Tig^er Cats in 

 different parts of the world than of anj- other animal. It 

 is impossible to give a detailed description of each variety 

 here, but the Servals of India and Africa, like the Ameri- 

 can Ocelot, call for something more than passing notice. 



The habitat of the African Tig-er Cat, as the type species 

 (Felis-serval) is sometimes called, is in Algeria and other 

 parts of East Africa. It is a tall, slender animal with a 

 small head and pointed broad ears. The ringed tail is 

 thick and heavily furred. The ground color is yellow 

 above and Avhite on the under parts. There are four 

 narrow stripes on the head and shoulders, and three or 

 four black stripes running the length of the back. The sides 

 are marked Avith numerous large round black spots, that 

 also appear on the belly, but farther apart. The Cape 

 Serval is smaller than the Algerian, and has a much longer 

 tail. The orange colored variety found in Senegal has a 

 very short tail, and its under parts are isabella color. 

 It has black ears, black stripes on the back, and full round 

 spots on the sides. There are several other sub-species 

 of the African Serval. 



There are two distinct species of the serval found in 

 India; the (Felis-viverrina), which is somewhat smaller 

 than the type species, and the brownish yellow (Felis- 

 himalayana) which is smaller still, and has short close 

 hair, marked on the back with large chocolate colored 

 stripes, and on the under parts with spot-like short stripes 

 of the same .color. 



The Servals are blood thirsty animals, but- can be 

 tamed if taken when young. They prey on the young 

 antelopes, and in settled districts rob the hen coops. 



The Margay Cat (Felis-tigrina) is an animal consider- 

 ably smaller than the Ocelot. Its habitat is the wooded 

 lowlands of Mexico and all the countries between Mexico 

 and Paraguay. It is about two feet long exclusive of 

 the twelve to eiglite(Mi inch tail, and the type variety 

 has a rather harsh fur of a dun drizzled color marked 

 with black spots aud rings. Other forms have soft reddish 

 fur with black spots that often have a pale center, and 

 a tail tliat is larger than that of the type species. 



