in the Collection of the Zoological Society. 381 



usurp it. This name may stand, or sink into a synonym, according as 

 the truth when ascertained determines the point. But the stabihty or 

 precariousness of a name is a matter of the' utmost insignificance, and 

 should not weigh with us for a moment when we have weightier matters 

 at stake. We must not suffer the real dignity of our science to be frit- 

 tered away by imposing a fictitious value upon trifles such as these. 



Felis maculata. 

 Pel. rufo-grisea, dorso saturatiore ; corporis laterihus membrisque ex- 

 terne brunneo maculatis ; gulu, corpora infra, membrisque interne 

 albis, brunneo latius maculatis ; auribus penicillatis. 



Tab. XIII. 



The hairs of this animal are moderate in length and softness; they are 

 pale rufous at the base, annulated with brown towards the ends, and 

 white at the tip. On the back the tips are partially brown, so as to give 

 a brownish grey appearance to the whole surface. On the head and 

 shoulders the white tips prevail so as to give more of a grey cast to these 

 parts. Along the back are faint- indications of brown lines. The flanks 

 and sides of the legs are marked with moderately small brown spots. 

 The cheeks also are similarly spotted; and the elongated hairs at the 

 sides of the cheeks exhibit lines, rather indistinct, of brown. When 

 erected and viewed behind, these hairs exhibit a brown patch. The ears 

 are white in front; behind, black with a large white spot in the middle; 

 the hairs which form the brush at the extremity are rather copious in 

 number, and all are black. Around the eyes is a little white. The upper 

 lip is white with black lines. The under lip is white, as well as the 

 whole throat, breast, abdomen and inside of the legs; all these parts, 

 except the under lip and throat, are marked by blotches of black, much 

 larger than the spots on the flanks. The tail is slender, the beneath part 

 white ; above, it is marked with small blotches of brown and a large black 

 spot on the tip. 



DIMENSIONS. 



ft. in. 

 Length of the body and head from the extremity 



of the nose to the root of the tail .... 2 6 



Vol. IV. c c 



