384 Dr. Horsfield and Mr. Vigors on some Mammalia 



Length of the anterior extremities (about) . . 10 

 Length of the posterior extremity (about) . . 12 

 N. B. The latter are proportionally longer than in the Javanese Cat. 



The distinguishing characters of this species are its comparatively 

 lengthened habit; the slenderness and proportional length of the tail; 

 the disposition of the marks on the flanks, and the character of these 

 marks as far as regards their diversified form ; and the saturated black 

 patch, with which they are individually marked at their upper or pos- 

 terior edge. 



In the Bengal Cat these marks have a different form and disposition ; 

 they are oblong, and arranged on the flanks in regular succession longi- 

 tudinally. The materials contained in the Museum, at the India House, 

 have enabled us to make this statement, which is founded on the exami- 

 nation of a specimen, brought by General Hardwicke, and on a carefiil 

 drawing, prepared under the eyes of Dr. Hamilton. We have thus two 

 distinct species of small Cats from India, and the elucidation of this 

 point is of some importance, as it appears, from the following remark in 

 M. Temminck's Monographs, " V existence de cette espece dans VInde rC 

 est pas constatee,''^ that he entertained some doubts on the existence of the 

 Bengal Cat. It is not our intention, at present, to give a comparative 

 analysis of all the species which resemble our animal. The discrimination 

 of many species of Felis is at all times a difficult subject ; and on many of 

 them Naturalists still disagree. Our immediate object is to indicate a 

 new form of Felis, from the upper provinces of India, differing essen- 

 tially from that which is found in the plains of Bengal ; and so direct the 

 attention of Naturalists in that country, to a more careful investigation of 

 the various oriental species of this interesting genus. 



The specimen in the Society's Collection was presented by Captain 

 Farrer, of the East India Company's Service. It came immediately 

 from Calcutta, where it was said to have been sent from Nepal. It lived 

 some time in the Society's Gardens, but was extremely wild and savage. It 

 generally remained in a sitting posture, like that of the common Domes- 

 tic Cat, and never paced its den in the manner of most other animals of 

 this group. 



