OKDEU V. THE CAEXIVORA. 143 



botly, wliicli is as large as tliat of the leoparil, and similarly spotted, but 

 more ol>scurely, and on a paler ground tint. It inliabits the mountains of 

 Asia. The history of this animal is involved in some obscurity, and of its 

 habits and nature little or nothing is known. 



The Ciiati (F'elis nu'/is). — \Vc have hero a beautiful and interesting 

 species, also from South America, which is about one third larger tlian the 

 domestic cat. Tiie upper parts of tlie body are of a pale ycllowisii tinge ; 

 the lower parts are pure wiiite. The whole body is covered with irregular 

 dark patches ; those upon the back are entirely black, and disposed longi- 

 tudinally in four rows ; those upon the sides are siu-roundcd with black, 

 having the centres of a clear fawn-color, and arc arranged in five rows. The 

 limbs are marked in a similar manner, but with smaller spots; In its for- 

 mation and motions it is said to resemble the common cat ; it also utters a 

 similar cry, only that it is harslier and more prolonged. It further resembles 

 the domestic aiiimid in the mildness of it-i dispcjsition, — wlience its sys- 

 tematic name, J/Z/Zx, i. e., mild, — and its desire to be caressed. 



The IIuxtixg-Leopaki) (Felis jubatu). — Tliis cat, called the chctali, 

 is one of the most remarkable specimens of tiic genus. It is a native of 

 Asia and Africa, but the animals of the two continents exhibit considerable 

 variety, and perhnps are, as Cuvier suggests, specifically different. The 

 head is rounder and shorter tiian in the foregoing species, and the claws are 

 not entirely retractile. It is about the size of tlie leopard, but the body is 

 longer; of a pale yellowish color, marked with smaller black spots, dis^ 

 posed in rows. The limbs also show the same markings ; a black streak 

 readies from the eye to the angle of the mouth, and the end of the tail is 

 ringed. Tlie most striking peculiarity of the species is, that it obviously 

 unites tlie characters of tlie cat and dog. Its entire formatidn is tlint of the 

 cat, with the exception of its claws, which, being only partially retractile, 

 and not protected by a sheath, become blunted by contact witli the ground 

 wdien walking, like those of tlie dog, and consequently cannot be used as 

 weapons of offence for tearing and cutting. Tliis modification leads to a 

 corresponding one in the nature, habits, disposition, and moral character of 

 the beast. Thus, with the agility of tlie cat, tlie ciietaii has the docility, and, 

 in a degree, the sagacity of the dog. lie is susceptible of education and 

 affection, and may be domesticated so as to live at large witli children and 

 other animals. 



This animal has been employed f >r hunting from a verj' early period, and 

 is still extensively used in India for the same purpose. lie is tame and gen- 

 tle as a greyhound, and, like him, is led about in a leash. "When he liunts, 

 however, he rides on the back of an elephant, or on horseback, behind his 

 master. A gentleman who participated in one of these hunting expeditions, 

 thus describes it : — 



