74 



FELID.i:. 



Habits. Very little is known of the habits of this animal, all 

 that has been recorded hitherto about it in the wild state being 

 derived from the accounts given by native hunters. It is believed 

 to be thoroughly arboreal, living and sleeping in trees, and preying 

 upon birds and mammals. In captivity it appears not difficult to 

 tame. 



33. Felis marmorata. The marhhd Cat. 



Felis marmorata, Martin, P. Z. S. 1S3('), p. 108 ; Bh/th, Cat. p. 59 ; 



id. P. Z. S. 18(33, p. 183 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 104 ; Elliot, Mon. Fel. 



pi. ix. 

 Felis charltoni, Gray, A. 31. N. II. xviii, p. 21 1 (1S46) ; Bhjtli, Cat. 



p. 59. 

 Leopardus dosul, Hodf/s. Cat. Mam. i^-c. Nepal, B. M. 2ud edit. 



1863, p. 3 (uo description). 



Sikmar, Bhotia ; Dosal, Lepcha. 



Larger than a domestic cat. Tail bushy, nearly the same thick- 

 ness thi'oughout, about three quarters the length of the head and 



■'"T^C^ ^'%^W^ 



Fig. 18. — Felis marmorata. (Elliot, Mon. Fel.) 



body. Fur soft, thick, with woolly underfur (at all events in 

 Himalayan skins). Ears short, rounded at the end. Bony orbit 

 complete behind in old skulls. The posterior edge of the bony 

 palate deeply concave. Anterior upper premolar apparently often 

 wanting. 



Colour. Ground-colour vai'ying from brownish grey (earthy 

 brown) to bright yeHowish or rufous brown, lower parts ])aler. 

 The sides divided by narrow pale streaks into large, irregularly 

 shaped darker patches, black on the hinder edges. Along the back 

 are angular black blotches or irregular rings, arranged mon^ or less 



