FELIS. 87 



Size exceeding that ot' a domestic cat. Pupil round. Ears 

 often with a few longer liairs at the end, not amounting, however, 

 to a distinct tuft as in the lynxes. Tail short, one third to two 

 iifths the length of the head and body. Fur variable, short in 

 specimens from plains of India, longer in Himalayan skins. 



SkuU strong, elongate, postorbital processes bending sliarply 

 downwards ; the l)rain-case broad behuid the postorbital processes ; 

 nasal bones broad anteriorly, more or less concave at the side. 

 The lower jaw convex below. Inner lobe of upper flesh-tooth well 

 developed, as large as the outer anterior lobe. 



Colour of the body varying from sandy grey or yellowish grey 

 to greyish brown ; back darker, often rufescent, sometimes dusky ; 

 lower parts fulvescent or rufescent white. Fur in general fulves- 

 cent white (isabelliue) from the base to near the tip, where it is 

 greyish white, the tip being black, sometimes on the back rufous 

 near the tip ; the underfur near the body in some specimens brown. 

 The limbs are sometimes trans^'ersely barred with dusky, sometimes 

 not ; there are usually the two broad dusky bands iiiside the fore- 

 arm. Foot and tarsus dusky brown beneath. Tail ringed with 

 black near the end, and the tip black. Cheek-stripes and band 

 across bx-east sometimes present and of a pale ferruginous tint. 

 Ears pale rufous outside, the tips generally blackish or black. 

 Theije is some long whitish hair on the anterior portion of the ear 

 inside. 



In adult specimens there are usually no markings on the body 

 or limbs, but exceptions occur. In some skins more or less distinct 

 vertical rows of spots or wavy lines may be traced on the sides. 

 A black variety is occasionally found, and Dr. 8cott procured it both 

 near Hausi and in the neighbourhood of Umballa. 



Dimemions. Hodgson gives : — head and body 22 inches, tail with 

 hair at the end 11, without 10, height at shoulder 1(5; weight 14 lbs. 

 Jerdon's measurements are: — head and body 26, tail 9 to 10, height 

 at shoulder 14 to 15 ; and of a large specimen killed at Umballa, 

 total length 39 inches, height 18, weight 18 lbs. (Appendix, p. ii). 

 A moderate-sized skull is 3-75 inches long (basal length), and nearly 

 3 broad across the zygomatic arches. In a large male skull the 

 basal length is nearly 4 inches, in a small (? female) specimen 3-35. 



DlstfibutioH. F. cliaus is the common wild cat of India from 

 the Himalaya to Cape Comorin, and from the level of the sea to 

 7000 or 8000 feet or perhaps higher on the Himalayas. It is 

 found in Ceylon and also extends into Burma, but has not been 

 recorded further east. A wild cat observed by Col. Tickell at the 

 Andaman Islands (J. A. S. B. xxxii, p. 86) may perhaps have been 

 this species. It has an extensive range through Western Asia and 

 Northern Africa. 



Habits. This cat frequents either jungles or open country, and 

 is very partial to long grass, reeds, cornfields, sugar-cane fields, 

 and siniilar places, being often seen in the neighbourhood of 

 villages. It feeds on birds and small maunuals, and is said to be 

 especially destructive to partridges, peafowl, hares, and other game. 



