1870. ] MR. R, SWINHOE ON CHINESE MAMMALS. 629 
40. Fevis curnensts. (Chinese Tiger-cat.) 
Felis chinensis, Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 577 (1837); 
P. Z. 8. 1867, pp. 274, 400. 
Leopardus reevesii, Gray, List of Mamm. Brit. Mus. 1843, p. 44. 
Felis javensis, Scl. Cat. of Vert. p. 22 (1866). 
This little Tiger-cat is the commonest wild cat in Formosa and 
South China. I procured a good skin and skull of an adult and of 
a young one in Formosa, and sent thence to the Society a living ex- 
ample in 1866, which, however, unfortunately died in the Gardens 
soon after landing. I have also flat skins of it from the Fokien hills 
and from Shanghai. The British Museum has specimens brought 
from Canton by Mr. J. R. Reeves many years ago. It is a forest 
species, and is extremely wild and irritable in confinement. 
The skull of the Formosan adult female is of a long oval form, 
measuring in length 3-4 inches, breadth across malar arches 2°25, 
breadth behind orbital spine 1:1; greatest breadth of brain-case, 
below, 1:4; orbits imperfect. 
Head brownish grey, with more or less rust-colour ; a line over 
and under the eye, a patch on each side of nose, cheeks, and chin 
pure white. From the white line over the eye runs a black line on 
each side over the crown and down the back of the neck; between 
these are two other longitudinal black lines, with an indistinct short 
one between them; the muzzle is spotted with black, surrounded by 
rusty chestnut, and an irregular line of the same runs from the pos- 
terior angle of the eye to under the ears, breaking into spots ; another 
runs along the cheek, a third shorter one further down, and a fourth 
like a long spot on each side of the throat. Moustache-bristles brown 
and white. Ear pale in front, black behind, with a white spot. A 
black streak of grey marks each side of the hind neck. Underparts, 
inner surface of fore legs and of thighs, white, with large brownish- 
black oval spots. Upper parts brownish grey, washed between the 
shoulders, and less richly along the back, with chestnut-brown ; 
shoulders spotted and marked with rich deep chestnut-brown, with 
streaks between them of the same colour mixed with black; further 
along the back the streaks break up into long oval or oblong black 
spots. The spots on the sides of the body and on the legs are 
browner. Fur short and somewhat soft; under-fur dusky grey. 
Fore feet light yellowish brown, speckled on the outer surface with 
chestnut ; under foot dusky. Hind feet the same, without spots. 
Tail with longer and woollier hair than the body, more dully 
coloured, with large spots of dingy brown. 
Head long and narrow, about 4°25 inches; ears short and angular, 
1:6 long. Length of body 17, of tail 10°5. Fore leg about 9 ;. 
hind leg about 9°7. Fore foot, from carpal joint, 2°8; greatest 
breadth 1-2. Hind foot, from tarsal joint, 4; greatest breadth 1-4. 
The Formosan kitten, apparently about six weeks old, is similarly 
marked on the face, but has the spaces above the nose and under 
the eyes much richer chestnut. Its hair is longer and softer, of a 
dingy chestnut-brown, with the spots and marks fainter. Tail 
