JAVAN CAT. 129 



and bowlings. It was of course surmised, from the 

 excessive terror of these animals, that this was one of 

 their most inveterate enemies. 



In size, according to major Smith, this species is 

 larger than the wild cat : the head being remarkably 

 flat and broad, the body slender, but the legs very 

 strong : the tail just touched the ground; and the ears 

 were large and round. The ground colour of the 

 neck and back was whitish grey ; and the . head, 

 shoulders, throat, sides, belly, and inside of the limbs, 

 white. The back was marked with lengthened streaks 

 of black, edged with tawny; but those towards the 

 shoulders and thighs were entirely of the latter colour. 

 From the corners of the eyes to the jaws was a black 

 streak ; and on the forehead were some " barry " marks, 

 tail semi-annulated with black; the tip black. The 

 legs, as far as the knees, were all of a very dark grey 

 colour. As major Smith throws some doubt upon this 

 being the Colocolo of Mollini, we hope he will excuse 

 us for not adopting that as a specific name, objection- 

 able as it is in every way. 



The Javan Cat. 



Fells Javanensis, Horsfield. Kenank, Javanese. 



"While some of the largest feline species evince a 

 gentleness and a docility which is not exceeded by our 

 domestic cat, there are others, not surpassing the latter 

 animal in the smallness of their dimensions, which 

 seem to possess all the ferocity of the Bengal tiger. 

 Such is the character of the Javanese wild cat, dis- 

 covered by Dr. Horsfield, who informs us that it is 

 perfectly untameable, — its natural fierceness being never 

 subdued by confinement. It inhabits all the large 

 forests of Java ; retreating into the hollows of trees 

 during the day, and sallying forth at night in quest of 

 food : it visits the neighbouring villages, and commits 

 great depredations among the poultry. The natives 

 ascribe to it an uncommon sagacity ; asserting, that in 



K 



