262 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



AN INDIAN LEOPARD CUI 



THE SMALLER CATS 



A MONG the smaller cat animals we find many 

 , species of brilliant coloration and interesting 



form. As the collection for the Small Mammal 

 House was brought together, it became necessary 

 to assemble a representative series of the small cats. 

 However, few of these animals are to be found in 

 the market, and purchases were at considerable 

 periods apart. A constant search for the species 

 most desired has at last produced a fine and repre- 

 sentative series. Among those from the Eastern 

 Hemisphere, are a fine pair of Clouded Leopards 

 (Felis nehiilosa), the Serval {Felis scn^al), and the 

 Jungle Cat or Leopard Cat {Felis hcngalensis). 

 The most interesting among the New- World species 

 are the Yaguarundi Cat (Felis yagiianmdi) , the 

 Ocelot {Felis pardalis), the Canada Lynx {Lynx 

 canadensis) , the Bay Lynx {Lynx rujus), and the 

 Texas or Spotted Lynx {Lynx rujus maculatus). 



The most important of these animals are the two 

 Clouded Leopards, which were purchased from 

 Capt. Richard Craven, of the steamship Indramayo. 

 Captain Craven procured the animals at Singapore. 



They represent the darker of the two phases of this 

 cat — the other being a very tawny, reddish phase. 

 The Park specimens are distinctly olive, with dull 

 black markings arranged in broad bands on the 

 neck, and assuming a reticulate pattern on the body. 

 The general effect is precisely like the coloration 

 of the big Indian python {Python molurus). As 

 the Clouded Leopard is essentially a tree animal, 

 and the python is likewise (partially) arboreal, this 

 "mimicry" is significant. Whether or not there is 

 an intention in Nature's plan for the pattern of the 

 mammal to suggest that of the snake, is problem- 

 atical. In such cases it is altogether unwise to 

 resort to theory. 



In proportion to the size of the animal, the 

 dentition of the Clouded Leopard is remarkable. 

 The canines are enormously developed, and taper 

 to a long point. As the animal opens its mouth 

 and rolls back its lips to snarl at an intruder, the 

 vicious aspect of the long, glistening teeth is 

 striking, and at once recalls the fossil skulls and 

 restorations of the saber-toothed tiger. 



