NOTES ON MAMMALS FOUND IN THE SIMLA DISTRICT. 733. 



a panther measuring 6'-l"; and Capt. A. H. Mosse found the same number 

 in a female panther measuring B'-2" (J.B.N. H. S. Vol. XXI, pp. 1319-1320): 

 according to Mr. Hicks the number of caudal vertebrae in all these cases 

 should have been 28. Capt. Mosse rightly observes that a single instance is 

 sufficient to dissipate what he believes to be a myth. And as we have now 

 no less than three specitic cases against Mr. Hicks, it is time that his 

 theories in regard to the classification of panthers, which savour of the 

 dreamings of an idealist, should be dismissed from all scientific discussions 

 in future. 



. While shooting in some of the Native States here, I examined the drop- 

 pings of panthers on several occasions, and was much astonished to find the 

 undigested quills of porcupines, which had been swallowed whole, and 

 which appeared to have passed through the intestines entire ! 



Mr. Johnstone sent me the following interesting note on the habits of 

 this species : — 



'■' During the last thirty years or so, I have shot numerous Leopards in 

 these hills, and I am firmly convinced that there are two varieties. One is 

 a large animal of a light colour, and with more open spots ; the other is a 

 small animal, with a yellow ground, and closer spots. Leopards move about 

 within a large area, visiting the jungles for miles around, and taking toll of 

 the villagers' goats, cows and dogs, and often picking up a wild pig, or a 

 " Kakur," or a porcupine as a change. I once shot a leopard that had 

 porcupine quills embedded in its paws. I have frequently known Leopards 

 to catch peafowl during the night by climbing uj) the trees on which these 

 birds were roosting ! 



" These animals lie up during the day under some dense undergrowth 

 on a hillside, or in caves, or under large rocks, and begin moving about at 

 sunset. A leopard will visit a kill at any time from sunset to 9 p.m., and 

 again from 2 a.m. to dawn, but I have never known them to turn up 

 between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m." 



" Leopards have two cubs at a birth. Judging from the size of the cubs 

 in September, I should say that they are born about July." 



5. Felis uncia, Schreb. — The Ounce. 



(Blanford No. 31.) 



(Bashahr = " Thurwag " ; Tibetan = ''.Shun".) 



Skins of this handsome animal, the " Snow-Leopard " of sportsmen, are 

 frequently brought from the Alpine tracts of the Bashahr State for sale in 

 Simla. 



6. Felis bestgalensis, Kerr. — The Leopard Cat. 

 (Blanford No. 36). 



(Simla Hill States^" Ban Billa "'; this term is a'.so used for the next 

 species ; Kangra and Kulu=" Chitti Billi ".) 



Up to this 1 have only seen three specimens of this handsome Cat. One 

 of these animals was an adult, and was captured in a large iron jaw-trap in 

 the compound of a friend here. It had taken to visiting the poultry-yard, 

 and had committed sad havoc among the fowls and ducks. I was unfortu- 

 nately very ill at the time, and was unable to either measure or skin it. 

 The second animal, a young kitten, sex $ , about a couple of months old, 

 was caught on the 11th August 1913, while wandering about on an 

 unfrequented road in the station by some employes of the Simla Municipal 

 Committee who generously presented it to me. I kept it alive for a few 

 days, but it proved a more difficult captive to manage than I had anticipated. 

 It was horribly savage, and would sit couched in a corner of its cage, and 

 11 



