928 ON THE WOOD-CAT OF AUaEMINA. [NoV, 14, 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXII. 

 Outer side of left ramus of lower jaws of Placental and Marsupial Camivora. 



Fig. 1. Hj/mnorlan leptorhynchus (after Gaudry), p. 925. 



2. Ptcrodon dasyiiroides (after Gaudry), p. 925. 



3. Borhyana fcra (after Ameghino), p. 925. 



4. Thyhfinus cynocephalus, p. 925. 



5. Prothyla^inus patagonicus (after Ameghino), p. 925. 



6. Amphiprouiverra manzamaiia (after Ameghino), p. 925. 



7. Field-notes on the Wood-Cat of Argeutina [Felisgeoffroyi). 

 By Ernest Gibson, P.Z.S. 



[Received August 9, 1899.] 



Duriug the last tweuty-five years I have had many opportunities 

 of observing the habits of the " Gato Montes " (FeJis ffeoffroyi) in 

 this district, where it is not uncommon, frequenting the woods and 

 grass-coverts. Too wild to approach poultry-yards (notwithstanding 

 Azara's statement), it preys upon small rodents (Cavia australis and 

 Ctciiomys hrasiliensis) and birds ; and I greatly doubt the accusa- 

 tions made as to its attacking young lambs. That it can give a 

 good account of itself with dogs is quite true ; and it has been 

 known to fly at man, or even a horseman, when brought to bay. 

 I ha^e seen it taken at night in one of the large and powerful traps 

 employed for the Vizcacha (Ldgosfomus trichodactylus), and it even 

 broke the chain and went through the surrounding circle of men 

 like a small fiend, trap and all, and was never seen again ; but it 

 will not enter the usual box-trap so successful with our Fox (Canis 

 azarce). 



The young Wood-cats are generally born in the early spring, 

 and vary in number, as many as six having been reported, but the 

 usual number is two or three. The breeding-place selected is a 

 hollow tree, or a nest is made amongst the pampa-grass. A recently 

 observed unusual site was a lonely abandoned " rancho." It is a 

 curious trait that the Wood-cat will return to its usual den or lair 

 after being hunted out by dogs or shot at ; and that after a very 

 short interval. In voice it can be very noisy, especially when 

 wounded : one I shot inside a tree growled and roared most 

 savagely. 



The natural woods of the La Plata littoral terminate not far to 

 the south of this locality (I write from 36° 20' S. lat. on the sea- 

 coast), i. e. before the Pampean formation is temporarily broken by 

 the Sierras de Tandil. But the " Gato Montes " is still found as 

 far as the 38th degree, and predominates over its congener, the 

 Jungle or Grass-cat (F. passeruni), the two being found in the there 

 imwooded country. And the two species are associated on the 

 treeless plains far inland — on the confines of Cordoba — though 

 Azara only chronicled the latter in that locality (true, that was 

 a hundred years ago !). Nevertheless, I have never heard of any 

 hybrids ; and I only wish to establish the fact that, while they 



