513 



peepul tree in the centre of the great city of Poonah I have seen 

 hundreds suspended. Although often seen on wing during the day, 

 it is at dusk they are more generally observed, flying at great eleva- 

 tions with an easy sailing motion, broken now and then by the slow 

 and regular flaps of their long wings. At sunset they converge 

 towards the orchards and groves of mango trees, where they commit 

 great havoc on their fruit. Not seen in the Punjab or Himalayas. 



5. Tigris regalis, Gray. — Felis tigris, Linn. 



Plentiful on the western frontier of the Punjab and banks of the 

 Indus and Jhelum. Now scarce in many parts of the Deccan ; 

 occasionally seen near Poonah. A few stray along the base of the 

 Himalayas as far as Attock on the Indus, and in the jungles of the 

 Salt Range; but it seldom frequents the Himalayan Valleys, although 

 individuals at times wander a considerable distance inwards. One 

 was killed at Poonch among the southern Cashmere Ranges. 



6. Leopardus varius, Gray. — Felis pardus (Linn.). 



Called Chetah, Sher (names applied likewise to the Tiger and all 

 the larger species of the genus), Bagh, &c. by the natives of the Hi- 

 malayas, where it is pretty common, frequenting dense jungles or 

 forests ; preys chiefly on musk-deer or domestic animals, such as 

 sheep, dogs, goats, &c. The presence of a Chetah is often discovered 

 by the barking of foxes, the loud bellowing of the Cashmere stag, 

 harsh cries of the bu^buls and beautiful long-tailed pie {Pica ery- 

 throrhyncha) . This is the most common species found on the lower 

 ranges of the Western Himalayas. It appears however, if not sub- 

 ject to great variety, there are yet species undiscovered. The 

 natives of various districts speak with confidence in regard to species 

 very different in appearance ; and I see no reason to doubt the au- 

 thenticity of their various accounts. 1 shall give them as recorded 

 in my "notes," written on different occasions. It would seem, the 

 species are confined to localities where their particular description of 

 prey abounds. Thus I have heard of the Burrel hay found at high 

 elevations ; this species preys chiefly on Burrel (Pseudois Nahoor, 

 Hodgson) and Musk-deer. Colour, a dirty white with black spots. 



This is probably the Leopardus uncia found on the northern ranges 

 of Cashmere and in Ladakh ; skins are brought from Afghanistan 

 and sold in the bazars at Peshawur. On the lower Himalayan 

 Ranges the natives mention a Panther closely allied to the F. pardus, 

 but of smaller size, called Adeer hay, which they say is common. 

 Not having seen this animal, I am unable to say whether it is a 

 variety or another species. A Leopard which preys chiefly on Goral 

 (Nemorkedus goral), called Goral hay, is said likewise to frequent 

 certain districts of the middle ranges ; much smaller than the last, 

 and of a light fawn colour. Altogether my information on this sub- 

 ject refers to five different sorts of Chetah : — 



1st. The Bagh, or, as it is sometimes called, Bay herra {Leo- 

 pardus varius ; Felis pardus, Linn.). 

 No. CCCLXXIX. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



