110 FELID^. 



114. Felis torquata. 



F. CuviEB, fid. Blyth, Synops. 16 — F. oi-nata, Geay. — Haedwicke, 

 Bl. Ind. Zool. (bad figure, the color much too pronounced). — Blyth, 

 Cat. 184. — F. servalina, Jardinb, Nat. Libr. pi. — F huttoni, Blyth — 

 Leopardus inconspicuus, Geay. 



The Spotted Wild Cat. 



Descr. — Ground color of the fur cat-gray, more or less fulreBcent, or 

 pale grayish-fulvous, with numerous small black roundish spots ; on the 

 head, nape and shoulders, the spots are smaller, and tend to form longi- 

 tudinal lines on the occiput and nape ; some distinct crgss bands on the 

 limbs, with one or two black streaks within the arm ; cheek striped as 

 usual ; the breast spotted, but the belly almost free from spots, tail short, 

 with a well defined series of dark rings and a black tip, ears externally 

 duU rufous, with a very small dusky pencil-tuft ; cheek stripes as usual ; 

 paws blackish underneath. 



Length, head and body, about 16 to 18 inches, tail 10 to 11. 

 The fur is more or less dense, and the markings are much brighter 

 and more distinct in some than in others, but never so much so, that I 

 have seen, as in the figure in Hardwicke's illustrations. Specimens from 

 the Salt range of the Punjab and Hazara, whence sent by Captain Hutton, 

 vary somewhat, and were at one time considered distinct by Blyth. The 

 markings in this variety often form somewhat large transverse ill-defined 

 stripes on the sides and limbs. Length 2 feet ; tail 1. 



Mr. Blyth first obtained it from the district of Hurriana, near Hansi ; 

 and Dr. Scott, who sent the specimens, stated that, " it is very common at 

 Hansi, frequenting open sandy plains, where the field-rat must be its 

 principal food. I hardly ever remember seeing it in what could be called 

 jungle, or even in grass. One of these spotted cats lived long for a time 

 under my hay-stack, and I believe it to have been the produce of a tame 

 cat by a wild one. The wild one I have seen of half a dozen shades of 

 color, and you also frequently see in these cats a tendency to run into 

 Btripes, especially on the limbs." 



I have procured it at Hissar, where it is common ; at Mhow, far from 

 rare ; also at Saugor, and near Nagpore, rarely ; but it does not appear to 

 extend into the Gangetic valley, and is rare south of the Nerbudda. 

 Those I obtained at Mhow and Saugor were generally killed by my 



