THE OUNCE 



(Felis uncia) 



The Snow-Leopard, as the Ounce is often called, is noteworthy as being 

 the only one of the " Great Cats " which is confined to temperate and 

 cold climates. It is only found in the heights of the Himalayas and 

 the Central Asiatic ranges, and is seldom seen below eight thousand 

 feet. Its range, however, is a wide one, as it *is found from Turkestan 

 to China. In /accordance with the bleak nature of its haunts, its fur 

 is peculiarly thick and full, especially on the tail, which member is 

 very long. In size the Ounce about equals an ordinary specimen of 

 the Leopard, the pale mountain-form of which, as. above remarked, some- 

 what approaches it. The true Snow-Leopard, however, has hardly 

 any yellow tinge at all in its fur, and the rings of spots are much larger 

 and wider than those of the Leopard proper; the face in the present 

 animal, also, is much shorter, and has more of the mild character .of 

 that of the domestic Cat. 



In disposition, indeed, the Snow-Leopard appears harmless enough 

 from our point of view, -as it has never been known to attack human 

 beings, but with regard to other animals it appears to be as fierce and 

 indiscriminate a foe as is the ordinary Leopard ; its ordinary prey are 

 the wild Goats and Sheep found in its haunts, especially the Burrhel 

 or Blue Sheep (Ovis nahura); indeed, in consequence of this it is 

 known in the Simla district as Bharal-hay (Burrhel-tiger) according to 

 Mr. Lydekker. It is also a destructive foe to tame Goats and Sheep, and 

 even Ponies fall victims to it ; probably, also, it preys on the mountain- 

 haunting Game-birds, such as the great Partridges known as Ramchukors 

 or Snow-Cocks {Tetraogallus), which also frequent high elevations in 

 the mountains of Asia. Being a little-known animal even in the wild 

 state, it is not surprising that the Ounce is seldom to be found in 

 captivity; indeed, till the year 1891 it had not been exhibited at our 



