40 THE WILD CAT OF EUROPE. 



'Zoologist,' Sept. 1881); he says that the colours, 

 broadly speaking, are of two distinct patterns, to 

 which the markings of all coloured Cats can be 

 referred, for, with the exception of white ones, all 

 may be said to be tabby — that is, they are marked 

 with two distinct shades, a light and a dark one, 

 disposed according to one or two patterns. 



Pattern 1, he says, approaches that which is seen 

 on the fur of the Wild Cat, which he designates as 

 " tiger-striped," to distinguish it from the usual tabby, 

 but is more like the Serval than the Tiger, the darker 

 markings on the dorsal line being often split into three ; 

 the lighter of the two tints forms the ground-colour. 



Pattern 2. The relation of the two shades to each 

 other is reversed ; the general rule for the greater 

 part of the fur, light markings on a darker ground, 

 disposed, with the exception of those on the face, 

 legs, and chest, in a manner totally different to No. 1. 

 This he calls " ring-tabby," from the invariable pre- 

 sence of a large ring of the lighter of the two shades, 

 more or less perfect, situated on the side of the body 

 a little in front of the flanks. 



Both these patterns are often seen on the skins 

 of tabby Cats which have been labelled Wild Cats. 



The external form of the head of Felis catiis is 

 described by Pennant as larger and flatter than that 

 of the Domestic Cat ; by Donovan as broad and flat ; 

 by Macgilliveay as short, broad, convex above, and 

 triangular; by Bell as triangular and strongly marked ; 

 and by other authors as larger and rounder than the 

 Domestic Cat. The discrepancy can be accounted 

 for, in some measure, by the variation in the form of 

 the cranium and the frontal bones. 



