1860.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Sooiety of Bengal. 89 



Mustela sibirica, Pallas : M. Hodgsoni, Gray, Ann. Mag. N. II, 

 XI (18é3), p. 118. A fine skin of a female, and an imperfect skull. 



Soeex murinus (?), L. : S. Swinhoei, nobis, J. A. S. XXVIII, 

 285. The specimen formerly described was but half-grown, and has 

 the surfaee-colour of the upper-parts much darker than in four adults 

 now sent. In the young of S. mtjrinus, Dr. Cantor states (J. A. S. 

 XV, 191), that " the colour is more of a bluish grey, slightly mixed 

 with brown on the back." In the young of our present animal, the 



When I reflect on this adven ture, it seems a wonder that I was not killed, but a 

 siglit of that glossy siriped slcin emboldened me to try the odds." I sincerely 

 trust that my esteemed friend will admit " discretion" to be " the better part of 

 valour" on any future similar occasion. He since writes (Jan. 5th) — " Tigers, 

 I am told, are greatly increasing in the neighbouring high hills. The villagers 

 report a number of lives lost ; and numerous small cattle carried away." 



Tigers appear to be very troublesome in the new Russian territory of the 

 Amür. " In the same places where the Elk is found, the Tiger ptowls ; and the 

 latter animal may be called quite common, its constant abode being there. I was 

 informed by some Zolons, that there are always a great number of Tigers in the 

 mountains on the opposite or Chinese side. During winter they cross the river 

 and seize the horses oí' the Zolons, who hunt them at that time." Journ. Roy. 

 Geogr. Soc. XXVIII (1858), p. 420. Again, p. 424. " The enquiñes I made óf 

 those few Tunguses confirmed the fact of the Tiger being found all over the 

 Hing-gan, especially at its central and lower parts. The population are accord- 

 ingly prevented from hunting there, as the Tiger destroys their Horses, partí- 

 cularly during winter."*** The Tiger always follows the fresh tracks of the wild 

 Boar, which constitut.es its principal food."...And p. 440, "The inhabitants of 

 both banks of the Usuri are employed in agriculture, which the extent and fecun- 

 dity of their lands render very successful. They have bred cattle for cultivating 

 their fields, but being oí'ten attacked by Tigers, it is very difficult to keep cattle 

 in any number." Vide also Atkinson's Silería, and Humboldt's notice of Tigera 

 in Northern Asia in Asie Céntrale. However, they do not quite range to 

 America, albeit the poet Campbell places them on the banks of Lake Erie! " On 

 Erie's banks where Tigers steal along." Ñor to África ; though Sir Walter Scott 

 locates them in "Lybia!" (Bridal of Triermain.) The Russian Expedition 

 employed on the Survey of Lake Aral, found them troublesome even there m 

 mid-tvinter! (Vide J. E. Geog. 8. Vol. XXIII, 95). 



Here it may be remarked that Tigers appear to be fast multiplying in Pinang, 

 where notices of the occurrence of this animal have several times appeared in the 

 Journals from about the middle of 1859. In the Island of Singapore, where 

 they are now so numerous and destructive, they made their first appearance fiv^e 

 or six years after the establishment of the British settlement ; and but three or 

 four years ago, Dr. Oxley wrote — " The channel between Pinang and the main 

 is two miles broad ; and this has been sufficient to exelude the Tiger : for 

 although there have been examples of individuáis having crossed over, it has 

 been in an exhausted state, and they have been immediately destroyed." Since 

 this was written, the Tiger would appear to have fairly established itself on the 

 island. 



In another communication, dated Dec. 8th, Mr. Swinhoe notices two other 

 species of Felis. He remarks — "AwildFiíLis is found in Hongkong marked 

 like the domestic Cat, but much larger ; and an animal known to Anglo-Ohineso 

 as the { Tiger cat.' " From the description sent, evidently F. maciíocelis, or 

 F. macroceloides if this be distinct, or an animal very elosely akin : a specimen 

 is proinised shortly. 



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