58 a hand-book of the management of animals 



Treatment in sickness. 



Diarrhoea and dysentery are the principal diseases from which 

 these animals have been observed to suffer. The treatment adopted is 

 chiefly dietetic ; sometimes the animals themselves abstain from food. 

 A live chicken or a pigeon checks diarrhoea in mild cases. 



Obseevations on the habits of a Fishing-Cat. 



Some of these animals have been found to be savage and bold, 

 others good tempered, though not tame. They generally snarl and 

 spit on their cages being approached or retire inside their sleeping box. 

 None of these cats have ever been noticed to purr. In their movements 

 they are not so agile as some of the other wild cats. They mostly 

 sleep during the day, but become active towards the evening. 



(55) THE LEOPABD OAT. 

 (FELIS BENGALENSIS— Kerr.) 



Description. — This beautiful cat varies a good deal in size and 

 shades of colour. A full-grown animal measures, head and body, from 

 24 to 26 inches, tail about 11 inches. Ground colour above pale yellow 

 in some, rufous grey in others, below white or whitish. Four black 

 lines run backwards from the head, and being broken up at the nape 

 continue down to the back as dotted lines ; the cheek bands meet the 

 line crossing the throat. Black spots on the sides of the shoulders and 

 body. Spots of the limbs smaller. The spots of the body have gene- 

 rally a linear arrangement. The arrangement of spots varies also in 

 different specimens. 



Bab. — Himalayas as far west as Simla; Lower Bengal, Assam, the 

 Burmese and the Malayan countries. Southern China, Sumatra, Java, 

 Borneo, and the Philippines. The Syhadri Bange or Western Ghats 

 of India, Coorg, Wynaad, Travancore, Vizagapatam. 



Leopard cats have been obtained from Assam, Darjeeling, Penang, 

 Dacca, Bungpore, the Sunderbuns, Sumatra, &o. 



Lkngth of life in captivity. 

 None have lived more than four years in this garden. 



Treatment in health. 



Sousing.— The Kuch Behar House (see page 56) in which these 

 animals are kept does not appear to suit them. 



Food. — Beef, their principal food here, does not seem to ao-ree 

 with them. Sparrows and other small birds are occasionally given, 

 and are much relished. 



Transport. — A cage about the size of that recommended for the 

 Fishing-cat, and of similar construction, will do for the transport of 

 a pair of these cats. Both the Fishing and the Leopard cats are in 

 the habit of striking at the bars of the cage. It is, therefore, much 

 better to have the roof of the cage made of rods instead of the front. 



