66 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



tawny or rufous fawn, pale below ; almost the whole body covered with 

 small round spots ; chin and throat not spotted. A black line runs 

 down from the corner of each eye to the upper lip. Tail spotted above, 

 imperfectly ringed below. 



Bab. — Africa, South-Western Asia, India. In India hunting 

 leopards are found in the Punjab, Rajputana, Central India, as far 

 east as the confines of Bengal. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 A pair from Rajputana lived for about four years in this garden, 

 and a single specimen from Africa has been living for more than a year. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — The specimens from Rajputana were housed in the 

 Burdwan House (described on pages 40-41). As these animals were 

 trained for hunting, and accustomed to be kept on charpoys, this mode 

 of confinement evidently did not suit them. One now living in the 

 garden is lodged in a smaller house and appears to be happy. This 

 house is built on the same plan as that assigned to the Orang-outang, 

 but smaller ; it has the indispensable wooden platform in the sleeping 

 or inner den. In their wild state they live in dry places, and it is 

 therefore necessary that they should have dry accommodation in cap- 

 tivity also. This is specially requisite in a climate like that of Bengal. 



Food.— The specimens from Rajputana were fed on beef, cut up 

 into small bits, without any bone ; the one now in the garden is fed 

 on mutton, beef having been found to disagree with it. 



Transport. — Chained and hooded, they are sometimes conveyed 

 from place to place on charpoys placed on carts, but this mode of trans- 

 port is only possible when the animal is well trained and in constant 

 charge of keepers all the way. A pair of them were once brought down 

 in this way from Jeypore. For ordinary purposes a cage should be 

 provided, and, as the animal is extremely timid and excitable, should be 

 boarded with planks on all sides with the necessary apertures for 

 ventilation. 



Breeding. — Chitas have never bred in this garden, and as far as. 

 known they seldom breed in captivity. 



Treatment in sickness. 

 Diarrhoea is the only disease that has been met with in this species, 

 and it yielded to change of diet. 



Observations on its habits. 

 Gentle in disposition, but timid and excitable. Anything unusual 

 excites it : it has generally a terrified look. 



{65) THE LARGE INDIAN CIVET. 



(VIVEEEA ZIBETHA— Linn.) 



B engali — Bag dans. 



Description. — The head and body elongated, muzzle produced, 



limbs short, baok slightly arched, and a crest of erectile hair along its 



