[FIELDS ¥D¥EKROIMy 



VlVERRINE TlGER-CAT. 



Felis viverrinus, Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833, p. 68. 

 „ Serval (?), Hodgson, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. iv. p. 522, 1835. 

 „ viverriceps, Hodgson, ibid. vol. v. p. 232, 1836. 

 „ viverriceps, Hodgson, Zool. Nipal MSS. Mamm. pis. 25-28. 

 „ Wagati, Elliott, Madras Journal, vol. x. p. 108, 1839. 



The most interesting points about this Cat is its resemblance to some of the Viverridce; 

 viz. in the form of the face, in the grey colouring and the longitudinal markings. Mr. Hodgson 

 observes of this species, that it is affined to the Viverrce by the form of its face ; and to the 

 Lynxes by the shortness of its tail, which extends but little below the os calcis. But it has no 

 further resemblance to either ; its ears being noticeably short and untufted, its body full, and its 

 limbs strong and of medial length. The females are nearly as large as the males, to which they 

 bear a close external likeness. The intestinal canal is more than three times the length of the 

 body. It is the Chittra Bilow of the Tarai, and inhabits the open lowlands of the lower region 

 of Nipal. According to Mr. Elliott it is the Wagati of the Mahrattas of the Ghats. It is very 

 fierce ; living in trees in the thick forests, and preying on birds and small quadrupeds. A shikaree 

 declared that it drops on larger animals, and even on deer, and eats its way into the neck ; 

 that the animal in vain endeavours to roll or shake it off, and at last is destroyed. 



The specimen, from which the figure and the original description were taken, came from 

 Madras, and was presented to the Society by Thomas Heath, Esq. Another specimen, which 

 lived in the Menagerie, had a very strong and disagreeable odour, came from Calcutta. 



The following detailed description is given by Mr. Bennett : — 



" The prevailing colour of the upper surface is a rather deep yellowish grey; the separate hairs being 

 dusky at the base, yellowish in the middle, and having short black tips. The black lines and spots are 

 formed of hairs destitute of yellow, and having the black tips of much greater length. A longitudinal black 

 band passes on each side, from the inner canthus of the eye above the ear nearly to the shoulder ; a second, 

 more internally, passes to the same distance backwards, and is somewhat interrupted anteriorly ; and between 

 this and its fellow on the vertex is the vestage of a median line, which on the forehead is broken up into a double 

 row of spots : these and the two adjoining lines subdivide in front into numerous very small spots between the 

 eyes. Two black lines pass downwards obliquely on either side from below the eye, over the angle of the 

 jaw; and from their terminations on each side there passes a transverse band across the throat: the space 

 between these lines is nearly white, as is also a stripe over each eye, and the whole of the under jaw and chin. 

 There is a large black spot surrounding the base of the ear posteriorly, and the ear is tipped with black. 

 The long linear markings of the back are disposed in about five interrupted longitudinal bands, and some 

 of the spots on the side assume a linear form. Of these, the most remarkable are one on each side of the 

 neck, and an oblique wavy band on the shoulder. The spots on the sides generally approach a rounded 

 shape, and form, posteriorly, four or five interrupted longitudinal rows. Those of the under surface are 

 larger, and are arranged without order. On the fore limbs the spots are small externally, and internally 

 there are on each two large transverse black patches. On the hinder limbs the spots are arranged so as 

 to form interrupted transverse bands on both surfaces. The hairs of the soles of the feet are dusky brown. 

 The tail is spotted above in the same manner as the sides; its colour beneath is uniform. The spots are 

 throughout numerous. The whiskers are white, and take their origin from three black lines on either 

 side." 



Length of the head and body, two feet seven inches ; tail, ten inches. 



