2o 4 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The SERVAL 



inhabits the mountainous parts of India ; and is called, 

 by the natives of Malabar, the Marapute. — It is larger 

 than the Wild-Cat — Its general colour is a pale-yellow ; 

 white on the bread and belly ; variegated with round 

 fpots, which are equally diftributed over every part of its 

 body: Its eyes are extremely brilliant, and have a wild, 

 piercing look ; its whifkers are long and ftiff ; its tail 

 fhort; and its feet armed with long hooked claws. 



It is feldom to be feen upon the ground •, but lives 

 chiefly in trees, where it makes its neft, and breeds its 

 young. It feeds on young birds, and leaps with great 

 agility from tree to tree. It is extremely fierce ; but a- 

 voids mankind, unlefs provoked \ when it darts furioufly 

 upon the offender, and tears and bites nearly in the fame 

 manner as the Panther. 



Sparrman mentions an animal of this kind, found at 

 the Cape of Good Hope, which he calls the Tiger Cat t 

 and fuppofes to be the fame with the Serval. 



