38 
LOWER MAMJkJAL GALLERY. 
[Cases 
17 to 19.] 
[Case 
19*.] 
scarce among Mammals, these cross-stripes helping to render 
the animal inconspicuous among the vegetation in which 
it commonly hides itself, where it would be comparatively 
easily seen if marked with spots or longitudinal bands. The 
Tiger inhabits nearly the whole of Asia, from Persia, across 
Siberia, to Formosa, and southwards throughout India and 
Burma to Sumatra, Java, and Bali, but it is not found in either 
Ceylon or Borneo. Specimens are exhibited of the smaller, 
longer-furred variety of Persia, of the very large, short-haired 
Bengal form, and also of the large, stoutly built, and long-haii-ed 
Siberian race. A Nepalese Tiger shot by H.M. the King is 
exhibited near the entrance to the Upper Mamma] Gallery. 
Of the other species of Cats exhibited to the public, the most 
noteworthy are the tropical American Ocelot, F. pardalis ( 435 ), 
and Fontanier’s Cat, F. tristis: ( 437 ), of Tibet, and the Clouded 
l^eopard, F. nehulosa ( 416 ), of Assam and the Malay countries, 
which are its Asiatic representatives. The African Serval, 
F. serval ( 427 ) ; the long-haired Tibetan Pallas’s Cat, F. manul 
( 421 ) ; and the African ^Vild Cat, F. ocreata ( 425 ) , from the 
Egyptian representative of which Domesticated Cats originated, 
are also shown. Lynxes (case 19), which difEer from ordinary 
Cats by their short tails, tufted ears, and certain peculiarities in 
their skulls and dentition, are very characteristic of the North 
Temperate and Arctic zones of both the Old and New Worlds, 
but are represented in India and Africa by the Caracal. The 
species represented include the (Jommon Lynx, F, (^Lynx) hjnx 
( 444 ), the Southern Lynx, F. (L.) pardina ( 452 ), and the 
('aracal, F. (Z.) caracal ( 446 ). 
The most aberrant member of the Felidce is the Hunting 
Leopard, usually called in this country the Chita, characterized 
by its small round head, light and slender form, semi-retractile 
claws, and various other peculiarities, both osteological and 
external. It is a native of a large part of Africa and India. 
In India it is trained for hunting antelopes and similar game. 
Its speed at times, and for short distances, is marvellous, sur- 
passing that of a race-horse ; and, when well trained, it ahvays 
runs down its quarry, although in the wild state it uses the same 
tactics as other Cats when stalking its prey, availing itself of 
