394 
CARNIVORES. 
irregular rosettes, with the central area of each generally rather darker than the 
ground-colour of the fur. As in the leopard, the spots on the head, the lower 
portions of the limbs, and the extremity of the tail have no light-coloured centres. 
A black streak extends from near the middle of the back to the root of the tail. 
The tail itself is remarkable for the length of its fur, scarcely diminishing in 
diameter from root to tip. The length of a specimen noticed by Mr. Blanford 
was 7 feet 4 inches, of which 3 feet were occupied by the tail. 
The snow-leopard inhabits the elevated regions of Central Asia. In Ladak it does 
not descend below the level of some nine thousand feet above the sea-level in winter, 
while in summer it ranges to a height of eighteen thousand feet and upwards; in 
the Gilgit district of the North-West Himalaya it is reported, however, by Dr. 
Scully to descend as low as six thousand feet in winter. The long and thick fur is 
specially adapted to protect the animal against the severe winter cold of the regions 
it inhabits. The beauty of the fur of a snow-leopard killed during the winter is 
unrivalled. 
The northern range of the snow-leopard extends to the Altai Mountains and 
some distance beyond, while to the north-east it embraces Amurland and the 
Island of Saghalien. The animal is probably found all over Tibet, but how far to 
the westward of Gilgit it extends is at present unknown. It has, indeed, been 
reported from Persia and Armenia; but it has now been ascertained that, so far as 
the latter country at least is concerned, this is owing to the long-haired variety of 
the leopard referred to above having been mistaken for the ounce. 
Our knowledge of the habits of the snow-leopard is at present but limited, 
since comparatively few Europeans have seen the animal in its wild state. From 
living in a practically treeless country, it is jwobable that it is unable to 
climb. It preys chiefly upon wild sheep, and goats, and marmots, and other 
Rodents; it wages war upon domestic sheep and goats when grazing upon the 
higher grounds; and it will likewise, it is said, occasionally attack ponies. It is 
reported never to molest man. The writer once saw a snow-leopard in Ladak 
at a considerable distance. Only one living example of this animal has hitherto 
been brought to England. This was a young one, believed to have come from 
Bhutan, which was purchased by the Zoological Society in 1891, but did not long 
survive its arrival. 
The Jaguar (Felis onca). 
The jaguar is the largest representative of the Cat family inhabiting the New 
World, being somewhat superior in size to the leopard, and having a relatively 
larger head. It agrees with the two preceding species in the ornamentation of the 
fur taking the form of large rosette-like dark spots, enclosing lighter centres; and 
likewise in the circular form of the pupil of the eye. The spots are, however, con¬ 
siderably larger than in the leopard; the ring of each being usually formed of a 
number of small spots, while the light centre of each rosette contains one or more 
spots. Moreover, the rosettes are arranged in from seven to eight longitudinal 
rows on each side of the body. The ground-colour of the fur is usually of a rich 
tan, the same tint obtaining in the middle of the rosettes. There is, however, a 
