SMALLER CA TS. 419 
The Eyra {Felis eyra ). 
Strangest in form of all the cats is the South American eyra, which, from its 
long body, short legs, low withers, high rump, and extremely long tail, might 
almost be mistaken for a member of the weasel family, were it not for its relatively 
shorter face. In size it is almost equal to a rather small domestic cat, but with 
proportionately shorter legs. The fur is soft and of a uniform coloration, varying 
in tint from reddish-yellow to a brilliant chestnut, with the exception of a distinct 
whitish spot on each side of the upper lip. The pupil is round, and the skull still 
more elongated and depressed than in the jaguarondi, to which it is evidently closely 
allied, although the nose is not so much pinched in at the sides as in that species. 
The range of the eyra is practically coextensive with that of the jaguarondi. 
And both species are described as being equally bloodthirsty in disposition, playing 
sad havoc with the fowls of the inhabitants of the districts which they frequent. 
The eyra, as might have been expected from its weasel-like shape, is, however, the 
more lithe and active of the two. 
The Colocollo {Felis colocollo ). 
Almost the last of the true American cats that will be noticed here is the 
imperfectly known and rare colocollo, easily distinguished from all the other 
members of the family by its remarkable coloration. The colocollo is, perhaps, 
rather larger than an average domestic cat; and is of a greyish-white ground 
colour, ornamented with dashes of black on the back and sides, and further dis¬ 
tinguished by a black streak running from the eye to the jaw. The tail is 
described as being imperfectly ringed with dark bands, while the lower limbs are 
the eyka. (§ nat. size). 
