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FELIS DIARDI
separate specific rank, much less generie one. ‘The Clouded 'Tiger i a treedoving animal; and in Sumatra, where itis
ot tneommon, individuals are said to be found generally in the vicinity of villages, but are not dreaded by the natives,
xcept in so far as they may destroy their poultry. Rafles says it is asserted that they sleep, and often lie in wait for
their prey, on trees, whence they derive their name of Deken, which signifies the fork of a tree. Jerdon obta
young one from the neighbourhood of Darjeeling ; and it became very tame and playful. According to
Cat is very destructive to sheep, gots, pigs, and dogs. Two individuals were obtained on the banks of the Bencoolen
Sumatra, and passed into the possession of Sir Stamford Rafles. They were remarkable for their playfulness
1d be more gentle), and showed great pleastre when noticed, throwing themselves on their backs, and
expressing delight when rubbed or tickled, One was brought to England; and on board ship it wed to play with a
tinall dog, always exhibiting the greatest eare and tenderness towards its little companion whenever they came into contact
It was placed in Exeter Change, in London, and at first, frightened by the noise and number of people, showed symptoms
of ferocity, but soon became accustomed to its new surroundings, and was again as mild and tractable as before. In its
nents the Clouded Tiger is very quik and gracefl; and the individual above mentioned was accustomed to jump
and twist itself about in the cage, ike a squire, is tail all the time being extended and showing to great advastage
This species has at different times been an inmate of the menageries of various zoological gardens, and, whenever
branches of trees were placed in the enclosure, was accustomed to amuse itself upon them, and was remarkable for the
grace and suppleness of its movements
Fur short, rither conse. General colour of entie body rich buff in some sposimens, darker in others, ‘Top of head
spotted with black. Two broad black lines down back of neck, two across checks, and two across the throat. Body
Grered with lange iregular patches, darker in hue than the general colour of the fir, each one bordered on three sides
tvith black, giving to the skin a marbled appearance. Fore legs, hind quarters, and logs covered with large black spots,
as is ao the belly. Tail long, iregularly spotted and ringed with black on a ground-colou like that of the body. Back
Of cars black with a buff spot near the centre. Other spocimens have the ground-eolour greyish, and the patches on
the body dark grizaly grey. No two examples exactly alike
ie length 88 inches, tail 30 inches.
The skull of this species is long and narrow, and remarkable for its greatly lengthened canines. The very clongate and
laterally compressed face is nearly on a level with the forchead. Nasals rather long, only meeting the maxillas in their
central portion, being separated by the processes of the premacilla anteriorly, and by those of the frontals posteriorly
‘Tho frontal prooeatcs of the maxilla are aquare at their upper posterior ends, and aro on a line with thoes of the nasa
Tnterorbital space very narrow. Brain-case sina, with wellleveloped central ridge or eres. Lower
straight for nearly its entre length, curving downwards slightly at the angle. Upper canines much elo
‘curved, with sharp cutting-edge on theie posterior side |