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FELIS PARDUS.
species; and it does not appear to me that any one of the varieties which
‘separate rank ; they ae all only such forms as naturally would occur
of a spotted coat,
M, Alphonse Mitne-Edwards hs given in his work (‘Recherches pour servir & Vhistoire vaturcllo des Mammi
feren') minute account of the skins of the specimens described by him as. Pele
Museum, and also figures of the animal and of the skull. The chief charcierstic rliod upon inthe skin
to separate the examples specifically from Folis poriua is, that in one of the specimens, ‘oonsdercd’ chin
the greater number of the black spots which form the rosettes, instead of bi
has been procured of the Leopard is entitled to
ong individuals of any species of Cats possessed
fontanier, contained in the Paris
separated as in the usual style of
Leopanis, are conuent, end form complete rings like a Jaguar's, and lio. that the fulvour,growd-solour” shes
lose docs not present, as inthe last, the black central spet; upon the thi
ighs, however, these black spots no longer form
In a younger individual, of which a figure is also given, the above pecul
ty is less distinct, and the rosettes are
sine up with a grxt number of imogular black gots. ‘The sal is remarked pon chiely on aceotat ofa curved upper
outline from the end of the nasal bones to the foramen magnum. I examined earflly these specimens deseabay’
M. Milue-Hawards, and was enabled alo, by the kindness of Prof. Gervais, to ingpeet the skull. The for of all te
animal is as Lave already stated, very long and therefore the markings are rather instinct, except on the back aed
hindquarters of the oldest individual, the rest presenting rather a confused appearance. In this respect the figures even
by the artist of M. Milne-Edwards do not accurately represent. the animal
for, from his plate, it might naturally be
supposed that it vas a shortfurred,
swooth-conted ereature—which is quite the reverse of the fact. Now, in the I
Insired specimens of Hels tigris from Siberia, the markings are as different in their style from those of Tdian animes
af this species ax are these Leopards from southem specimens. This, I conecve, res simply fom, the
extraordinary length of the fur, which permits the hair to be much rufled, and some of the markings mM. Mike
Edwards's specimens thereby run into one another (for all the
The
‘The hair is equally longs the spots are blackish
‘own instead of own, not confluent, ands broken up and confined that they seem all singlol
her jn an
It is only on the hindquarters and legs that the spots are distinety
visible, thove on the fist being generally separate around a buff entre, as in ordinary Leopard
black, without any light central spot. ‘The tails of the two spec
inextricable mass, and give no idea of any pattern
and thote on the legs
ns are very different -—that of the adult being whitish
potted like the body near the root
boeing buff atthe rot, dirty white towards the tip, spotted with reddish
ceyalowah ht pany aged rs adores ey hors
that of the younger
Drovn, the spots near the root having
the rest being blotches or incomplete rings. It-will thus be seen that the styles of maski
of even these two animals
axe rey difrent; and it may finly be supposed that most specimens ffom the same laity would also present cee
‘variations inthe arrangement as well as colour of the spots oF rosettes,
Te outline of the skal is more round than perhaps is usually sen in those of Leopards generally; but it must be bome
in mind that the skulls of all the Feidee vary one from another in a remarkable degree, caused and individual
like; and therefore Ido not
that, in the matter of determing
specific value of any individual, they are often as apt to mislead as they are to furnil
peculiarities; so that itis almost impossible to obtain two, even ofthe same species, exactly
attach that immense imporanee to their charcteritis which some do, believing :
material for @ correct opinion to be
formed. | Mt. Busk made comparitons between the skal of the nother and. southem Leopards brought tga he
me sullcient to create
specific distintness,_In a‘Table of measurements (given inthe same paper of skulls ofthe so-tled jo
of Leopards from Northern and Souther China as well as from India, the differences exhibited wot
bbtween the Indian examples than between the 7 fontanieri and the other specimens from North Chi
careflly the skulls of M. Milne-Eawardss specimens. One is that of quite w young a
toamore adult individual. ‘The characters pointed out as of sulliient importance
Mr. Swinhoe, and found that there was no appreciable difference between them—certaiuly- wo
tanier, and some
fiequently greater
Thave examined
imal, and imperfect; the other belongs
to create speciic rank I do not find |