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FELIS UNCTA.
hhandful of hair. In the snow the tracks of two Ounces were plainly visible ; but nothing was ever seen of either the
or the Leopards.
The specimen described by M. Valenciennes was brought from Ninf, in Asia Minor, by M. Tehihatcheff, who mentions
the cireumstances of its eapture inthe following words -—En 1850, je me trouvais 4 Niufé précisément un jour que
: mph les dépouilles dune magnifique et grosse panthire quils venaient de tuer tout
ont elle ravageait les environs depuis bien longtemps ; je m’empressai de fire Tacquisiton de ln précies
retour Pats je fis don de la pean au Muséum da Jardin des Plantes, ot animal, trs-habilement monté
urd’hu.” "This example was deseribed by Valenciennes, inthe ‘Comptes Rend" for 1856, as Fei tullion
ts it i identical, in my opinion, with the present species, I have placed his name as a synonym of F. nei, Schreber
Alphonse Milne-Eawards, in the «Recherches des Mammiftres,’ contends that Valenciennes's specimen is
and founds his characters upon the markings of the fu, its slightly different colour in certain parts, and its ln
he only differences
I think it is hazardous to endeavour to maintain a species among these spotted Cats when
wknowledged form are to be found in the length of fur and in the size, shape, and arrangement of the
last always vary greatly, not only among individuals universally accepted as belonging to the same species, but even
the two sides of the sume ann certainly is this lst statement a fvet, that T have seen specimens of various
in this family appear altogether diferent as one or other of the sides was brought into view. In stuffed speci
me in mind, the arangement of spots and stipes is not altogether independent of the taxidermi
may be possessed of more or es skill in the manipulation of his subject; and it isnot unusual to see in museums tl
tahappy Folie, which, i it were suddenly brought to life, would not only be unable to recognize itself, but ecrtainly
would never be acknowledged by the living members of the family as belonging to any existing species, so distorted would
it appear both in its markings and shape, T have examined the specimen careflly in the Paris Museum, deseribed by
fennes ; and although M. Alph. Milne-dwards' deseription is perfetly accurate, Leannot bring myzel o belive that
ample represents a distinc species, hut that its only one of those variable forms which are extremely common amo
simply on account of their great rarity. ‘That Snow-Leopards do vary both in their markings
Cats, T have had proof, ftom the examination of the specimens in diferent continental mus
Museum, from the Corea, the most extreme example I have scen, I describe below. ‘To constitute
Aistinet species, usupported by any osteological diferenee, would, it seems to me, only pave the way to endless confusion,
since it would be impossible to now where to stop; and as no two Cats are ever exactly alike in their eoloxr and
markings, eventually every specimen would claim a distinct speciic ruik. Dode states that this animal is quite common
where the skins, badly matched, are sold to the Chinese at rather high prices
ther long, thick. In the typical style the entire animal i pale greyish or yellowish white. ‘Top of head and
thickly marked with small black spots. Back marked with ier
n the centre; sides and outer sie of logs having the same rings, their centres greyish without sp
s the lower part of the legs showing an inclination to become solid, with little or no black centres. Tail nearly
g as the body and of the same colour, tipped with black and marked with mumerous irregular broken rings of
t encircle the entire tail; near the rump the tail is marked similarly to the back. Inside the hind
are sparsely spotted with Black. ‘There are no stripes upon the face, as is generally the ease with species of
and the shape of the head is peculiar in the sudden ise of the forehead. Ears rather stall, behind greyish,
‘The breast and belly are lighter in colour than the upper parts, approaching nearer to a pure whi
The size ofthis species is that of an ordinary Leopard
Sometimes individuals present a richer colour than the style described above. A spesimen in the Leyden Museum
brought by Sicbold from the Corea, is a rich buff in colour, the spots large and black, frequently with a bully cen
they are very distinct upon the fore and hind quarters, where they are large, black, and solid, without any light centres.
The inside of the fore and hind lege is white, but spotted as thickly and distinctly as is the outside. The tal isa litle
Tighter than the body, marked like those of the ordinary style. The back and head are very rich buf, brighter than the
flanks. In size itis ehout the same as the ordinary style. It would from this appear that this species varies in its
colouring as greatly as do the majority of the Cats for T have no reason to belive that all these Leopards from the Corea
are coloured in the same manner as is ths single spesimen
PELIS UNCTA
A specimen ofthis species in the Paris Museum, obtained in the mountains of Asia, near the Persian b
from living the spots, which are usually arranged in iregulr rings, almost obsolete upon the sides of the body
just discernible. On the top of the head, however, and back of the neck, as well as in the centre of the lower part of the
back; the spots are small and intensely black, thus making the general light grey eolour of the rest
amore conspicuous
‘The skull of the Snow-Leopard is remarkable for its high, suddenly raised forehead. ‘The fice is short, brond, and rather
flat above; naso-premaxillary region remarkably truncate, and a depression at the junction of nasal and frontals; the
zygomatic arches are unusually stout, and the orbits are incomplete behind. The profile view of the skull is greatly
arched on its upper outline. Superior eanines moderate in size. Length of skull 6) inches, breadth 43 inches, |