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Show 628 MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE MAMMALS. [June 23, its rump and tail, but not more than might be attributable to individual variation. At Foochow and Ningpo Tigers have also shown themselves in the surrounding country, and the animal is well known to the natives throughout China as the Lao-hoo. The Tiger in the north of China grows to a very large size, seven to eight feet from snout to tail, and is clothed with much longer and denser hair. Skins of this northern race are brought to the port of Newchwang from Mantchuria. I exhibited one of them at the meeting of this Society on the 13th of January, 1870, and pointed out its peculiarities (see anted, p. 3). This skin is now in the British Museum ; but it will be necessary to procure a skull to determine whether there really is sufficient difference to justify separating the Tiger of the snows from the Tiger of the tropics. 37. FELIS PARDUS (Linn.) (Leopard.) Leopardus pardus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 263. Found in various parts of South China. Judging from skins procured at Canton, the Chinese race is of a much richer yellow colour, and has the spots larger and blacker than is usually seen in skins from India. Leopardus japonensis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 262 (L. chinensis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 264), is the representative form in North China and Mantchuria (see anted, p. 4). 38. FELIS MACROCELIS (Temminck). (Clouded Tiger.) Neofelis macrocelis, Gray, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 265. Leopardus brachyurus, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1862. p. 352. The acquisition of a skull and a properly stuffed animal during my last sojourn in Formosa satisfactorily proves that the insular form of " Clouded Tiger " is merely a small race of that of the Continent. M y specimen was a male, and measured from the snout to the root of the tail 28 inches, tail 23. Its head is small, and its feet large. It is of a rich buff ochre colour, with deep-black spots and markings. Underparts nearly white, with large brownish-black markings. A large flat skin of a female, brought at the same time, was of a paler and yellower tinge ; and that of a younger animal was brighter still, with a green wash over the yellow, the fur being longer and shaggier than in the two adults. 39. FELIS VIVERRINA, Bennett. (Asiatic Wild Cat.) Viverriceps bennettii, Gray, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 268, fig. 5 (skull) ; Swinhoe, P.Z.S. 1862, p. 7. The flat skin I brought home from Formosa in 1862 was identified with this species. I have not since succeeded in getting an entire animal; so it is not certain whether ours is the same as the Himalayan species. Flat skins like the Formosan are also procurable in shops in South China. |
