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Show 756 MK. E.W. B. HOLDSWORTH ON FELIS RUBIGINOSA. [Dec. 5, Conopias superciliosus, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. ii. p. 62 (note) ; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 221. Hab. S.E. Brazil (Max. et Burm.). 2. CONOPIAS INORNATA. Myiozetetes inornatus, Lawr. Ann. L. N.Y. ix. p. 268; Finsch, P.Z.S. 1870, p. 569. Hab. Valencia, Venezuela (Lawr.) ; Trinidad (Finsch). 3. CONOPIAS CINCHONETI. Tyrannus cinchoneti, Tsch. Faun. Per. p. 151, pl. viii. fig. 2. Hab. Peru (Philippi) ; Bogota (MM*. P. L. S.). 9. Note on a Variety of Felis rubiginosa from Ceylon. By E. W . II. HOLDSWORTH, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. [Eeceived December 4, 1871.] Before speaking particularly of this variety it may be desirable to give a short account of what is known of the habits and geographical range of the species. Felis rubiginosa of Is. Geoffroy is a small species of true Cat, and has apparently but a very limited distribution, being restricted, according to Jerdon, to the Carnatic on the south-east of India and to the island of Ceylon. It has never, I believe, been brought alive to Europe; and specimens are not numerous in museums, either in this country or elsewhere. In Ceylon, which is peopled by races speaking two very distinct languages, Tamil and Singhalese (the former being the language of the north and the latter of the south, the two overlapping in the central and more civilized districts of the island) this Cat is known to some of the native hunters by the name of Verewa poony in Tamil and Coolla deeya in Singhalese. In the northern district of Ceylon, however, which generally resembles in character the Carnatic, this species is very rare ; and the one example I met with is the only specimen I have heard of that has been obtained in that part of the island. Liberal rewards offered to native hunters, during several months, for specimens alive or dead entirely failed in procuring any more ; and the Government Agent of the Northern Province, who had been resident in that large district for very many years, and who, from his official position and known tastes, would be likely to have rarities brought to him, had never seen or heard of this red-spotted Cat until I showed him the specimen I had obtained. It may be considered, therefore, tolerably certain that in that part of Ceylon nearest to India, and resembling it most in physical characters, this species, strangely enough, is almost unknown, although in other respects there is a general similarity in the productions of those parts of the two countries. |