FELIS MANUL.
PA L L A S ’S 'T H IB E T A N CAT.
FELIS MANUL, Pall. Reis, durch versch. Prov. Russ. Reichs, (1772-73) p. 692. sp. 2.—Schreb. Säugeth. (1778) Th. iii. p. 406.—Gmel.
Syst. Nat. (1788) vol. i. pt. 1, p. 81. sp. 15.—Pall. Voy. Russ. Asie, (1793) App. vol. v. p. 489. sp. 1.—Id. Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. (1811)
p. 20.—Fisch. Zoogn. (1814) p. 228.—Desm. Nouv. Diet. H is t Nat. (1816) p. 112.—Id. Mamm. (1820) p. 229. no. 357.—Cuv. Ossem.
Foss. (1825) vol. iv. p. 438—'Temm. Mon. Mamm. (1827) vol. i. p. 155.—Less. Man. Mamm. (1827) p. 186. sp. 495. Keys. & Blas.
"Wirhelth. Europ. (1840) p. 6 1— Clerm. Quad. Eur. (1859) p. 6 6—Gray, Cat. Hodgs. Coll. Mamm. Birds Nep. (1846) p. 6 —Id. Cat.
Hodgs. Coll. Mamm. Brit. Mus. (1863) p. 4. sp. 33—Blyth, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1863) p. 185. sp. 17.—Murray, Geogr. Distr. Mamm.
(1866) p. 101.—Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1867) pp. 275, 874.—Id. Cat Cam. Mamm. (1869) p. 33. sp. 32.—Alph. Milne-Edw.
Recherch. Mamm. (1872) p. 225.—Blanf. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1876) p. 433.
FELIS NIGRIPECTUS, Hodgs. MS.
FELIS (OCTALOBUS) MANUL, Severtz. Rev. Mag. Zool. (1858) p. 386.
H a b . Thibet and Eastern Asia; Amurland: common in the Tarini valley and Lob-Nor (P r e j e v a l s k y ).
T h i s very distinct and rather peculiar species was first made known to naturalists by Pallas (I. c.). I t is a native o
Northern Asia, where it is not uncommon, and preys upon the small quadrupeds frequenting the same high latitudes in
which it lives. In its long and curiously marked fur and bushy fox-like tail, it presents no resemblance to any other
species of this family. In museums it is rare, and but few specimens are found in the collections of Western Europe ;
so that it is unknown whether or not individuals vary to any extent from each other. It is, however, probable that they
do, especially in the colour of the fur, if not, indeed, also in their markings. I t is a small animal, and also a handsome
one, as a glance at the Plate will prove; but, unfortunately, little more is known about it, nothing especial regarding
its habits having been yet published by the travellers who have penetrated the countries in which it dwells. The range
of this species is extensive, and appears to be from Siberia, Thibet, and Mongolia on the north, to the range of the
Himalayas, south of which I am not aware that it has ever been found. It was killed near the great wall of Pekin by
M. Fontanier, and the specimen sent to the Paris Museum. It was said by the last-named gentleman to prey upon
spermophiles and other small quadrupeds. It is represented among Mr. Hodgson's drawings of the animals of Nepaul
and Thibet as Felia nigripecfm; but as all the specimens he sent to the British Museum were from Thibet, it probably
has never been observed elsewhere than to the north of the Himalayas.
Fur soft, long, rufous grey, dark grey on head, .cheek, and back. Top of head spotted with black. Across the back
and loins are several indistinct black lines, Shoulders inclined to rufous. Breast dark brown; chin and throat whitish.
Underparts yellowish white. Hind legs deep buff. Tail long and bushy, same colour as the body, with six narrow
rings of black, and the tip, for about an inch, also black. Specimen in Paris Museum. Length from nose to root of
tail 19 indies, tail 9f inches. , ^ ,
The skull is chiefly noticeable for its width and the prominence of the interorbital region in comparison with the nasal.
The nasal bones are very narrow for two thirds their posterior length, and then rapidly widen in front. Also the
temporal crests are very far apart.