It will tlius be seen that much confusion lias existed in the synonymy of this species, caused by its variable coat
together with the scanty materials which naturalists had at their command; and the only possible way this difficulty
could be rectified was to bring the types together for comparison. In the accompanying Plate are represented
the three different varieties of this species; two of the specimens figured are those belonging to the Leyden Museum.
The grey-spotted animal is a portrait of Temminck’s type of F. celidogaster ; and the upper figure exhibits the intermediate
stage, taken from a specimen brought to the Museum at Leyden from the coast of Guinea. This form happily has never
been described as distinct.
Of the habits of this species we know nothing.
The various styles may be described as follows
Typical: General colour above red, indistinctly spotted with dark red on the sides, spots small in size; beneath white,
spotted with blackish brown; tail red above, white beneath, unspotted; no white marks upon the face, which is of the
same red colour as the back and sides. The light variety named celidogaster by Temminck and neglectus by Gray has the
top of the head reddish brown, irregularly marked with blackish brown, and without any of the lines running lengthwise
which are usually seen in Cats; the back and sides are a uniform grey, the spots dark brown on the sides, dark red on
the back; breast yellowish white, banded with obscure pale brown, these bands becoming darker and more distinct
underneath between the fore legs; belly white, with large blackish-brown spots; inside of fore legs and hind legs
distinctly barred with reddish brown; tail brown, with pale brown rings, end dark red-brown.
The second variety, represented by the upper figure in the Plate, is of a general golden-red colour, thickly marked with
dark chestnut spots, these being nearly black along the centre of the back, and longest on the rump and flanks. Upon the
fore legs the spots coalesce and form rings. Cheeks and throat white, spotted slightly with minute reddish dots. Breast
dark buff, crossed with irregular lines of dark brown. Underparts white, with numerous blackish-brown blotches. Inside
of fore legs greyish white, barred and spotted with blackish brown; inside of hind legs rufous, lighter in colour than the
body, with several bars of blackish brown upon the upper part. Tail of the same colour as the body, spotted with dark
brown, almost black on top. Total length about 37 inches, tail 10 inches.
Skull.—Width is about two thirds the length. Height moderate, with the arching from before to behind uniform.
Nasal process extends halfway up the side of the nasal bone. The upper surface of the superior part of the maxillaries
presents a rather deep and broad depression reaching from the orbit to the outer edge of each nasal. Forehead moderately
h igh; orbits incomplete. Brain-pan is rather long; and there are sharp parietal and occipital crests. The tympanic bullae
are large and inflate. Upper canines of moderate size, the molar series better pronounced. Specimen described, No 1199 a
in British-Museum collection. The lower jaw is in a diseased condition.