op that species, and which can also be found among all the species of spotted Cats. One of these was sent to the
Zoological Society of London, in 1874, by Mr. Spencer Shield, from Kinsembo, on the borders of Angola and Congo. It
was trapped after carrying away a rare species of stork, and brought alive to England. Mr. Spencer Shield says
“ It is of the same size and not unlike a Serval; long slender legs and ta il; the colour is a sort of olive-yellow or sand-
colour, spotted here and there with small irregular spots, more particularly along its lower extremities and flanks; its ears
are black and yellow {or white), like those of a Serval.” This specimen was referred by Dr. Sclater to the F. servalina of
Ogilby, and a figure of it published in the * Proceedings.’ A specimen in the Paris Museum resembles very much the
animal sent by Mr. Shield. I t is covered with small spots (not so minute, perhaps, on the shoulders as are observed on
those of the other individual; but all the spots are much smaller than are seen in the usual style). This one came from
Sierra Leone, and was but one of the intermediate forms observed in the collection. I do not consider Mr. Shield’s
animal, from any character exhibited by it at present, to be distinct from the true F. serval; but of course, before the
question can be regarded as satisfactorily settled, we must wait till the animal’s death, and then see if the skull exhibits
sufficient difference to give the creature an independent specific rank. Specimens of the Serval vary greatly from each
other both in their size and coloration, some being half as large again as others. Neither of these appears, however, to
have any specific value; nor do they constitute even local races, because individuals from the same place are often very
unlike. For instance, there is in the Paris Museum a specimen from the Cape of Good Hope, collected, I believe, as well
as presented by the late J. P. Verreaux—which is of large size, marked with very large conspicuous black spots, and the
ground-colour of a general light buff,—and also another, presented by the same gentleman, from the same locality, small in
size, dark buff in colour, and covered with quite small black spots. Both are apparently adult. Other specimens are
marked with stripes on the upper part of the sides, instead of spots; and, in fact, it is no easy matter to obtain two that
are alike.
Fur rather long and soft. General colour bright buff; in some individuals it is inclined to rufous. Back striped with
black; shoulders also having one or two black stripes, which run diagonally along the flanks. A broad black line on each
side of the hind part of the neck passes to the shoulders, with two or three smaller ones between them. Lower part of
shoulders, flanks, and hind quarters marked with black spots, varying in size in different specimens, which extend along
the legs, growing very small as they approach the feet. Cheeks spotted with black. Throat white, a black line across the
centre. Chest rich buff, with a black line across the middle portion. Underparts huffy white, spotted with black. Two
black bars inside the upper part of fore legs; inside of hind legs spotted with black. Hind part of ears black, with a white
mark in the centre, nearly passing across the entire width. Tail long, with long fur, same colour as the back, a black
stripe down the centre, and usually with six black rings distributed along the entire length; the number, however, varies
among individuals.
Total length from nose to root of tail 35 inches, tail 9 inches.
The skull of the Serval is long and narrow, the upper border in the profile view arching gradually and evenly. Face on
a level with the forehead. Nasals flat, or slightly depressed medianly. Praemaxillae broad, extending a third of the way
between nasals and maxillae. Orbits incomplete, with the interorbital space broad. Brain-case oblong, rounded, with an
occipital crest (more prominent in some than in others). Zygoma broad, curving well outwards, affording room for a
powerful masseter muscle. Infraorbital foramen slightly oblong in shape. Lower outline of ramus curving upwards
anteriorly to the symphysis. Superior canines rather feeble and short. Auditory bullae large, broad on their posterior end,
contracted and rather pointed anteriorly. The mastoid foramen contracted, and presenting a nearly linear opening. The
external auditory foramen very large, nearly round, and open.