before the gaze of the astonished sportsman, and made good its escape. He thought it was probably stalking the bird,
so immediately did its spring follow his shot. The same author says that he has seen numbers of Cats about the village^
in various parts of the country that must have been hybrids between this species and tame Cats. A melanoid variety is
not uncommon. M'Masters, in bis notes on Jerdon’s ‘ Mammals of India,' remarks that the ear-tufts of this animal vary
in length a good deal, either from age, sex, or season. The species stands high on its legs, and is very powerful and a
frill-grown individual will give a couple of greyhounds far more trouble to kill than a jackal would. He also states that
the dark stripes on the limbs, externally as well as internally, are very conspicuous on some individuals, while in
others they are hardly visible; and some have the fur grey, others of a red or rufous tinge. He shot one in Burma that
was standing in deep black mud, probably looking for crabs. This species does not climb trees ; at least it is not known
to do so. The author last named also tried to rear the young of this species, but without success; and he states that
he is convinced it breeds with the domestic Cat.
Fur short, soft. General colour light grey or yellowish; underparts much lighter than the upper. No spots or lines
distinctly visible on some individuals, though in others there are indications of rufous-brown lines passing round the body,
while, again, some have conspicuous brownish black bars on the inside and outside of the limbs. The tail is long and
slender, and of the same colour as the body, with two or three brownish black bars or rings and a black tip. There are
no lines across the cheeks, as is usual with members of this family ; and individuals from various localities differ in colour
and size; but it is undoubted that there is only one species of this form.
Length from nose to root of tail 25\ inches, tail 10.
The skull of this species presents a rather long face, with broad nasals, which in some specimens narrow considerably
towards their frontal articulation. The premaxillary processes are broad and short, extending but a little distance
between the maxilla and nasals. Orbits incomplete, and the interorbital space wide. The bmin-case is large and
rounded, with the squamosals prominent when the skull is viewed from above. Nasal aperture heart-shaped. Canines
moderate in calibre. Infraorbital foramen uprightly oblong, and rather large in size. Auditory bull® large,
rounded posteriorly. Mastoid foramen oblong in shape. Lower outline of inferior ramus curving gradually upward
to the symphysis.