41 . Felis chaus

41. Felis chaus.
The jangle Cat.

Felis chaus, Giildenstadt, Nov. Com. Pet. xx, p. 483, pls. 14,15 (1776); Kelaart, Prod. p. 48; Blyth, Cat. p. 63 ; id. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 186 ; id. Mam. Birds Burma, p. 28 ; Jerdon, Mam. p. 1ll; Elliot, Mon. Fel. pl. xxxiii. Felis catolynx, Pallas, Zoog. Ros.-As. i, p. 23, pl. ii. Felis affinis, Gray, Hardwicke's Ill. Ind. Zool. i, pl. 3. Felis kutas, Pearson, J. A. S. B. i, p. 75. Felis (Lynchus) erythrotis, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. v, p. 233. Felis jacquemontii, I. Geoffr. Jacquemont, Voyage, iv, p. 58, Atlas, ii. pls, ii, iii.
Jangli-billi, H.; Khatas, H. and Beng.; Banberal, Beng.; Gurba-i-Kuhi, Pers.; Baul, Bhaoga, Mahr.; Berka, Hill-tribe of Rajmahal; Mant-bek, Can.; Kada bek or Bella bek, Wadari; Katu-punai, Tam.; Jurka pilli, Tel.; Cherru puli, Mal.; Kyoung tset-kun, Arakanese.
Size exceeding that of a domestic cat. Pupil round. Ears often with a few longer hairs at the end, not amounting, however, to a distinct tuft as in the lynxes. Tail short, one third to two fifths the length of the head and body. Eur variable, short in specimens from plains of India, longer in Himalayan skins.
Skull strong, elongate, postorbital processes bending sharply downwards ; the brain-case broad behind the postorbital processes; nasal bones broad anteriorly, more or less concave at the side. The lower jaw convex below. Inner lobe of upper flesh-tooth well developed, as large as the outer anterior lobe.
Colour of the body varying from sandy grey or yellowish grey to greyish brown; back darker, often rufescent, sometimes dusky ; lower parts fulvescent or rufescent white. Eur in general fulves-cent white (isabelline) from the base to near the tip, where it is greyish white, the tip being black, sometimes on the back rufous near the tip ; the underfur near the body in some specimens brown. The limbs are sometimes transversely barred with dusky, sometimes not; there are usually the two broad dusky bands inside the fore¬arm. Foot and tarsus dusky brown beneath. Tail ringed with black near the end, and the tip black. Cheek-stripes and band across breast sometimes present and of a pale ferruginous tint. Ears pale rufous outside, the tips generally blackish or black. There is some long whitish hair on the anterior portion of the ear inside.
In adult specimens there are usually no markings on the body or limbs, but exceptions occur. In some skins more or less distinct vertical rows of spots or wavy lines may be traced on the sides. A black variety is occasionally found, and Dr. Scott procured it both near Hansi and in the neighbourhood of Umballa.
Dimensions. Hodgson gives:—head and body 22 inches, tail with hair at the end 11, without 10, heightat shoulder 16; weight 14 lbs. Jerdon's measurements are:—head and body 26, tail 9 to 10, height at shoulder 14 to 15 ; and of a large specimen killed at Umballa, total length 39 inches, height 18, weight 18 lbs. (Appendix, p. ii). A moderate-sized skull is 3-75 inches long (basal length), and nearly 3 broad across the zygomatic arches. In a large male skull the basal length is nearly 4 inches, in a small (? female) specimen 3-35.
Distribution. F. chaus is the common wild cat of India from the Himalaya to Cape Comorin, and from the level of the sea to 7000 or 8000 feet or perhaps higher on the Himalayas. It is found in Ceylon and also extends into Burma, but has not been recorded further east. A wild cat observed by Col. Tickell at the Andaman Islands (J. A. S. B. xxxii, p. 86) may perhaps have been this species. It has an extensive range through Western Asia and Northern Africa.
Habits. This cat frequents either jungles or open country, and is very partial to long grass, reeds, cornfields, sugar-cane fields, and similar places, being often seen in the neighbourhood of villages. It feeds on birds and small mammals, and is said to be especially destructive to partridges, peafowl, hares, and other game. Jerdon was actually robbed by a jungle cat of a peafowl he had shot; and McMaster relates a similar incident that happened to himself. The same observer says that he shot one in Burma in deep black mud, where it was perhaps hunting for fish or crabs. The voice, according to Blyth, differs from that of the domestic cat.
The jungle cat is a very savage animal. McMaster says he was once charged by a large individual that he had wounded with shot. As a rule, even if captured young, F. chaus appears to be untam¬able, but exceptions occur. It frequently breeds, however, with the domestic cat of India, and some of the latter closely resemble it in colouring, although they are considerably smaller. It is said to breed twice in the year, and to have three or four young at a time.

BookTitle: 
The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon And Burma
Reference: 
W. T. Blanford (1888-91)The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon And Burma - Taylor & Francis, London
Book Author: 
W. T. Blanford
CatNo: 
41
Page No: 
86
Common name: 
The Jangle Cat
Scientific name: 
Felis chaus
Corrected Name: 
Felis chaus
Term name: 
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