Temminck's Monographies de Mammalogie. 527 



that which forms the subject of the present livraison of M. Tem- 

 minck's Monographs, the genus Felis, In the osteology of the 

 numerous species comprised in it, there is little except size to 

 distinguish one from another; and size and colouring are almost 

 the only characters which are applicable to the discrimination of 

 living specimens. Founded entirely on these accidents, the groups 

 to which are occasionally applied the names of Lions, Tigers, 

 Lynxes, and Cats, are not entitled in a scientific point of view to 

 the rank of even subgenera. These denominations are merely a 

 familiar mode of expressing certain resemblances in colour and 

 in size exhibited by some of the species, which, however, blend 

 together so completely, as not to admit of any decided line of 

 demarcation between them. The young of the Lion presents the 

 spotted and streaked fur of the Tigers ; these again are merely 

 enlarged representations of Cats; nor is there in the pencils of 

 hairs developed on the ears of the Lynxes any determinate charac- 

 ter, varying as they do according to the age and the state of the 

 fur. The genus Felis is therefore regarded by M. Temminck as 

 a single and indivisible group, of which he describes twenty-seven 

 species, and notices eight others as either doubtful or not yet 

 SuflBciently known. Common to both the old and the new conti- 

 nent, and presenting no distinctive mark, by which those species 

 which are found in the one can be known from those of the other, 

 he has nevertheless arranged them in two sections corresponding 

 with their geographical distribution : but it is difficult to perceive 

 what benefit is to be derived from this separation, founded on the 

 mere fact of the countries which they inhabit, and supported by 

 no organic difference whatever between the groups. 



Of the first section, comprising those animals of the genus Felis 

 which are found in the Old Continent and its Archipelagos, eigh- 

 teen species are described ; the second, or those of the new world, 

 contains nine species. These we shall proceed to enumerate, in- 

 terspersing the catalogue with the characters of the new species, 

 and with occasional remarks, illustrative of the views entertained 

 by M. Temminck on the subject. 



