456 CARNIVORA 



Genus FELIS Linnteus. 



1758. Felis Linnseus, Syst. Nat., i, 10th ed., p. 41 (Type by tautonymy 

 Felis catus Linnseus). 



1855. Catus Fitzinger, Wiss.-pop. Naturgesch. der Siiugith., i, p. 2G5 

 (catus by tautonymy). 



1857. Felis Blasius, Saugethiere Deutschlands, p. 159. 



1858. Catolyyix Severtzow, Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 2nd ser., x, p. 385 (catus). 



Type S2jecies. — Felis catus Linnseus. 



Geographical distribtdton. — Tropical and noi'thern temperate 

 portions of the Old World ; exact limits of range not known. 



Characters. — Dental formula : * ||, c ti, pm pl, m ^^ = 30 ; 

 anterior upper premolar small but well developed, rarely 

 deciduous ; skull broad, rounded and deep, the zygomatic 

 breadth about three-quarters condylobasal length ; external form 

 slender, typically feline, the fur full and soft, not developing 

 special manes or tufts. 



Remarks. — In the uncertainty now existing with regard to 

 the taxonomic rank of the various groups of cats the genus 

 Felis is here regarded in its most restricted sense with respect to 

 both characters and synonymy. As thus understood it contains 

 about twenty species, mostly of the Old World. Three of these 

 occur in Europe. 



KEY TO THE EUROPEAN FORMS OF FELIS. 



Fur of median dorsal area noticeably longer and 



coarser than that of sides ; tail slender, its hairs 



about 30 mm. in length ; no black stripes on 



shoulders or back. 



General colour of back and sides grey, the darker 



markings practically absent (Sardinia) F. sarda, p. 468. 



General colour of back and sides yellowish brown, 



the darker markings evident though faint (Crete) F. agrius, p. 470. 



Fur of median dorsal area not noticeably longer and 



coarser than that of sides ; tail thick, its hairs 



about 40 mm. long; two short black stripes 



between shoulders, and a long median black stripe 



on back F. silvesfris, p. 457. 



Teeth enlarged (pni'^ and pm^ together 19 to 20 mm. ; 

 three lower cheek-teeth together 22 '4 to 23 '6 



mm. ; w, 9*2 to 10 mm.). Southern Spain F. s. tartessia, p. 465. 



Teeth normal (pni^ and pm* together 16*6 to 19 mm. ; 



three lower cheek-teeth together 18 • 8 to 22 mm. ; 



?Wi 8-0 to 8-8 mm.). 



General coloiar light, approaching the smoke-grey 



of Ridgway ; stripes on sides and legs obsolete 



(Central Europe) F. s. sUvestris, p. 462. 



General colour dark, approaching the broccoli- 

 brown of Ridgway ; stripes on sides and legs 

 well defined (Scotland) F. s. grampia, p. 464. 



