1 8 LLOYDS NATtTkAL ttlSTORY. 



A complete transition from solid spots to transverse stripes 

 is not observable in any member of the Family, although an 

 indication of the mode in which such a transition might be 

 effected is afforded by the markings on the fore-quarters of some 

 specimens of the Indian Desert-Cat (F. ornata). The most 

 perfect development of transverse dark stripes is to be met with 

 in the Tiger (F. tigris) and the Wild Cat (F catus). From such 

 fully striped species a transition can be traced through forms 

 like the Caffre Cat (F. caffra) and the Flat-headed Cat 

 (F. planiceps), in which, while the limbs remain more or less 

 distinctly striped, the body has become more or less uni- 

 formly tawny, to perfectly tawny species like the Bay Cat 

 (F badius), the Eyra (F. eyra), and the Lion (F. leo). That 

 the Bay Cat was originally a striped form maybe inferred from 

 its alliance to the Flat-headed Cat ; while that the Lien has 

 originated from a transversely suiped species is evident from 

 the occurrence of such stripes in the cubs. On the other hand, 

 the indications of spots persisting on the fur of the Puma 

 (F. puma) prove as clearly that in some instances a uni- 

 formly tawny hue has been evolved from the spotted type 

 of coloration. 



In a paper on the coloration of animals published by 

 Professor Elmer, of Tubingen, in the " Jahreshefte Vereins fur 

 Naturkiinde, Wiirttemberg," for 1883, the author arrives at the 

 conclusion that longitudinal dark stripes formed the primitive 

 coloration of terrestrial vertebrates in general, and that these sub- 

 sequently broke up into spots, while the latter again coalesced 

 to form transverse stripes ; a uniform coloration being finally 

 produced by the disappearance of the latter. Although the 

 coloration of the existing Felidce can, as is evident from the 

 foregoing observations, be explained on this hypothesis, yet 

 there are several difficulties in accepting it altogether. In the 

 first place, it has been shown that in the Puma a uniform 



