THE CATS. 93 



Turning to the subject of classification, all zoologists are 

 agreed that the whole of the existing Cats should be included 

 within a single family — the Felidce. As regards generic divisions 

 there is, however, some difference of opinion ; although it is 

 admitted on all sides that the Hunting-Leopard is entitled to 

 stand as a genus (Cynizlurus), apart from all the rest. The 

 question then resolves itself as to whether the whole of the 

 other Cats should be included in the single typical genus Felis, 

 or divided into two or more genera. By the late Dr. Gray, the 

 existing Cats were split up into no less than thirteen generic 

 divisions ; but the majority of these were obviously unnatural, 

 and they have been discarded by most recent zoologists. 

 The true, or short-tailed northern Lynxes differ, however, 

 markedly from the more typical members of the Family, and 

 were it not for the existence of more or less completely inter- 

 mediate forms, there would be much to be said for referring 

 them to a genus apart, under the name of Lyncus. The 

 Caracal, which is nearly allied to the Lynxes, is, however, a 

 long-tailed form, connecting the former with the Jungle Cat 

 and its allies so closely as to render any such divisions very 

 difficult to define. It is true that an attempt to solve the 

 difficulty has been made by referring the former animal to a 

 third genus, as Caracal ; but this, in the writer's opinion, does 

 not much mend matters, and accordingly, in the present 

 volume, all the existing Cats, with the exception of the Hunting- 

 Leopard, are included in the Linnean genus Felis. 



A nearly similar state of uncertainty exists as to the number 

 of species by which that genus is represented. In the sequel 

 forty-five different kinds are provisionally admitted. Several 

 of these are, however, of doubtful specific rank, this being es- 

 pecially the case among the Lynxes ; and it is hence not im- 

 probable that the number of species, if all were founded upon 

 differences of approximately equal value, might be reduced 



