THE CATS. 33 
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 Fede. 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 (Cyz@lurus), 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 /e/is, 
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 Zyzcus. 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 e//s. 
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 yalue, might be reduced 
