THE ANNALS 
AND 
MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
[EIGHTH SERIES.] 
No. 119. NOVEMBER 1917. 
XL.—The Classification of existing Felidz. 
By R. I. Pocock, F.R.S. 
Introduction. 
The number of names quoted below in the lists of 
suggested synonymy attests the prevalence amongst zoolo- 
gists, during the last half century or thereabouts, of the 
conviction that the genus Felis of Linnzus was capable of 
division into several genera. Severtzow and Gray were the 
most prolific proposers of titles of this rank. Severtzow, 
‘ however—perhaps wisely,—made no attempt to define his 
genera; and the characters embodied in the definitions given 
by Gray seemed scarcely important enough to justify his 
efforts. Gray began his schismatic work in 1821 and finished 
it in 1869, overlapping Severtzow, who published in 1858 ; 
but since Gray was ignorant of Severtzow’s paper, or 
possibly purposely passed it by because of the omission of 
diagnoses, the inevitable result was chaotic confusion in the 
generic nomenclature thus independently suggested. 
Other authors have given generic titles to isolated species 
without attempting a comprehensive revision of the whole 
group. The only genus dismembered from Felis which has 
met with unanimous acceptance 1s Acinonyx or Cynailurus, 
of which jubatus is the type; but the frequency with which 
a certain measure of recognition has been specially accorded 
to Lynx luminously reflects the general character of the 
systematic efforts of authors, because of all the groups of 
species into which the cats can be divided Lynz is itself 
most nearly related to Felis, as exemplified by its typical 
form. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 8. Vol. xx. 22 
