340 Mr. R. I. Pocock on the 
Genus Prore.is, Severtz. 
Profelis, Severtzow, 1858, p. 386; type aurata*, Temm. (=celido- 
aster). 
hea Severtzow, 1858, p. 889; type awrata (=neglecta, Gray). 
Catopuma, Severtzow, 1858, p. 387; type temminchi, Vig. & Horsf. 
(=moormensis, Hodg.). 
Pyrofelis, Gray, 1874, p. 854; type temminchi. 
Two well-marked species, P. aurata and P. temmincki, the 
latter at least probably containing subspecies (dominica- 
norum). 
Distr. Himalayas and China to Indo-Malaysia (¢em- 
mincki) ; West-African forest-region (aurata). 
Medium-sized cats with rounded unspotted ears and 
moderately long tails, but with other external characters 
unknown. 
Skull much larger than that of Prionailurus and differing 
therefrom in several characters. The nasals are a little 
broader, the postorbital processes shorter and never con- 
fluent; the crest on the malar is close to its inferior edge ; 
the external pterygoid crest extends forwards considerably 
in frout of the hamular, and the occipital area is much 
broader especially over the summit and across the mastoid 
processes, its width across the latter exceeding the width of 
the cranium across the parietals. In its broad nasals and 
occipital area Profelis is very like Pardofelis, but differs in 
the shape of the mesopterygoid fossa, of the external ptery- 
goid crest, the width of the valley between the bulla and the 
glenoid crest, the shorter postorbital processes, and more 
sloping chin. From the skull of Zibethailurus that of Pro- 
felis differs in general form and aspect as well as in the shape 
and width of the occipital area, the position of the malar 
crest, narrower coronoid processes, etc. With Ictailurus and 
Neofelis no special comparison is necessary. 
In connection with the mandible it may be noticed that 
the condyle is high above the angular process, the first 
premolar is small and considerably lower than the carnassial, 
and the alveolus of the canine is elevated. From this it 
results that there is a high postcanine space, the first little 
premolar of the maxilla, when retained, being widely sepa- 
rated from the first premolar of the mandible. 
The species of this genus fall into two groups widely 
separated geographically, both being dimorphic in colour :— 
(1) The West-African species P. aurata, assigned to Pro- 
felis and Chrysailurus by Severtzow, and ranging from Sierra 
* For specific synonymy of this species see P. Z. S. 1907, p. 656. 
