Classification of existing Felide. 347 
HA, yaguarondi and H. geoffroyi are widely divergent 
Species in cranial characters, the former departing the 
most, the latter the least, from the typical feline type. In 
H. yaguarondi the anterior nares are subyertical ; the post- 
orbital processes of the frontal are short and depressed, but 
the malar process is longish; the zygomata are weakly 
arched, with the suborbital portion less salient above the 
carnassial and the squamosal root very long from before 
backwards, with its posterior border strongly inclined 
forwards and outwards ; the valley between the bulla and 
the glenoid ridge is wider; the occipital area is narrow 
across the mastoids, and the crest is less strongly inclined 
backwards and inwards; the temporal crests always form a 
wide lyriform area. 
On account of the differences in the skulls the two species 
might be regarded as generically or subgenerically distinct, 
but the difficulties of definition would in that case be great 
on account of H. pardinoides and its allies occupying in 
many cranial respects an intermediate position between the 
two, as Thomas pointed out in 1908. 
The names yaguarondi aud eyra were given, I believe, to 
colour-phases of one and the same species, the former being 
blackish with speckled hair, the latter red. Neither form 
shows pattern in the adult. If newly born kittens show 
pattern at all, which by the analogy of Lyng caracal is 
uncertain, it may be predicted that it will be like that of 
H., pardinoides, guiyna, or geoffroyi. It may be added that the 
skull of H. yaguarondi differs widely from that of Puma 
concolor and completely negatives the claim of relation- 
ship that has been made between the two species on account 
of the absence of pattern in the adults. 
Some of the smaller spotted species of the pardinoides and 
tigrina types of this genus, with the skull smooth and 
rounded, recall on superficial inspection the smaller species 
of Prionailurus like bengalensis, more particularly in the 
large size of the orbit, the shortness of the muzzle, expanded 
maxilla, and the vertical truncature of the anterior nares. 
The two, however, differ as follows :— 
The P. bengalensis-type. The H. pardinoides-type. 
Postorbital processes long, often Postorbital processes short and 
confluent. subspinitorm, 
Preorbital constriction narrowest Preorbital constriction narrowest 
midway along orbit, usually well | in front of centre of orbit and close 
behind maxilla and nasals. behind maxilla and nasals. 
Masseteric ridge advancing to Masseteric ridge near lower edge 
middle of malar, of malar. 
23* 
