292 Mr. W. E. de Winton on 



Felis chaus nilotica, subsp. n. 



Felts RuppeUit, Brandt, Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscou, 1832, torn. iv. p. 209 

 (nee Scbinz). 



Brandt, recognizing the distinctness of the Egyptian Chans, 

 named it after the great collector who had obtained the first 

 specimens ; but unfortunately this name had already been 

 applied by Schinz to another cat (F. maniculata) , also found 

 in Egypt. 



As I believe this animal to differ essentially from the 

 typical form found in Western Asia, it is necessary to 

 provide it with a distinguishing- name, and I take as the type 

 of the subspecies an adult male, no. 98. 6. 5. 1 in the British 

 Museum, collected by Mr. B. J. Cunninghame near Cairo, 

 22nd January, 1898. 



The collector's measurements, taken from the fresh-killed 

 specimen, are : — 



Head and body 720 millim. ; tail 270; hind foot 170; 

 ear 64. Weight 11 lbs. 2 oz. 



The measurements of another large male are given as: — 



Head and body 760 millim.; tail 280; hind foot 174; 

 ear 72. Weight 14 lbs. 3 oz. 



Of a female : Head and body 620 millim. ; tail 210 ; hind 

 foot 145 ; ear 63. Weight 8 lbs. 7 oz. 



The Egyptian Chaus closely resembles the True Chaus in 

 form and colour ; it is, however, rather larger, and the ears 

 are darker and more grizzled, so do not show out against the 

 colour of the head, as do the more foxy-red ears of both the 

 True Chaus and the Indian species. Tlie front of the chest 

 is also more grizzled and darker. 



In comparing the skulls of F. chaus nilotica with those of 

 F. chaus typica, besides the greater size of the teeth, which is 

 at once very obvious, there are several characters which seem 

 to be quite constant. Looking at the skulls in true profile, 

 the highest point of the cranium in F. chaus typica is equi- 

 distant between the nose and the occiput — that is, just behind 

 the supraorbital processes, while in F. ch. nilotica the highest 

 point is just in front of a line drawn between the points of 

 the supraorbital processes, and so noticeably nearer to the 

 point of the nasals than to the occiput. The intermaxillary 

 processes in the typical form are rather more evenly tapered, 

 while in the Egyptian form they are practically straight on 

 the inner edge and convex or much bowed on the outer 

 margin. In the latter form also the nasal bones are longer, 

 reaching well beyond the back of the maxillary processes, 

 and the palate is rather broader in the Egyptian animal. 



