Felis chaus and its Allies. 



293 



Felis chaus furax } subsp. n. 



In general colour and proportions very closely resembling 

 the Egyptian Chaus, though probably rather smaller. The 

 hind toot of the single specimen measures 1-15 milliin., which 

 is about equal to the hind foot of a female from Egypt. 



The enormous size of the teeth distinguish this cat from 

 any of its allies, and I cannot believe that this peculiarity is 

 individual. The size of the canines, which are 20 millim. 

 long and 8 broad at the alveolus, points to the specimen being 

 a male; but the top of the skull, with a broad shield-pattern 

 and small sagittal crest, more resembles that of a female. 



The type ($ , no. 64. 8. 17. 4 in the British Museum) was 

 obtained by Canon Tristram near Jericho in Palestine, 

 12th January, 1864. 



In proportion to its size this cat has the largest teofch of 

 any living member of the family Felidse. 



Felis chaus typica, J 



tl V )> o 



Felis chaus affinis, S 



Felis chaus nilotica, J (type) 

 » >> ii o • • • • 



» u » + • • • ■ 



» » V + 



Felis chaus furax, rf (type). . 



Pin. 2. 



nun. 

 9-3 

 9-5 



9-5 

 10-2 

 9 

 9-5 



10-5 



Pm.3. 



mm. 



14-5x8-5 

 14-5x7-5 



13 x7 



15-5x8 

 L5-5X8-7 

 11 x7'5 

 14-1x7-9 



Ph-S 



P 3 



mm. 

 45-6 



48 



41-5 



51 

 50 

 45 

 47 



17-6x9-6 i 49-5 



/ 



Simple figures do not convey much idea as to the size of 

 teeth ; but the importance of the above figures may be under- 

 stood when it is realized that there is as little difference 

 between the teeth of the Palestine Chaus and those of a 

 female Leopard as there is between those of the European 

 Wild Cat and the Indian Chans — in fact, the flesh- teeth are 

 actually larger than those of the Ocelot, and had the separate 

 teeth been found fossil they would have been put down to 

 an animal of the size of a Leopard. Therefore in this 



Ann. »C- Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol. ii. 21 



