749 



FELID^E. 



FELID^E. 



750 



bones of the left side in situ ; and another, No. 1553, of a longitudinal 

 section of the side of the head of a young lion, showing the ossa 

 turbiuata in situ also. The following luminous description of the 

 latter is given in the Catalogue (' Physiological Series,' yol. iii.) : " The 

 superior bone is of a conical form, extending along the whole of the 

 roof of the nasal cavity, with its base opposite to the frontal sinus 

 (which is here exposed), and its apex terminating above the anterior 

 extremity of the inferior turbinated bone. It presents a smooth or 

 uniform surface towards the nasal cavity, as may be seen in the 

 preceding specimen ; but the lamella forming this surface has been 

 partially removed, showing the subjacent lamella, which is folded 

 longitudinally : the more complicated disposition of the exterior 

 lamella of the same bone is exhibited on the opposite side of the 

 preparation, where the surface for the extension of the olfactory 

 membrane is augmented by a series of deep arched folds, having their 

 convexity upwards. The middle turbinated bone is also of a 

 pyramidal form, ita broad basis being applied to the cribriform plate 

 of the ethmoid bone, and its apex extending between those of the 

 other two turbinated bones, but not reaching so far forwards. The 

 nasal or mesial surface of this bone is complicated by numerous deep 

 furrows, two of which extend longitudinally, parallel with the superior 

 margin of the bone, while the others radiate hi an irregular manner 

 from the lower point of attachment. The lateral surface of the bone 

 is less complicated and extensive. The inferior and anterior turbi- 

 nated bone is of an elongated form, and contracted at both extremities. 

 Its posterior and inferior extremity is attached to the outer parietes 

 of the nasal passage, below the middle of the turbinated bone : from 

 this point it extends obliquely upwards, enlarging as it crosses the 

 anterior extremity of the middle bone, and then diminishing in size 

 to its anterior and superior attachment behind the external nostril : 

 from its position therefore the odorous particles in inspiration must 

 first impinge upon this bone. Its nasal surface is pretty uniform, 

 presenting only one curved groove, parallel with and near to the lower 

 linn-gin of the bone, in this respect differing widely from the lower 

 turbinated bone in the hare : its exterior surface is similarly charac- 

 terised. In the preparation the outer lamella has been cut away to 

 show the subjacent fold. The whole being minutely injected, the 

 vascularity of the pituitary membrane extended over this vast and 

 complicated surface is well displayed. The pituitary membrane is 

 evidently thickest and most vascular at the anterior part of the 

 cavity, where it must receive the first impression of the external air. 

 A portion of the pituitary membrane is reflected from the base of the 

 middle turbinated bone, showing the fibres of the olfactory nerves 

 spreading over it. In No. 1554 (the opposite section of the same 

 head) and No. 1555 (the intermediate section) this part of the organi- 

 sation is still further illustrated. 



The sense of hearing is acute in most of the Cats. There is, in the 

 greater number of mammiferous quadrupeds, connected with the 

 aium, another cavity which Blumenbach compares, with regard 

 to the situation of the bony organ that contains it, to the mastoid 

 cells in the temporal bone of man. In several animals (and the cat is 

 one of them) this organ is a mere bony cavity. The ossicula auditug, 

 considering the lenticulus as only a process of the incus, are three, 

 as in the human subject. In the Museum of the College of Surgeons 

 there is a preparation (No. 1600, Gallery) of a section of the cranium 

 of a young lion, including the organ of hearing of the left side. A 

 part of the meatus is preserved with the membrana tympani, and the 

 cavity of the tympanum is laid open, showing the convexity of the 

 membrane turned towards it, as in most Mammalia. (' Catalogue,' 

 vol. iii.) 



Sight is acute in the Felida;, and they have the nictitating membrane 

 very large and inoveable. The pigment, as far as is known, is gene- 

 rally speaking of two colours, and the anterior perforation of the 

 iris is formed of two segments of large circles joined, giving it a long 

 and a short axis, the long axis being vertical. In the Museum of the 

 College of Surgeons (No. 1710, Gallery) ia the eye of a lion minutely 

 injected by the ciliary arteries, and the sclerotic coat transversely 

 divided, and reflected from the cboroid, to show the vascularity of 

 that tunic. No. 1730 in a preparation of the eye of a lion, showing 

 the broad patch of tapetum lucidum below and also a little above the 

 insertion of the optic nerve. The succeeding numbers to No. 1733 

 inclusive are also illustrative of this part of the organisation in the 

 lion and the leopard. John Hunter, ' Observations on Certain Parts 

 of the Animal (Economy,' remarks, that when the pigmentum is of 

 mbre than one colour in the same eye, the lighter portion is always 

 placed at the bottom of the eye, in the shape of a half-moon with 

 the circular arch upwards ; the straight line or diameter passing 

 almost horizontally across the lower edge of the optic nerve, so that 

 the end of the nerve is within this lighter coloured part, which makes 

 a kind of semicircular sweep above it : and he observes that the 

 shape is peculiar to the Cat, Lion, Dog, and most of the carnivorous 

 tribe. Professor Owen observes that the Cheetah has the circular 

 pupil of the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, and Jaguar. (' Zool. Proa,' 1833.) 



The osteology of the Pelidce presents little for the distinction of 

 specie* except size, and in no animal does specific character depend 

 upon size and colour more entirely than it does in this family. 

 Tliiiri 1 are indeed differences : such for instance as that pointed out 

 ly Professor Owen between the skull of the lion and that of the tiger; 



but taken as a whole the skeleton of a cat is very nearly the minia- 

 ture representation of that of a lion or a tiger. We accordingly find 

 that the disposition of many leading zoologists has been to bring all 

 the numerous species under one genus. Linnaeus arranges them under 

 felii, the third genus of his order Fene, placing them between the 

 Dogs (Cam's) and Viterra. Illiger assigns to them a position in his 

 order Falculata, with the title Sanguinaria. Cuvier places them 

 under the name of Les Chats (Felis, Linn.) among his Carnivores, the 

 third family of his Carnassiers, between the Hyaenas and the Seals. 

 Temmiuek regards the genus Felis as an indivisible group zoologically, 

 but separates them into two sections, the first comprising those which 

 are found in the Old Continent and its archipelagos, 18 species in 

 number; the second those which occur in the New World, of which 

 he enumerates 9 species. Prince C. L. Bonaparte admits into his 

 family Felina the genera Proteles, JTycena, and Prionodon, a very 

 questionable admission. Dr. Leach gives the Lions a generic distinc- 

 tion with the name of Leo. The Lynxes are separated as a genus by 

 Dr. J. E. Gray, under the title of Lynchus ; and the Hunting Leopard 

 (Fdi> jiibata,) is characterised generally by Wagler as Cynailurus. The 

 whole family may be popularly divided into Lions, Tigers, Leopards, 

 Lynxes, and Wild Cats, or Cats properly so called the two latter 

 terms being more particularly applicable to the smaller forms. 

 Under the articles HY^NINA, CANIS, VULPID.*:, VIVERRID.E, BEARS, 

 MUSTELIDJ:, PHOCID.E, will be found other families of Carniv ora, some 

 of which have been occasionally referred to the Felidce. 



Before proceeding to any description or illustration of this family, 

 it will be advantageous to the student to be put in possession of 

 M. Temmmck's well-considered and digested monograph of the 

 genus Fdit, divided into two sections, according to their geographical 

 distribution. 



Section 1. 



This comprises the Felidce of the Old Continent and its archipelagos. 

 Species. 



Fdit Leo, including the three varieties of Barbary, Senegal, and 

 Persia. 



P. Tiyra, the Royal Tiger. 



P. jubata, the Hunting Leopard. 



P. Pardui, the Panther. Of this M. Temminck gives the following 

 character : When adult, less than the Leopard. Tail as long as the 

 body and the head, its extremity when turned back reaching to the 

 tip of the nose ; colour of the fur deep-yellowish fulvous, its internal 

 part marked with rose-like spots of the same hue as the ground-colour 

 of the fur ; the numerous spots closely approximated ; the rose-like 

 spots from 12 to 14 lines at the utmost in diameter; caudal vertebne 

 28. N.B. The number of caudal vertebra; assigned to the Leopard 

 by M. Temminck is 22. It would appear that there is no correct figure 

 of the true Panther. 



The Black Tiger, Felii melat, Rimau Kumbang of Sir Stamford 

 Raffles, is considered as only a dark variety of the Leopard. 



P. Uncia is considered as also to be erased from the list of species, 

 as it is only the young of the Leopard or Panther. 



P. macroceli*, the Rimau-Dahan. 



F. Served, comprising F. Serval and F. Capensis, Linn., the Chat- 

 Pun 1 of Desmarest, and the Caracal of Bruce. 



P. cervaria, the Lynx. 



P. Catta. 



P. maniculata. 



F. mintita, identical with the F. Javanensis of Horsfield's ' Zoolo- 

 gical Researches in Java,' and therefore not to be adopted. 



Section 2. 

 This comprises the Felida of the New Western World. 



F. concolor, the Puma. 



F. Onca, the Jaguar. 



P. Jayuarondi. 



F. celidogaster. Bought by M. Temminck at -the sale of Mr. Bullock's 

 collection for the Museum of the Netherlands. 



P. rufa, Guldenst., Bay-Cat of Pennant. With this M. Temminck 

 describes also a specimen brought from Mexico, which may prove 

 distinct. Bought by M. Temminck at Mr. Bullock's sale for the 

 Museum of the Netherlands. 



P. pardalii, the Ocelot. 



F. macroura. N.B. These two last confounded together by Linnaeus 

 under the name of F. pardalis. The Mexican Tiger of Pennant is said 

 to be representative of F. macroura. 



F. mitis, the Chati, F. Cuv. 



P. tiyrina. 



This monograph, as far as it goes, has been of great benefit ; but the 

 student should examine the menageries and museums, as well as the 

 works of other authors, and he will find several Cats noticed both 

 before and since the publication of M. Temmmck's Catalogue. Among 

 other authorities the publications of D'Azara, of Sir Stamford Raffles, 

 of F. Cuvier, of M. Desmarest, of Dr. J. E. Gray, of Dr. Horsfield, 

 and Mr. Vigors in the 'Zoological Journal,' of Dr. Horsfield in the 

 ' Zoological Researches in Java,' of Prince Maximilian, of M. Lesson, 

 of Sir William Jardine (' Naturalists' Library,' ' Mammalia,' vol. ii., 



