54 FELIDJE. 



true molar, with two roots and two nearly equal lobes, each ending 

 in a point, the points diverging but connected by a sharp cutting- 

 edge. There is sometimes a rudimentary hinder tubercle or 

 " talon." 



The deciduous or milk-teeth are of course much smaller ; but 

 resemble in form the permanent teeth that succeed them, with the 

 exception of the second milk-molar in each jaw and the third in 

 the upper. The second upper milk-molar is three-fanged, and 

 much resembles in form the permanent third premolar or sectorial, 

 whilst the third milk-molar resembles the upper true molar in shape, 

 but is relatively larger. The second lower milk-molar somewhat 

 simulates the lower first true molar or sectorial, but the anterior 

 lobe is smaller than the second, and behind the latter are two 

 posterior tubercles. 



The claws are perfectly retractile (partially in Cyn&lurus). The 

 terminal or third phalanx of each digit is attached to the side, not 

 the end, of the second, and is drawn back by a retractor ligament 

 attached to the proximal end of the third phalanx, and passing 

 through a bony sheath on the first phalanx. 



All cats are truly digitigrade. The pollex, or thumb, is well 

 developed and has a large claw, but is not used in walking, being 

 more proximally situated than the other digits. There is no hallux. 

 There is a thick pad for each toe, that for the pollex being .smaller 

 than the others, and a large median pad between the four toes on 

 each foot. A seventh small pad exists on the fore leg on the 

 outer palmar surface of the metacarpus. 



The organs of sight and hearing are well developed and the 

 senses acute. The long vibrissae, commonly called whiskers, are 

 delicate organs of touch. The tongue is covered with rough 

 papillae directed backwards, and adapted to remove flesh from 

 bones. The intestines are comparatively short, being from twice 

 to five times the length of the body. 



Cats are found in all the Continents, but are wanting in the 

 Australian and Madagascar regions. 



The Felidce comprise only two genera, both of which are found 

 in India. They are thus distinguished : 



Claws perfectly retractile ; inner cusp of upper sectorial 



well developed .............................. FELIS. 



Claws imperfectly retractile ; inner cusp of upper sectorial 

 rudimentary ................................ 



A monograph of the family, with excellent coloured figures of 

 all the species by Wolf, has been published by Mr. D. G. Elliot. 



Several forms of fossil Felidce have been discovered belonging to 

 both living and extinct genera. In the Siwaliks of North-western 

 India remains of five species of Fells, one of which, F. cristata, 

 nearly equalled the tiger in size, have been found, together with 

 those of two forms of the great sabre-toothed feline Mat/hatred**; 

 an extinct type with enormous canines, and jaw-fragments indi- 

 cating two other genera, JEluroyale and JEluroimis, the latter 



