FELIS. 55 



peculiar to the Indian Pliocene. Some bones of felines have also 

 been found in Indian Pleistocene deposits, but they have not been 

 identified with certainty. 



Genus PELIS, Linnteus, 1766. 



This genus is perhaps represented by more species in India and 

 its dependencies than in any other tract of the earth's surface 

 equal in area. 



Fig. 16. Skull of Felis viverrina. (Gray, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 268.) 



Synopsis of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Sjrteci.es. 



A. Ears of moderate length, not tufted, or with 

 short hairs only at the end. 



a. Large, tawny throughout; tail tufted at 



the end F. leo, p. 50. 



b. Large, transversely striped ; tail not tufted. F. tiyris, p. 58. 



c. Spotted throughout, spots on body less than 



2 inches in diameter. 

 a'. Large, exceeding 5 feet from nose to 



tail-tip F. pardus, p. 67. 



b'. Less than 5 feet from nose to tail-tip. 

 a". Tail about one fourth of total length 



(from nose to tail-tip) F. viveirina, p. 76. 



b". Tail about one third of total length. 

 a. No distinct longitudinal bands on 



crown ; ears pointed F. ornata, p. 84. 



8. Distinct longitudinal bands on 



crown j ears rounded. 

 a'. Upper molar series 3 on each 



side ; tail unspotted , . . F. rubiginosa, p. 81. 



$'. Upper molar series 4 ; tail 



spotted above F. benyalensis, p. 78. 



d. Large spots, exceeding 2 inches in diameter, 



or irregular blotches on the body. 

 a'. Large, pale grey or whitish with dark 



rings on body F. uncia, p. 71. 



