332 'Sir. R. I. Pocock on the 



as in the retention of nigripes and chaus in Fdis, of caracal 

 in Lynx, and of rubiginosa in Prionailurus. But sueli 

 questions, in reality of no great moment, can easily be 

 adjusted later, if modification is considered desirable. 



Even if time and space had permitted, it would have 

 been beyond my present purpose to attempt complete 

 descriptions of the skulls of the genera admitted. Only 

 the points that appeared to me useful in determining the 

 genera have been referred to. Some of them may probably 

 break down Avhen further material is examined. Others, on 

 the contrary, may be discovered or ixsed ; and since we are 

 still in ignorance of the external characters of several of the 

 genera, and since the study of the so-called tiger-cats of the 

 tropics is hedged with difficulties, the classification, although 

 I believe it to be in the main correct^ is still in many respects 

 tentative. 



In the choice of names I have been guided strictly by 

 priority, so far as it could be ascertained; and in the case 

 of the names proposed by Severtzow line-priority has been 

 taken as the determining factor in the selection. 



The Subfamilies of Felidae. 



Reverting to the papers I have recently published on the 

 external and cranial characters of cats, I propose to emphasize 

 the characters distinctive of Panthera and Uncia and of 

 Acinonyx as compared widi the rest of the genera of Felidre, 

 by dividing this family into three subfamilies as follows : — 



1. Felix^. — Suspeusorium of the hyoid normally ossified, 



holding the larynx close up to the base of the skull 

 and restricting its movement. Tips of the digits of 

 both fore and hind feet furnished at least with a 

 single cutaneous lobe protecting the retracted claw 

 on the inner side of digits 2 and 3 and on the outer 

 side of digits 4 and 5. 



Containing the genera characterised in this paper. 



2. AciNONYCHix.E. — Resembling the Felinse in the struc- 



ture of the hyoid, but differing from them and from 

 the Pantherinae in the total suppression of the 

 cutaneous lobes guarding the claws. 



Genus Acinonyx {Cynailurus) for jubatus. 



3. Paxtherix^. — Suspensorium of the hyoid imperfectly 



ossified, its inferior portion consisting of a larger or 

 shorter elastic tendon conferring great mobility upon 



