340 Mr. 11. I. Pocock on the 



Genus Profelis, Severtz. 



Profelts, Severtzow, 1858, p. 386 ; type auraia *, Temm. {=ceUdo- 



t faster), 

 Chrysailunts, Severtzow, 1858, p. 389; ty]5e aurata {-^ner/lecta, Gray). 

 Catopuma, Sevei-tzow, ]8o8, p. 387; type tevimincki, Vig. & Horsf. 



{ = )iioor)!ie)}sis, Hodg.). 

 Pi/rofelis, Gray, 1874, p. 854 ; type temmincld. 



Two well-marked species, P. aurata and P. temmincld^ the 

 latter at least probably containing subspecies [dominica- 

 noruni). 



Disti'. Himalayas and Cliina to Indo-Malaysia {tem- 

 mincld) ; West-African forest-region (^aurata'). 



Medium-sized cats with rounded unspotted ears and 

 moderately long tails, but with other external characters 

 unknown. 



Skull much larger than that of Prionailurus and differing 

 therefrom in several characters. The nasals are a little 

 broijder, the postorbital processes shorter and never con- 

 fluent; the crest on the malar is close to its inferior edge ; 

 the external pterygoid crest extends forwards considerably 

 in front of the hamular, and the occipital area is much 

 broader especially over the summit and across the mastoid 

 processes^ its width across the latter exceeding the width of 

 the cranium across the parietals. In its broad nasals and 

 occipital area Profelis is very like Pardofelis, but differs in 

 the shape of the meso[)terygoid fossa, of the external ptery- 

 goid crest, the width of the valley between the bulla and the 

 glenoid crest, the shorter postorbital processes, and more 

 sloping chin. From the skull of Zibethailurus that of Pro- 

 felis differs in general form and aspect as well as in the shape 

 and width of the occipital area, the position of the malar 

 crest, narrower coronoid processes, etc. With Ictailurus and 

 Neofelis no special comparison is necessary. 



In connection with the mandible it may be noticed that 

 the condyle is high above the angular process, the first 

 premolar is small and considerably lower than the carnassial, 

 and the alveolus of the canine is elevated. From this it 

 results that there is a high postcanine space, the first little 

 premolar of the maxilla, when retained, being widely sepa- 

 rated from the first premolar of the mandible. 



The species of this genus fall into two groups widely 

 separated geographically, both being dimorphic in colour : — 



(I) The West-African species P. aurata, assigued to Pro- 

 felis and Chrysailurus by Severtzow, and ranging from Sierra 



* For specific synonymy of this species see P. Z. S. 1907, p. 656. 



