54 TELIDiE. 



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

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

 edge. Tliere is sometimes a rudimentary hinder tubercle or 

 " talon." 



The deciduous or milk-teeth are of course much sn)aller ; 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 preuiolar or sectorial, 

 whilst the third milk-molar resembles the uj)per true molar in shape, 

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

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

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

 posterior tubercles. 



The claws are perfectly retractile (partially in Cjinidurus). The 

 terminal or third phalanx of each digit is atl ached 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 iirst phalanx. 



All cats are tridy digitigrade. The pollex, or thuud). is well 

 developed and has a large cla\\', but is not used in walking, l)eing 

 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 bet\Aeen Ihe 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 de^■eloped and the 

 senses acute. The long vibrissa?, commonly called whiskers, are 

 delicate organs of touch. The tongue is co\ered \\ith rough 

 papillaj 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 oidy two genera, both of which are found 

 in India. They are thus distinguished :■ — 



CItiws perfectly retractile ; iuner cusp of upper sectorial 



well developed Felis. 



Claws iin perfectly retractile ; inner cusp of ujiper sectorial 



rudimentary CvN^ELVitus. 



A moiuigraph 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 ha\ e been discovered belonging to 

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

 India remains of Rve species of Felis, one of which, F. cristdta, 

 nearly equalled the tiger in size, have been found, together wi)h 

 those of two forms of the great sabre-toothed feline Mnflurrodits, 

 an extinct type with enormous canines, and jaw-fi-;igments indi- 

 cating two other genera, yEluroijule and uEluruji^i.s, the latter 



