70G MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON FELIS TIGRINA. [Nov. 6, 



also existed in these, mainly, however, in size : no two were precisely 

 alike from any locality ; and there did not exist any single reliable 

 character that could be given by which more than one species could 

 be established and recognized. I therefore feel no hesitation in 

 stating that there exists but one species of Spotted Cat, commonly 

 known as the Margay, belonging to the New World, and that the 

 animals generally known as F. macroura, Pr, Max., and F. jnitis, Cuv., 

 are identical with it, and that these names must become synonyms 

 of Felis tigrina. I have always found it unsafe to decide upon any 

 species of Spotted Cat from a single specimen, unless accompanied 

 by some trenchant character exhibited in the skull which would 

 permit it readily to be distinguished ; and this, I may remark, is very 

 rarely to be found among the Felidse. 



All the species of Felis from both the Old and New Worlds 

 vary so greatly in different examples that one is often tempted to 

 believe a distinct species, perhaps a new one, is before him ; and it is 

 only in a series of examples that it can be seen how the so-called 

 species run into each other, and that what may have appeared a strong 

 specific character becomes of no real value whatever. The same 

 species frequently ranges over many degrees of latitude ; and the indi- 

 viduals of northern regions are observed to be clothed with long thick 

 fur as a protection against the severity of the climate, and, although 

 presenting outwardly a very different appearance from their smooth 

 short-coated brethren of the tropics, should not, on that account, be 

 elevated into distinct species. 



The following synonymy shows the more prominent names that 

 should be placed under the head of F. tigrina. 



Felis tigrina, Erxl. Syst. Regn. Anim. (1777) p. .'Jl7, sp. 11; 

 Gmel. Syst. Nat. (1788) vol. i. pt. 1, p. 80, sp. 13 ; F. Cuv. Hist. 

 Nat. Mamm. (182G) vol. ii. pi. 144 ; Temm. Mon. Mamm, (1827) 

 vol. i. p. 153; Fisch. Syn. Mamm. (1829) p. 204, sp. 16 ; J. E. 

 Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1867) pp. 271, 404 ; id. Cat. Carn. Mamm. 

 (1869) p. 22. 



Cayenne Cat, Penn. Hist. Quad. (1781) p. 271, sp. 163. 



Guigna Cat, id. ibid. (1793) p. 299, sp. 198. 



Felis guigna, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, (1810) p. 244, sp. 6 ; 

 Desm. Diet. Hist. Nat. (1816) p. 114; Phihppi, Wiegm. Arch. 

 (1873) p. 8, tab. ii. & iii. tigs. 2 & 3. 



Felis margay, Azara, Nat. Hist. Quad. Parag. (1838) p. 237. 



Felis {Noctifelis) guigna, Severtz. Rev. & Mag. Zool. (1858) 

 ].. 386. 



Felis mitis, F. Cuv. Nat. Hist. Mamm. (1820) vol. ii. pi. 137; 

 Azara, Nat. Hist. Parag. (1838) p. 226 ; Burm. Svst. Uebers. Thier. 

 (1854) p. 86 ; J. E. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1867) pp. 271, 404 ; 

 id. Cat. Carn. Mamm. (1869) p. 22. 



Felis chati, Griff. Anim. King. (1827) vol. ii. p. 479, pi. 



Felis smithii, Swains. Anim. in Menag. (1838) p. 120. 



Leopardus mitis, J. E. Grav, List Mamm. Brit. Mus. (1843) 

 ]). 4.2. 



Felis macroura, Pr. Max. Beitr. z. Naturg. Bras. Band ii. 



