1863.] MR. E. BLYTH ON THE SPECIES OF FELIS. 181 



Obs. No species of Erythrosterna has hitherto been found, that I 

 am aware of, in Madagascar, or even in South Africa ; and I am not 

 acquainted with any previously known Madagascar species of which 

 this could be the undescribed female. I have therefore no alterna- 

 tive but to characterize it as new. I think it quite possible that 

 future naturalists will decline to receive it into the genus to which 

 I have here assigned it ; but for the present I believe it cannot be 

 better placed. It has very much the general appearance of the 

 female of the European Erythrosterna parva, except that it wants 

 the white spot on either side of the tail, which in that species forms 

 so conspicuous a feature. 



My brother's observations on these and the other birds procured 

 by him on his last visit to Madagascar will appear in the forthcoming 

 Numbers of the ' Ibis,' for July and October 1863. 



May 26, 1863. 



Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., in the Chair. 



Mr. R. Swinhoe exhibited a specimen of the rare Wader named 

 Pseudoscolopax semipalmatus, in full summer plumage, obtained in 

 Northern China. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Synoptical List of the Species of Felis inhabiting 

 THE Indian Region and the adjacent parts of Middle 

 Asia. By E. Blyth. 



Having enjoyed favourable opportunities of studyhig most of the 

 Asiatic species of Felis, and considering that they are in need of elu- 

 cidation, chiefly from casual or individual varieties (which do not 

 exemplify particular races) having been described as peculiar species, 

 I trust that a list of what I am led to regard as species, with their 

 numerous synonyms in some instances, will prove acceptable to stu- 

 dents of zoology. 



The most different from the rest is — 



1. Felis jubata, Schreber. 



F. guttata, Hermann. 

 F. venatica, A. Smith. 

 F.fearonis (?), A. Smith, apud Gray. 



Chita, or " Cheetah," or " Hunting Leopard " of authors, though 

 F. pardus is more commonly known by the former appellation in 

 many parts of India. Original Uuvdlip et Leopardus antiquorum ; 

 the latter name founded on the notion (still current in Barbary) of 



I 



