670 



MR. 



R. I. POCOCK ON SOME AFRICAN CATS [June 18, 



and the pupil contracts to a vertical slit under strong light. 

 Except in colour, and to a less extent in pattern, this Cat bears no 

 i^esemblance to the Serval as has been stated by Mr. W. L. Sclater, 



Text-fie-. 176. 



Skull of FeJis nigripes. 

 Lateral, dorsal, and ventral views. 



Broadly speaking, the skull (text-fig. 176) is like that of F. syl- 

 vestris and F. ocreaia. When resting on the tips of the canines and 

 on the bullae, its highest point is on the anterior portion of the 

 parietals. From that j^oint the top of the cranium descends some- 

 what abruptly posteriorly, while anteriorly the frontals form a more 

 gradual descent towards the muzzle. The nasal bones and facial 

 portion make an abrupt descent from the forehead, the plane of 

 the nasals being nearh' parallel to the line of the anterior border 

 of the orbit. The postorbital processes are short but broad and 

 laminate. The posterior portion of the nasals is strongly com- 

 pressed. The zygomatic arches are widely expanded in their 

 anterior or orbital moiety. The under side of the skull is remark- 

 able for the great size of the auditory bulla? ; the greatest length 

 of a bulla is equal to the distance between its anterior edge and 



