“FELIDA 503 
much compressed, divided into two subequal lobes. Occasionally 
it has a rudimentary talon, but never an inner cusp. The skull 
is generally short and rounded, though proportionally more elon- 
gated in the larger forms. The facial portion is especially short 
and broad, and the zygomatic arches are very wide and strong. 
The auditory bulle are large, rounded, and smooth. Vertebre: 
C 7, D 13,L 7, S 3, C 13-29.  Clavicles better developed 
than in other Carnivora, but not articulating with either the 
scapule or sternum. Limbs digitigrade. Anterior feet with 
five toes, the third and fourth nearly equal and longest, the 
second slightly and the fifth considerably shorter; the pollex 
still shorter, not reaching as far as the metacarpo-phalangeal 
articulation of the second. Hind feet with only four toes. The 
third and fourth the longest, the second and fifth somewhat shorter 
and nearly equal ; the hallux represented only by the rudimentary 
metatarsal bone. The claws all very large, strongly curved, com- 
pressed, very sharp, and exhibiting the retractile condition in the 
highest degree. The tail varies greatly in length, being in some a 
mere stump, in others nearly as long as the body. Ears of moderate 
size, more or less triangular and pointed. Eyes rather large. Iris 
very mobile, and with a pupillary aperture which contracts under 
the influence of light in some species to a narrow vertical slit, in 
others to an oval, and in some to a circular aperture. Tongue 
thickly covered with sharp-pointed, recurved horny papille. Czecum 
small and simple. 
As in structure so in habits, the Cats may be considered the 
most specialised of all the Carnivora. All the known members of 
the genus feed, in the natural state, almost exclusively on warm- 
‘blooded animals which they have themselves killed. One Indian 
species (F. viverrina) preys on fish and even (it is said) on freshwater 
molluscs. Unlike the Dogs, they never associate in packs, and 
rarely hunt their prey in open ground, but from some place of con- 
cealment wait until the unsuspecting victim comes within reach, or 
with noiseless and stealthy tread, crouching close to the ground for 
concealment, approach near enough to make the fatal spring. In 
this manner they frequently attack and kill animals considerably 
exceeding their own size. They are mostly nocturnal, and the 
greater number, especially the smaller species, more or less arboreal. 
None are aquatic, and all take to the water with reluctance, though 
some may habitually haunt the banks of rivers or pools, because 
they more easily obtain their prey in such situations. 
The numerous species of the genus are very widely diffused over 
the greater part of the habitable world, though most abundant in 
the warm latitudes of both hemispheres. No species are, however, 
found in the Australian region, or in Madagascar. Although the Old- 
World and New-World Cats (except perhaps the Northern Lynx) 
