GENETTA 455 



Diagnosis. — Ground colour as in Genetta genetta genetta, but 

 black spots smaller (rarely attaining a diameter of 20 mm.), 

 more numerous, and showing a decided tendency to become 

 confluent. In region occupied by first three rows of spots at 

 each side of median stripe the black covers rather more space 

 than the light ground colour. 



Measurements. — Adult female from Sainte-Cecile, Vaucluse, 

 France : head and body, 490 ; tail, 440 ; hind foot, 85 ; ear, 53. 

 For cranial measurements see Table, p. 453. 



Specimens examined. — Four, from the following localities in France : 

 Sainte-Cecile, Vaucluse, 1 ; near Nimes, Gard, 1 (Mottaz) ; near Biarritz, 

 Basses- Pyrenees, 2. 



Remarks. — An immature individual from Ferrol, Coruna, 

 Spain, appears to be referable to this form rather than to 

 true genetta. 



?. Sainte-Cecile, Vaucluse, France. M. Mourgue (c). 8. 7. 11. 1. 

 2 S. Biarritz, Basses-Pyrenees. Zoological Society 8. 1. 26. 1-2. 



1. Ferrol, Corufia, Spain. Dr. V. L. Seoane 94. 11. 3. 2. 



(c. & p.) 



Family FELIDiE. 

 1821. Fetidm Gray, London Med. Repos., xv, p. 302, April 1, 1821. 



Geographical distribution. — Entire continental region of both 

 Old and New Worlds, to the limits of tree growth ; Malay 

 Archipelago ; in Europe west to Great Britain. 



Characters. — Larger cheek-teeth of a strictly trenchant type, 

 their crowns compressed and high, without the crushing surfaces, 

 the last upper premolar and first lower molar persenting the 

 extreme phase of carnassial modification, the inner lobe of upper 

 carnassial small, in front of middle of crown ; upper molar narrow, 

 trenchant, the main axis of its crown transverse to tooth-row ; 

 auditory bulla highly inflated, divided by a septum into two 

 chambers ; form usually slender, the legs moderately long ; size 

 moderate to large ; feet digitigrade ; toes, 5-4. 



Remarks. — The , family Felidse is one of the most widely 

 distributed and sharply differentiated groups «f carnivores. At 

 present there is much difference of opinion as to the generic 

 status of its members, all of which bear the unmistakable stamp 

 of common descent. Two groups commonly regarded as genera 

 occur in Europe. 



KEY TO THE EUROPEAN GENERA OF FELIDJB. 



Small anterior upper premolar present, teeth 30 ; ear slightly 



or not tufted (Cats) Felis, p. 456. 



Small anterior upper premolar absent, teeth 28 ; ear con- 

 spicuously tufted (Lynxes) Lynx, p. 470. 



