ORIGIN OF THE DOMESTIC CAT 155 



which shows us that, even so long ago as the tenth 

 century, the Arabs, without knowing anything of 

 comparative anatomy, had a very good notion of 

 the natural affinities of animals. Indeed, it may be 

 said now as then, that, so far as regards general 

 structure, the cat is a tiger on a small scale. 



In considering this and other relationships, we 

 must note the position which the great cat family 

 (Felidse) occupies in the order Carnivora in relation 

 to other carnivores. The land carnivora (or Fissi- 

 pedia, as they are termed, to distinguish them from 

 the Pinnipedia or seals) may be conveniently 

 separated into three large groups or sections, the 

 ^luroidea (comprising the Felidae, Hysenidse, 

 Viverridse, and a few other abberrant forms), the 

 Cynoidea (which includes all the different species of 

 dog-like animals), and the Arctoidea, comprehend- 

 ing the Ursidse, Mustelidae, and Procyonidse. This 

 is not a mere fanciful arrangement. A careful study 

 and comparison of the anatomy of most of these 

 different forms (whenever opportunity has favoured 

 the examination of specimens) has resulted in the 

 publication of descriptions and figures, by means of 

 which we are able to trace the relationships here 

 indicated. It need scarcely be said that the cranial 

 characters, and especially the dentition (as indicating 

 the animal's mode of life and the nature of its food) 

 have been regarded as most important in determining 

 its zoological position ; and thus this grouping 

 (artificial or arbitrary as it may at first sight appear) 

 really indicates, in the case of each of these three 

 sections, the possession by its members of certain 



