62 THE WILD CAT OF EUROPE. 



VARIATIONS IN THE SKELETON. 



The caudal vertebrae vary from 19 to 23, both in 

 the Wild and the Domestic race. The length of 

 the tail has been regarded by many writers as a 

 specific character between the two, the Wild Cat 

 having a shorter tail ; but the number of vertebrae 

 is generally found to vary equally in both races. 



The examination of the skeletons of Felis catus and 

 Felis domestica does not coincide with the general 

 opinion that the Wild is a much larger animal 

 than the Domestic Cat. The measurements give 

 some slight diff'erence in the height, but this is 

 not always in favour of the wild race. The verte- 

 bral column is the same. The pelvis shows a slight 

 variation in length — 89'5 mm. in Felis caius, 88 mm. 

 in Felis domestica. There is some variation in the 

 bones of the extremities ; but this, again, is often 

 in favour of the Domestic race ; but the strength and 

 thickness of these bones are always greater in the 

 Wild Cat. 



The following measurements are taken from the 

 skeleton of a full-grown male Felis catus from 

 Hungary and a full-grown well-fed male of Felis 

 domestica (see figs. 20 to 31) : — 



Wild Cat. 



mm. 



Humerus 110 



Ulna 122 



Radius 98 



Femur J20 



Tibia 128 



Fibula 116 



Domestic Cat. 



mm. 



Humerus 115 



Ulna 127 



Radius 109 



Femur 125 



Tibia 134 



Fibula 125 



