1 8 7 6 .—^W. T . B l a n f o r d , ‘ J o u r n a l A s ia t i c S o c i e t y o f B e n g a l . ’
Felis shaiciana from Yarkund described. Species 41.
18/7.— P. L. S c l a t e r , ‘ P r o c e e d in g s o f t h e Z o o l o g ic a l S o c ie t y o f L o n d o n .’
A light-coloured, dark-spotted, long-haired specimen of F. jubata, Erxl., described as Felis lanea.
CLASSIFICATION.
The Cat family is of very ancient lineage; and whilst no well-developed type of Felis has been discovered earlier
than the Miocene period, yet feline remains have been procured in the Eocene deposits of both hemispheres, foreshadowing
the existing creature of our own times. In the Miocene period and down to the Post-Pliocene, lived the
great sabre-toothed cats of the genus Machairodus, species of which, represented by more or less numerous fossil
remains, roamed over portions of both the New and the Old World. To this group belonged the terrible M. smilodon
of the western hemisphere, whose upper canines were so enormously developed as to meet the points of the small lower
canines when the jaws were opened to their greatest extent. A nearly perfect skeleton of this great cat has been
obtained, which would show that it was rather larger than the lion of the present day, but heavier and more
powerfully formed. As the huge canines could not be used for biting, it is supposed they were employed as daggers,
the animal striking with them when the mouth was closed. The Miocene period was very rich in cat-like forms;
and while the majority of them (judging from the fossil remains) were widely dissimilar to existing species, yet
not a few showed close relationship with members of the Felidae of modern times. In the Pliocene and Pleistocene
periods we find in the Old World the extinct lion-like F. spelaa, which probably differed but little in appearance
from the living lion of our d ay .. According to Dawkins and Sandford, this cat also inhabited the New World, as
they consider the F. atrox of Leidy (Leidy, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 1853, vol. x. pp. 319, 323) to be the same
species. During the same periods North America contained also some species as large as the existing lion, while
the family was represented in South America by the sabre-toothed cats and other species, some of which were allied
to living forms. I t will therefore be seen that from early geological times cats or cat-like animals dwelt upon the
earth, passing an existence of rapine and slaughter as do those of their relatives today, and fulfilling the object of
their creation by keeping from undue expansion the abundant animal life that surrounded them.
The order C a r n iv o r a or flesh-eating animals is divided into two suborders, viz. Fissipedia and Pinnipedia—or
those with toes separate from each other, and those with the toes connected by a flexible skin like a fin. In the
former of these suborders, the Fissipedia, in Section 1. iEluroidea, the great family of the Felidse is embraced.
It is the chief one of the Carnivora; and its species are so highly endowed for their allotted duties in life that
“ no more complete examples of a perfectly organized living being can well be found than that supplied by a
member of what has no inconsiderable claims to be regarded as the highest mammalian family, the Felidae”
(Mivart, ‘The Cat,’ p. 530). I t comprises the greatest and most powerful of existing beasts of prey; its species are
provided with all requisite means for capturing and destroying other creatures; and they fulfil a most important part
in nature’s economy. Their attributes are terrible, and many of them peculiar to themselves. The quick and far-
reaching vision, the sensitive and acute hearing, the stealthy movement, the noiseless footfall, the rapid onslaught
and tremendous spring, accompanied, in the larger species, by the terror-dealing roar, the terrific blow of the armed
paw, succeeded by the attack of the blade-like teeth worked by the scissor-acting jaw, form together the most
fearful and paralyzing living engine of destructive power known among existing creatures. The skeleton of the cat
is perfectly constructed to bear the sudden shocks and strains to which it is subjected, and also to respond to the active
motions of the living animal. The bones are solid, and resemble ivory. The vertebral column in the lion consists
of 7 cervical, 13 dorsal, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 26 caudal vertebrae. The number of these last varies, however, in
different examples. The clavicles are set in the muscles, but are not connected with either the sternum or scapula. The
skull is of great strength and of comparatively small size, capable of being turned in every direction, and is firmly
attached to the vertebral column by strong muscles. The lower jaw is incapable of any lateral motion, giving
the teeth only a biting power. The facial portion of the skull is generally very short, furnishing one of the
characters that distinguish the Cats among the Carnivora; and the wide sweep of the zygomatic arch affords ample
room for a great masseter muscle, which moves the lower jaw and gives to it tremendous power. The Cats’ teeth
are peculiar, and are thirty in number, the formula being i. g c. g . p. g m. ¡g = 30. The incisors are
small, with a single fang, thevtwo in the centre of the row being the smallest, the outer one at each end the
largest. The crowns of these teeth are generally much worn, and exhibit merely a transverse furrow with an irregular
prominence in front of it. The next tooth in the upper jaw is the canine, separated from the incisors by a
diastema. This is usually a large and strong tooth with a single thick fang. The crown is curved and pointed, with
a vertical groove oh its outer surface, and one less marked on the inner. There is a well-developed ridge on the
inner margin. A wide diastema separates the canine from the next tooth, the first premolar, which is very small, with a
single fang and a conical crown. The next or second premolar is much larger, with a crown consisting of one
triangular pointed cusp, with a small tubercle in front at base, and two behind—one in front of the other. This
tooth has two fangs. The third premolar, called the sectorial, is the largest of all the teeth. The crown has three
cusps, and one internal tubercle, the first cusp being the smallest and rather low and blunt; the second is the largest,
somewhat of a triangular shape, pointed and directed backwards; the third is blunt and lower than the others. On
the outer surface at the base of the cusps is a slight ridge. On the inner side a sharp ridge connects the largest
and posterior cusps with a deep notch in the centre. The sectorial has three fangs—two in front placed transversely,
and one, longer, behind. The last tooth in the upper jaw is the molar, which is very small, is set transversely, and
has two’ fangs and a flattened crown. The lower jaw has also six incisors, smaller than those of the upper series,
and next to them a canine shorter and mbre curved than the upper one, and which passes in front of the upper
canine when the mouth is closed. Then comes a wide diastema separating the canine from the first premolar,
which is larger, but resembles the corresponding tooth in the upper jaw, and has two fangs and one large
pointed triangular cusp, with a small one at the base in front and two behind. The second premolar is still
larger, also with two fangs and a crown similar to the tooth preceding it. The molar or lower sectorial has,
unlike’ the upper one, only two fangs, the hind one being much the smaller. The crown consists of two
sharply pointed diverging cusps, separated by a deep notch, with a minute tubercle at the base of the hind
side of u j p - i - one. On the inner side the crown is deeply hollowed out between the cusps. These possess
very sharp edges, which cut against those of ,t%'-opposing cusps of the upper sectorial. All the molar series of
the lower jaw play within those of the-iuppcr. and thus cut the food as would a pair of scissor-blades, instead of
crushing or grinding it. The tongue of the species of this family is covered thickly by strong spiny papillie, which
in the larger species are so strong as to be used effectively in detaching flesh from the bones, as though a file
were the instrument employed. This peculiarity of the tongue can be easily perceived in a somewhat limited
degree in the domestic c a t; for that member, when drawn across: the finger, feels rough like sand-paper. The paws
are large and powerful, with five toes on the fore feet, of which the third and fourth are equal and longest, the
fifth much shorter, and four toes on the hind feet with the third and fourth longest, and the second and fifth
shorter and nearly equal. The claws which arm the paws are terrible weapons, tearing and lacerating whatever the
nm'mnl seizes. They are retractfle, and, when not employed, rest in a sheath which covers and protects them from
injury. This is a most important provision; for as the Cat is digitigrade (walking upon its toes and not upon the
sole of the foot), unprotected claws would be liable to become blunted and unserviceable.
In the large species the claws are frequently'broken and split at their points, caused by their constant growth ;
and as they are softer beneath, they can be pulled away until they become sharp again. The points then frequently
grow inconveniently long; and it is to free themselves from this annoyance that Cats are in the habit of scratching
at the trunks and limbs of trees, or, in the case of the domestic animal, at carpets and legs of chairs. In countries
such as Patagonia, where trees are scarce, these animals scratch deep..scores in the hard soil to free themselves
from lengthened claws. . . ,
The skin of all Cats hangs very loosely, and is capable of being drawn nearly halfway round the body,—a very
wise provision of nature; for if it were not so, in the various conflicts with each other the animals’ sharp claws
would tear them, and otherwise inflict severe wounds; but as the skin yields, these weapons can get no hold, and are
rendered comparatively harmless.
Forty-two species, including the Domestic Cot, have been recognized in this work as distinct; and I have seen nothing
that has been advanced by any writer to cause me to alter any of the opinions expressed, or believe that more of the
forms should be accorded separate specific rank. There may be some specimens regarding whose exact position our present
knowledge does not permit ns to determine definitely; but of these, many examples from different localities, if the
habitat is an extensive one, must be procured before it can be decided whether the variations exhibited are or are not such