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Show 1867.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE SKULLS OF THE FELIDAE. 261 want of information. Years ago I remarked that, contrary to the general belief, the pupils of the larger species, such as the Lion, the Tiger, the Leopard, the Jaguar and some other species, had a round pupil, and 1 therefore separated them from the true Cats, which had linear erect pupils; but the number of species that belonged to each group was left for further verification. Very few zoologists have noted the form of the pupils in the species they have described. Sometimes two observations on the same species do not coincide : thus Burmeister describes the pupils of the eyes of F. jaguarondi and F. eyra as round; but Berlandier represents the pupil of the latter (F. eyra) as linear and vertical. Then Mr. Hodgson has figured the eye of F. macrocelis as circular ; but Mr. Bartlett says that in the example living in the Society's Gardens it is oblong erect. Mr. Bryan Hodgson had prepared by native artists a series of drawings of Nepalese animals from life, with the intention of publishing a -Fauna of Nepal.' These drawings he presented to the British Museum along with his large collection of specimens; and I find that the eyes of the Leopard, the Ounce, the Tortoise-shell Tiger (F. macrocelis), and the Murma Cat (F. murmensis) are represented with round pupils. The Viverrine Cat of the Tarai (F. viverriceps, Hodgs.), the small Nepal Cat (F. nepalensis and F.par-dochrous, Hodgs.), the F. nigripectus, the Chaus (Chaus lybicus), and the Lynx of Thibet (L. isabellina, Blyth) are all represented with linear erect pupils. Mr. Bartlett, in reply to m y inquiries, kindly observes, ** A great difficulty exists in determining the form of the pupils in the eyes of many of the Cats, as in some lights and conditions they are all round. It depends upon the light and other causes that you find them sometimes oblong ; but from a careful and oft-repeated observation of the following list, I feel safe in saying that in the Ocelot, Puma, Jaguar, Leopard, Tiger, Lion, and Cheetah they are round, and in the Caracal, Clouded Tiger, Chaus, and Serval are oval. " There are no others on your list that I can speak of with certainty." " P.S. In m y former list I told you the Ocelot had a round pupil. I have this day had the animal in the sunlight, and I must say the pupil of the Ocelot is oblong when exposed to the bright sunlight." Section 1. Normal Cats.-The flesh-tooth of the upper jaw with a well-marked prominent internal lobe on the front part of its inner side. The legs moderate. Tribe I. True Cats-FELINA. The head oblong ; face slightly produced. Legs moderate, nearly of equal length. The skull oblong ; intermaxillse and frontal bones with short processes, which extend between the ends of the nasal bones and the maxillae. The front upper false grinder small (rarely deciduous and wanting). |
