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Show 706 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON FELIS TIGRINA. [Nov. 6, also existed in these, mainly, however, in size : no two were precisely alike from any locality; and there did not exist any single reliable character that could be given by which more than one species could be established and recognized. I therefore feel no hesitation in stating that there exists but one species of Spotted Cat, commonly known as the Margay, belonging to the New World, and that the animals generally known as F. macroura, Pr. Max., and F. mitis, Cuv., are identical with it, aud that these names must become synonyms of Felis tigrina. I have always found it unsafe to decide upon any species of Spotted Cat from a single specimen, unless accompanied by some trenchant character exhibited in the skull which would permit it readily to be distinguished ; and this, I may remark, is very rarely to be found among the Felidae. All the species of Felis from both the Old and New Worlds vary so greatly in different examples that one is often tempted to believe a distinct species, perhaps a new one, is before him ; and it is only in a series of examples that it can be seen how the so-called species run into each other, and that what may have appeared a strong specific character becomes of no real value whatever. The same species frequently ranges over many degrees of latitude ; and the individuals of northern regions are observed to be clothed with long thick fur as a protection against the severity of the climate, and, although presenting outwardly a very different appearance from their smooth short-coated brethren of the tropics, should not, on that account, be elevated into distinct species. The following synonymy shows the more prominent names that should be placed under the head of F. tigrina. Felis tigrina, Erxl. Syst. Regn. Anim. (1777) p. 517, sp. 11 ; Gmel. Syst. Nat. (1788) vol. i. pt. 1, p. 80, sp. 13 ; F. Cuv. Hist. Nat. M a m m . (1826) vol.ii. pl. 144 ; Temm. Mon. M a m m . (1827) vol. i. p. 153; Fisch. Syn. M a m m . (1829) p. 204, sp. 16 ; J. E. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1867) pp. 271, 404 ; id. Cat. Carn. M a m m . (1869) p. 22. Cayenne Cat, Penn. Hist. Quad. 0781) p. 271, sp. 163. Guigna Cat, id. ibid. (1793) p. 299, sp. 198. Felis guigna, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, (1810) p. 244, sp. 6 ; Desm. Diet. Hist. Nat. (1816) p. 114; Philippi, Wiegm. Arch. (1873) p. 8, tab. ii. & iii. figs. 2 & 3. Felis margay, Azara, Nat. Hist. Quad. Parag. (1838) p. 237. Felis (Noctifelis) guigfia, Severtz. Rev. & Mag. Zool. (1858) p. 386. Felis mitis, F. Cuv. Nat. Hist. M a m m . (1820) vol. ii. pi. 137; Azara, Nat. Hist. Parag. (1838) p. 226 ; Burm. Svst. Uebers. Thier. (1854) p. 86 ; J. E. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1867) pp. 271, 404 j id. Cat. Carn. M a m m . (1869) p. 22. Felis chati, Griff. Anim. King. (1827) vol. ii. p. 479, pl. Felis smithii, Swains. Anim. in Menag. (1838) p. 120. Leopardus mitis, J. E. Gray, List M a m m . Brit. Mus. (1843) p. 42. * V 7 Felis macroura, Pr. Max. Beitr. z. Naturg. Bras. Band ii. |