CLAWS OF CATS 



391 



The digits are five on the fore-feet, four on the hind. The 

 caecum is present and small. This family contains but two 

 genera, Felis and 

 Cynaeluriis. 



The genus Felis is 

 very wide in its dis- 

 tribution, being com- 

 mon to both the Old 

 and the New Worlds. 

 Its distinctive charac- 

 ters, as opposed to 

 Cynaelurus, are mainly 

 the following : The 

 claws are retractile, 

 and the retractility is 

 more markedly de- 

 veloped than in the 



Cheetah.- The molar 

 is not so nearly in 

 a line with the other 

 over, has an inner tubercle. 



FIG. 193. Section of auditory bulla of Tiger, am, Audi- 

 tory meatus ; BO, basioccipital ; e, Eustachian canal ; 

 ic, oc, two chambers of bulla divided by s, septum ; 

 *, their aperture of communication ; Pt, periotic ; 

 Sq, squamosal ; t, tympanic ring. (From Flower's 

 Osteology.) 



teeth ; the upper carnassial, more- 

 The legs are relatively shorter. 



The complete retractility of 

 the claws is a very distinctive 

 feature of the true Cats. It is 

 brought about in this way : the 

 terminal joint of the toe, which 

 is clad with the claw, folds back 

 FIG. 194. The phalanges of the middle into a sheath by the outer side 



digit of the manus of the Lion (Felis Q f Qr a b ove the middle phalanx. 



leo). x \. a, The central portion _..,,. , . f, , 



forming the internal support to the It IS held in this position by 



horny claw ; b, the bony lamina re- ft sfcron(T lig ame nt. The flexor 



fleeted around the base of the claw ; 



ph\ proximal phalanx ; ph*, middle muscles straighten the phalanx 



phalanx ; ph 3 , ungual phalanx. (From W j 1 j c j 1 Dears t ne c l aw so that 

 Flower's Osteology.) 



the natural position for the 



animal is to be in a state of retracted claws, which of course 

 preserves them from friction ; when wanted for aggressive pur- 

 poses, they are pulled into sight by the action of the muscles 

 already mentioned. 



Much has been written as to the shape of the pupil of the 

 Cat's eye. Some careful observations upon the matter have been 



