524 Messrs Cheek and Jones on the Anatomy of the Lion, 



The organ of vision is adapted to the nocturnal prowling. The 

 pupil of the eye is circular, and the tapetum shines through it 

 with a brilliant yellow colour. The use of the different shapes 

 of the pupil, observed in the cat tribe, has been a question 

 with naturalists. By some, the Cats have been divided into the 

 diurnal and nocturnal species, the former being distinguished by 

 a circular pupil, and the latter by that of an oval figure. Every 

 one will have remarked the oval shape of the pupil in the domestic 

 cat ; and it is a popular belief that this animal is thereby enabled 

 to see in the dark. It has, however, been very properly remarked, 

 tliat it is doubtful whether the shape of the pupil be at all con- 

 nected with the power of vision, though its size must, in all 

 probability, be of importance in this respect. The lion, although 

 he sees by day, is said never to hunt his prey while the sun is 

 above the horizon, unless pressed in an extraordinary degree ; 

 and yet, the pupil of his eye is at all times circular. 



There can be no doubt, however, that the brilliant tapetum 

 conduces to the nocturnal vision of this animal, upon what theory 

 soever its properties be explained. 



As an organ of touchy the sensible mustaches have been de- 

 scribed as of use in indicating any obstacle which may present 

 itself to the passage of the body through confined places ; and 

 thus, also, to secure a stealthy motion. The skin, however, 

 having been removed from the specimen under our examination 

 before it came into our hands, we merely allude to these organs. 



A provision, equally obvious, as conducing to silent progression, 

 is found in the thick, and dense pads, stuffed with granular fat, 

 which are placed on the soles of the feet, and under the ball of 

 each toe. This mechanism is also admirably calculated to break 

 the force of the fall after a violent leap. 



We have said that the lion's roar is terrific ; and we find the 

 larynx^ well adapted for this end. The anterior ligaments, 

 which are composed of a fold of mucous membrane, and a few 

 muscular fibres, are supposed by Cuvier to perform the functions 

 of the vocal chords. The posterior, or true chords, project very 

 little, and are also composed of a fold of mucous membrane, in the 

 substance of which is a ligamentous band, approaching to the 

 nature of the yellow elastic tissue ; it is attached above to the 

 arytenoid cartilage, and below to the re-entering angle of the 

 thyroid cartilage. 



The ventricles of the larynx are small ; but it is provided with 

 large lateral pouches, the anterior ligaments being at a con- 

 siderable distance from the aryteno-epiglottidic folds. 



In most of the cat tribe, the epiglottis is triangular ; but in the 

 lion we found it rather rounded. 



But our limited space is already exhausted. We shall proceed 

 to the organs of locomotion in our next Number. 



• The larynx of the lion is well described by Cuvier. Anat. Comp. IV. 606. 



( To be continued.) 



