Messrs Cheek and Jones on the Anatomy of the Lion. 279 



The digestive system, the great centre from which all the 

 physical peculiarities of animals are reflected, and from the 

 observation of which they may, for the most part, be predicated, 

 assumes in the lion, as one of the carnivora, a marked influence 

 over the habits and mode of life. It would be superfluous here 

 to dwell upon those characters of this system which are so well 

 known ; we must restrict ourselves to brief allusions to such 

 portions of the structure as present any thing remarkable. 



The dental apparatus of the feline tribe is the most simple 

 which occurs in the carnivora, and the most appropriate for the 

 laceration of flesh. In the lion, it differs from the common cat 

 merely in the degree of development. The incisors have the 

 form of blunt wedges, and, opposed crown to crown, are adapted 

 rather for crushing than cutting. The canines are conical, and 

 remarkably powerful, and the molars are sharp, and so arranged 

 as to be rather suited for cutting than grinding. 



Connected with the functions of the teeth, we may again refer 

 to the spines which crown the papillae of the tongue, and which 

 are indeed themselves, abstractedly speaking, to be looked upon 

 as rudimentary teeth. 



As the lion feeds on flesh still soaked with fluid blood, it is 

 apparent that a less abundant secretion of saliva will be required 

 to moisten the food preparatory to deglutition and digestion ; 

 and accordingly we find, that the salivary glands are particularly 

 small, and even the sublingual altogether wanting. The tonsils 

 are also small ; two in number on each side of the fauces. 

 Anteriorly to the tonsils, is the wide opening of a pouch about two 

 inches and a half in length, proceeding forwards, and terminating 

 in a cul-de-sac ; its walls are thick, and lined internally by a 

 continuation of the mucous membrane, which there becomes very 

 spongy, vascular, and follicular. We have seen a similar sac in 

 the common cat, although we are not aware under what name it 

 has been described by authors. 



It is stated by Cuvier, that the muscular fibres of the oeso- 

 phagus have a spiral direction in the Cats.* This disposition 

 did not occur in our dissection ; the external fibres were longi- 

 tudinal, the internal circular. Transverse folds of the lining 

 membrane formed interrupted rugae, which were not continued 

 round the whole circumference, but so arranged as to have an 

 imbricated appearance. 



In proportion to the difference between the nature of the food 

 and the textures of the animal to which it is to be assimilated, 

 is the digestive system more or less complex. In the lion, then, 

 we should expect the lowest degree of complexity ; and our 

 anticipation is realized, by the examination of the stomach, which, 

 according to the acknowledged definitions of this organ, is 

 extremely simple, — and of the intestines, which are short, and 

 provided with a particularly small coecum. 



* Anat. Comp. III. 367, where this organ is otherwise well described. 



