^. 



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



ART. \i»<--^ Notices of the Anatomical Structure of the Lion, 

 (Felis Leo,) as observed upon Dissection, in relation to the 

 Habits of the Animal, as described by Travellers. By Henry 

 H. Cheek and T. W. Jones. 



(CoT^cMcrf/TOm p. 224.) 



Tub ISoii advances by leaps, and springs upon iiis prey ; his 

 motions are sudden and prompt, but of short continuance. In 

 the loconjotive organs, we find an ample explanation of these 

 facts. 



Th6 bones of the extremities are thick and short ; the scapula 

 is elongated; and the clavicle a mere rudiment, lying as an 

 isolated bone in the muscular mass of the shoulder. Thus it is 

 apparent, that, as respects the framework of the locomotive 

 organs, strength and a certain facility of motion will be combined. 

 The muscles are also formed with the same view, — remarkably 

 ^ick, and inserted so as to give great power, but a limited extent 

 of motion. Thus the pectoral muscle, arising by four heads from 

 the sternum, the acromio-sternal ligament, the ligamentum nuchas, 

 and the linea alba, is inserted into the whole length of the 

 humerus. And thus the flexors of the fore-arm arise, as four 

 large muscles, from the sternum, the acromio-sternal ligament 

 and clavicular bone, the tuberosity which represents the coracoid 

 process, and from the outer surface of the humerus ; and are 

 inserted, by a. common tendon, into the anterior part of the 

 radius. 



The lion tears his prey by the conjoined action of his teeth 

 and claws ; pressing the animal to the ground with his feet, and 

 tearing it to pieces by the powerful motions of his neck. 



The muscles which are employed in this action are the largest 

 in the body ; the great erectors of the neck, peculiar to this tribe, 

 at least in function, and the great extensors of the fore-arm. 

 But neither our limits nor the nature of this paper, permit of our 

 entering into a particular description of these organs, which have, 

 moreover, already been accurately described and figured by Wolff 

 and Rudolphi.* 



During the laceration of the prey, the claws are amongst the 

 most powerful organs in action ; and, as they present some 

 interesting peculiarities, we may be permitted to enter somewhat 

 into detail. 



The remarkable mechanism of the claws of the cat tribe has, 

 from a very early period, excited the admiration of the naturalist. 

 Pliny (lib. viii. c. 15.) remarks, that the nails of the lion are 

 retracted within a sheath whilst walking ; and Plutarch (^Lib, de 



* For a description of the muscles of the shoulder and arm, see Wolff, de Leone 

 Obs. Anat. Nov. Comm. Petrop. xv. 517. ; and, for the muscles of the fore arm, 

 vide Rudolphi, Beitrag zur Anatomie des JLowen. Pamphlet, in 4to, Berlin, 1820. 



