8 Lloyd's natural history. 



ception. A few elongated hairs over each eye correspond to 

 the human eyebrows, but eyelashes are totally absent. The 

 direction of the hairs on the body inclines uniformly backwards 

 from the head to the tip of the tail, while on the limbs it is 

 mainly downwards. 



In the majority of species the body is somewhat elongated, 

 and the limbs relatively short ; these features attaining their 

 maximum development in the Eyra of South America, which 

 approximates to the Civets in form. The Lynxes, however, 

 differ in their relatively shorter bodies and longer legs; while 

 the typical members of that group are further distinguished by 

 the extreme shortness of the tail. As a rule, however, the tail 

 is long, cylindrical, and tapering; and it is also generally evenly 

 furred throughout its entire length, the hairs being, however, 

 often longer than elsewhere ; but the Lion is an exception in 

 having a large tuft of hair at the extremity, in the midst of 

 which, in many individuals, is concealed a horny nail-appendage 

 of unknown use. All Cats walk exclusively on their toes, or, 

 in other words, are digitigrade ; and while in the fore-feet the 

 thumb, or pollex, is raised above the level of the other toes, 

 and is not applied to the ground in walking, in the hinder pair 

 its representative, the great toe, or " hallux," is totally absent. 

 In all the typical members of the Family, or those included in 

 the genus Felis, the claws are retractile, and maintained in an 

 efficient state of sharpness during walking, by being withdrawn 

 into horny protecting sheaths, to be exserted when the prey is 

 seized. In regions frequented by Cats the bark of the trunks 

 of trees is seen to be scored by a number of longitudinal streaks, 

 where these animals have exercised their exserted claws by 

 tearing them along it, probably for the purpose of aiding to 

 keep them clean. This habit is still retained by the Domestic 

 Cat. 



The mechanism by which the claws are exserted and again 



