8 LLOYD’S NMPURAL 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 /e/s, 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efficient state of sharpness during walking, by being withdrawn 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 
