CLAWS OF CATS 



391 



Fig. 193. — Section of audiiorj- bulla 01 Tiger, am. Audi- 

 tory meatus ; liO, basioccipital ; e. Eustachian canal ; 

 ic, or, two chambers of bulla divided by s, septum ; 

 *, their aperture of communication ; Pt, periotic ; 

 .S'(/, squamosal ; (, tympanic ring. (From Flower's 

 Os/eolngi/.) 



The digits are five 011 the fore-feet, four on the hind. The 

 caecum is present and small. This family contains but two 

 genera, Fells and 

 Cynaelu7'i(S. 



The genus Fells is 

 very wide in its dis- 

 tribution, being com- 

 mon to both the Old 

 and the New Worlds. 

 Its distinctive charac- 

 ters, as opposed to 

 Cynaehtriis, are mainly 

 the following : — Tlie 

 claws are retractile, 

 and the retractility is 

 more markedly de- 

 veloped than in the 

 Cheetah. The molar 

 is not so nearly in 

 a line with the other teeth ; the upper carnassial, more- 

 over, has an inner tubercle. The legs are relatively shorter. 



The complete retractility of 

 the claws is a very distinctive 

 feature of the true Cats. It is 

 brought about in this way : the 

 terminal joint of the toe, which 

 is clad with the claw, folds back 

 into a sheath by the outer side 

 of or above the middle phalanx. 

 It is held in this position by 

 a strong ligament. The flexor 

 muscles straighten the phalanx 

 which bears the claw, so that 

 the natural position for the 

 animal is to be in a state of retracted claws, which of course 

 preserves them from friction ; when wanted for aggressive pur- 

 poses, they are pulled into sight by the action of the muscles 

 already mentioned. 



Much has been written as to the shape of the pupil of the 

 Cat's eye. Some careful observations upon the matter have been 



Fig. 194. — The phalanges of the middle 

 digit of the mauus of the Lion (Felin 

 leo). X \. a. The central portion 

 forming the internal support to the 

 horny claw ; b, the bony lamina re- 

 flected around the base of the claw ; 

 2}h^, proximal phalan.x ; ^)/r, middle 

 phalanx ; jjh^, ungual phalanx. (From 

 Flower's Osteology. ) 



