132 CLAW AND TONGUE OF LION. 
is termed “ digitigrade,” from the Latin words “digitus,” a finger, and “gradus,” a step. 
As, however, this mode of progression would endanger the sharpness of the claws, if they 
were permitted to rest upon the ground, there is a beautiful structure by means of which 
the talons are kept from the earth, and preserved in their so-called sheaths until they are 
wanted for their legitimate use. 
In the accompanying figure the mechanism of the claw is exhibited. 
When the animal is at rest, the upper tendons draw the claw backwards, so that it is 
lifted entirely from the ground, and the weight of the body rests only on the soft pads 
which stud the under surface of the foot. But when the creature becomes excited, and 
thrusts out its paw for the purpose of striking a blow, or clutching at its prey, the upper 
tendons become relaxed, while the lower tendons are tightened, and the claw is thrown 
boldly forward, sharp and ready for either use. 
CLAW OF LION, TONGUE OF LION. 
The claw which is represented is that of the Lion, but the mechanism is common to 
all the true cats. 
Another curious structure is common to the group of feline animals ; and as the Lion 
seems to be their most perfect representative, the example has been taken from that 
animal. 
Every one who cares for cats, and who in consequence is cared for by those graceful 
creatures, is familiar with the dry roughness of pussy’s tongue, as she licks the hand of 
her human friend. This peculiarity of formation is the more conspicuous because it 
presents so great a contrast with the wet, smooth tongue of the dog; and, as a general 
rule, men are more accustomed to the lingual caresses of the dog than of the cat. The cause 
of the strangely dry tongue of the Felidee is at once seen by reference to the tongue of a 
lion or tiger, or by applying a magnifying glass to the tongue of a domestic cat. 
The entire surface of the tongue is covered with innumerable conical projections, which 
are so curved that their points he towards the throat. On the central line of the tongue 
these projections are larger than at the side. Their chief, if not their only use, is to aid 
the cat im stripping the flesh from the bones of the animals which it has killed, and so to 
prevent the least avoidable waste of nutriment. Truly, in nature the economical system 
reigns supreme, and waste is an impossibility. 
So strongly made are these armatures, that the constant licking of a eat’s tongue will 
remove the living tissues from a delicate skin, while the tongue of the Lion can rapidly 
cause the outflow of blood. There is a well-authenticated anecdote of a tame Lion cub 
and its owner, which exhibits strongly the rasping power of the feline tongue. 
