XIII CLAWS OF CATS 391 
The digits are five on the fore-feet, four on the hind. The 
caecum is present and small. This family contains but two 
genera, Felis and 
Cynaelurus. 
The genus Felis 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 
Cynaelurus, are mainly 
the following :—The 
claws are retractile, 
and the retractility is obit: 
Fic. 193.—Section of auditory bulla of Tiger. am, Audi- 
more markedly de- tory meatus ; BO, basioccipital; e, Eustachian canal ; 
veloped than in the ic, oc, two chambers of bulla divided by s, septum ; 
*, their aperture of communication ; Pt, periotic ; 
Cheetah. The molar Sq, squamosal ; ¢, tympanic ring. (From Flower’s 
is not so nearly in Geers) 
a line with the other teeth; the upper carnassial, more- 
over, has an inner tubercle. The legs are relatively shorter. 
The complete retractility of 
2 the claws is a very distinctive 
i g~ feature of the true Cats. It is 
brought about in this way: the 
terminal joint of the toe, which 
of is clad with the claw, folds back 
Fic. 194.—The phalanges of the middle Into a sheath by the outer side 
digit of ae manus of the Lion (Felis of or above the middle phalanx. 
leo). x4. a, The central portion : : ; s 
forming the internal support to the It is held in this position by 
horny claw; 6, the bony lamina re- : ae 
flected around the base of the claw ; a strong ligament. The flexor 
ph, proximal phalanx; ph, middle muscles straighten the phalanx 
phalanx; ph®, ungual phalanx. (From highs tl ase that 
Wlower’s Osteotogy.) which bears the claw, so tha 
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 
