SYNOPSIS. 



FELINES. 



. Front teeth in each jaw, six ; canine teeth, tw 

 in each jaw, very powerful, and formed for tearing ; 

 molar or cheek teeth, four in the upper jaw, three in 

 the under comparatively thin, pointed, and wedge- 

 shaped, formed for cutting.* Head, large and round ; 

 eyes, with the pupil often oblong ; tongue, with strong 

 horny papillae, directed backwards. Feet, formed for 

 walking; toes, on the fore-feet five, on the hind- feet 

 four ; claws, very strong, hooked and sharp, retracted 

 when the animal walks or is at rest, by a peculiar me- 

 chanism. -f- Food, animals or birds, sometimes fish and 

 reptiles, seldom carrion, except when pressed by hun- 

 ger. Inhabit forests, or wooded rocks where shel- 

 ter can be obtained in the clefts. Native countries, 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, America; species most numerous 

 and abundant within the Tropics. 



GENUS I. LEO. Leach. 



PL. I. II 1. L. AFRICANUS, African Lion. Males with a 

 shaggy mane and tuft of hair at the extremity of the 

 tail. Varies 



For a particular account of the teeth of the various genera of Mam- 

 malia, see Fred. Cuvier, Leg Dents des Mammifercs. 1 vol. 80. 1825. 



f Their mechanism, see p. 79. of this volume. In F. jubata they ar 

 Dot retracted. 



