THE FELIN/FV 75 



produces a sensation of awe, which no animal is able 

 to withstand. The roaring of the lion impresses 

 even man himself with a feeling which he cannot 

 control. " The lion hath roared ; who will not fear?" 

 and when it becomes instinctively known as the pre* 

 lude to a sure destruction, it is dreadful indeed. 



The instincts which induce these animals to ap 

 proach their prey by stealth or a careful watchful- 

 ness, we noticed were accompanied with powerful 

 weapons of offence : let us now see how their 

 structure is arranged, so as to act in unison with 

 them. The most striking feature in the form of the 

 cats, is the immense power of the neck, shoulders, 

 and fore limbs, and the great muscular activity which 

 the whole body exhibits. They are 



" Lithe muscular, huge-boned, and limbed for leaping ;" 



and these qualities are often joined with a degree 

 of slender elegance, and grace of motion, which 

 one would almost consider impossible in their huge 

 frames. The principal organs, in employment for 

 these great wants, are the jaws and teeth, the limbs 

 and claws, and upon these organs we find displayed 

 the greatest proportion of beautiful mechanism. The 

 system of dentition is remarkably simple, but from 

 its simplicity it derives its efficacy. The canine 

 teeth are of extreme power and strength, and the 

 ride teeth, which amount to only four in the upper, 

 and three in the under jaw, instead of assuming the 

 common tuberculated form, are shaped like 



