THE ANTERIOR LIMBS OF QUADRtTPEDS. 49 



ness, and a similar but smaller cushion is 

 placed under each toe. The use of these pads 

 IS very great. Not only do they render the 

 tread of the animal noiseless, but they conjoin 

 also with the elasticity of the limbs, or rather 

 of the wrist, and the other joints, where the 

 bones form acute angles with each other, to 

 break the concussion which the shoulder and 

 spine would be Hable to receive from the 

 violence of the animal's plunge in bounding, 

 and especially where the aim was missed, for 

 into this plunge the whole of the muscular 

 energy of the frame is poured. StiU more 

 manifest is another use of these pads, especially 

 those of the toes; by their position they raise 

 the tips of the toes from the ground, and thus 

 elevate the sheathed talons, so as to prevent the 

 possibiHty of the points being worn blunt or 

 ragged, for the talons, though sheathed, have 

 just their points exposed, but buried by the fur. 

 These pads unite also with the arrangement of 

 the bones of the limbs, and the modification of 

 the spine, in giving a certain ease and elasticity 

 of tread, pecuharly observable when these 

 animals pursue their way by a succession of 

 graceful bounds. With respect to the extrusion 

 of the talons and their retraction, the mechanism 



