THE ANTERIOR LDIBS OF QUADRUPEDS. 51 



these retractor muscles relax, the spring-liga- 

 ment, contracting, rolls back the claw into its 

 sheath alongside of the preceding bone. When 

 the lion, tiger, or cat, spring upon their prey 

 and clutch it in their paws or strike it violently, 

 the powerful flexor muscles are put into en- 

 ergetic action and forcibly unsheath the claw, 

 these muscles and the spring-ligaments being 

 alternate in their agency. Every one has not 

 the opportunity of examining the paw of the 

 lion or tiger, but every one may examine that 

 of the domestic cat, which will exemplify the 

 description we have given. 



In the dog tribe, which, though carnivorous, 

 do not strike or tear their prey with the 

 claws, but seize it with the mouth, the claws 

 are not retractile, and are comparatively fee- 

 ble, short, and blunt : in the weasel tribe, 

 however, which climb trees, and seize upon 

 birds and small animals, the claws are sharp 

 and retractile. 



Among the rodent (gnawing) animals, there 

 is great diversity in the form of the paws, and 

 freedom of the fore-limbs, in accordance with 

 the diversity of their habits : the squirrel has 

 great libert)-, and can climb trees with the 

 utmost address : the toes are armed A,vith 



