i86 



BEGINNERS' ZOOLOGY 



M^!^ 



Fig. 334. — Ocelot (/r/w pardalis), of Texas and Mexico, x \. 



belong ? Does it walk on the ends of the toes ? Does it 

 walk with all the joints of the toes on the ground ? Where 

 is the heel of the cat? (Fig. 334.) The wrist? To make 

 sure of the location of the wrist, begin above : find the -shoul- 

 der blade, the upper arm (one or two bones ?), the lower 

 arm (one or two bones?), the wrist, the palm, and the 

 fingers (Fig. 337). Is the heel bone prominent or small? 



In what direction does the knee of the cat point ? The 

 heel ? The elbow ? The wrist ? Compare the front and 

 the hind leg in length ; straightness; heaviness; number and 

 position of toes ; sharpness of the claws. What makes the 

 dogs claws duller than a cat's ? What differences in habit 

 go with this ? Judging from the toe that has become use- 

 less on the fore foot of the cat, which toe is lacking in the 

 hind foot ? Is it the cat's thumb or little finger that does 

 not touch the ground ? (Fig. 337.) Locate on your own 

 hand the parts corresponding to the pads on the forefoot 

 of a cat. Of what use are soft pads on a cat's foot ? 



Some animals have short, soft fur and long, coarse over 

 hair. Does the cat have both ? Is the cat's fur soft or 

 ( oarse? Does tin* fur have a colour near the skin different 



