OF THE CLASS MAMMALIA. 



255 



also the tiger, lion, panther, lynx, &c. ; their jaws are short, 

 and are acted on by muscles of extraordinary strength; their 

 retractile nails, concealed between the toes in a state of repose 

 by means of elastic ligaments, are never blunted. Their toes 

 are five in number on the anterior limbs, and. four on those 

 behind. Their hearing is exceedingly fine, and the best deve- 

 loped of all their senses. They see well by day and night, 

 but they are not farsighted ; in some the pupil is elongated 

 vertically, in others it is round. They make great use of the 

 organ of smell ; they consult it before eating, and often when 

 anything disturbs them. Their tongue is covered with horny 



Fig. 194. The Panther. 



and very rough points. Their coat is in general soft and fine, 

 and the surface of the body very sensible to the touch ; their 

 moustaches especially seem to be instruments of great sensi- 

 bility. Though of prodigious vigour, they generally do not 

 attack animals openly, but employ cunning and artifice. 

 They never push their prey to flight, but watching by the 

 margins of rivers and pools in covert, they spring at once on 

 their victim. 



At the head of this genus stands the lion, measuring fre- 

 quently twelve feet in length, or over six feet to the setting 



