354 CARNIVORES. 



allies, as requiring a considerable amount of special knowledge of osteology, we 

 may particularise somewhat more fully the leading characteristics of the cats 

 of the present day. And we say those of the present day advisedly, since the 

 researches of palaeontologists have now brought to light the remains of a large 

 number of Carnivores, many of which, although they must undoubtedly be called 

 cats, differ from the existing species by the greater number of their teeth, as well 

 as by many other structural peculiarities, so as to render it difficult to draw any 

 well-marked distinction between cats and civets. 



We may first of all notice that, as a general rule, they have 30 teeth, of which 

 are incisors, \ canines, | premolars, and ]- molars. Occasionally, however, there 

 may be only 2 premolars on each side of the upper jaw, thus reducing the total 

 number of teeth to 28. Thus a cat has at most only three or four cheek-teeth on 

 each side of the upper jaw, of which the last but one is the flesh-tooth ; while in 

 the lower jaw there are but three of these teeth, of which the last is the flesh-tooth. 

 The upper flesh-tooth is of the same general type as that of the hyaena's tooth 

 shown in the woodcut on p. 353 ; its blade consisting of three distinct cutting-lobes, 

 and usually having a distinct tubercle on the inner side, although this tubercle is 

 always smaller than in the hyaenas, and may be wanting. The lower flesh-tooth is 

 also of the same general type as that of the hyaenas (of which an example will be 

 found figured under the head of that group), and consists only of the two-lobed 

 blade, without any trace of the inner cusp or hinder heel, which form such import- 

 ant elements in the corresponding teeth of the dogs and civets. The flesh-teeth of 

 the cats have, indeed, lost the whole of those elements which are adapted for 

 masticating or bruising food, and are reduced simply to the condition of cutters. 

 Moreover, the single molar remaining in the upper jaw is of such small size that it 

 can be of but little, if any, use as a masticating agent ; and we accordingly find 

 that the dentition of the cats is adapted solely for seizing their prey, and sub- 

 sequently devouring it by cutting off the flesh from the bones by the scissor-like 

 action of the flesh-teeth. Any person who has watched a domestic cat eating a 

 piece of meat, or who has observed a captive lion or tiger shearing off huge 

 morsels from its allotted meal, will fully understand the mode of action of these 

 teeth. In all cats the tusks, or canines, are very long and strong, and frequently 

 have their hinder border forming a sharp cutting edge, by which their rending 

 power is of course much increased. An important feature distinguishing the lower 

 incisor teeth of the cats from those of all other Carnivores is to be found in the 

 circumstance that the whole series of six are placed in the same straight transverse 

 line, whereas in other Carnivores the second pair of these teeth is thrust up above 

 the level of those on either side. 



The fore-feet of all the cats are provided with five toes each, whereas the hind- 

 feet have but four toes. The claws in which these toes terminate are invariably 

 curved and sharp, and, with the single exception of the hunting-leopard, can be 

 completely retracted within sheaths for their protection when not in use. The 

 mechanism of the retraction of the claws is due to the peculiar shape of the terminal 

 joints of the toes, and the mode by which they are articulated to the second joints. 

 Thus the terminal joint of each toe has the broad sickle-like form of the horny claw 

 which it supports, and it is articulated to the end of the second or preceding joint 



