12 



NATURAL SIS TOST. 



the unguat phalanx, from the fact of its supporting the claw, has the regular pulley-surface to articulate 

 with the preceding joint, but its farther end is strongly curved downwards and pointed at the end; it 

 has in fact the shape of the horny talon of which it forms the supporting core. Further support 

 is afforded to the claw by an outgrowth of the phalanx, which commences near its articular end, and 



grows over the end of the claw like a sort of hood, thus 

 giving the ungual phalanx of the Cat a most peculiar 

 and unmistakable shape. Between the upper surfaces 

 of the last phalanx and the last but one passes a strong 

 and very elastic ligament, which so pulls upon the 

 ungual phalanx as to bend it on its predecessor, and 

 so cause the two to be almost parallel, the hood of the 

 claw-bearing bone being received between the preceding 

 joint of its own toe and that of the next ; hence the 

 scooping out of the middle phalanges. Thus, by the 

 action of this ligament, the claw under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances is pulled back within its covering of 

 skin, which forms for it a sort of protecting pouch, 

 TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS OF A CAT'S TOE effectually prevents its being worn down by 



(Twice Natural Size. From a Sketch by T. J. Parker.) ' - * * 



A, win, the claw retracted; B, with the claw exserted ; mtc, the rubbing against the ground. But when the Cat strikes 



7netacarpal;i>A.l, the first ;;)A.2, tbesecond ;p7i .3, the third phalanx; .. . , -, ,-, ,-. . , 



*,thel)ony"hood;"r,thec;aw iMheelastic ligament ;t, the flexor its prey, it bends the paw Upon tlie Wl'lSt by meailS 

 tendon ; a, a ligamen tons loop, through which the tendon passes. r /-ii-x i i i 



of the strong flexor (or bending) muscles, which are 



placed along the under surface of the fore-arm and hand. The end of the string-like tendons of 

 one of these muscles divides into four slips, one for each toe, and, running along the under surface 

 of the first two phalanges, is inserted into the corresponding surface of the third, and, this under 

 surface being bent upwards by the elastic ligament, the tendon is, when the claw is retracted, 

 put upon the stretch. But when the flexors come into play, they pull upon the ungual phalanx, 

 causing it to turn through a quarter-circle upon its articulation, and thus protruding the claw from 

 its pouch. Immediately the flexors relax the elastic ligament is again allowed to act, and the 

 claw springs back into its place of repose. 



This arrangement is of great importance, as the Cat family always attack their prey in the first 

 instance by a stroke of the powerful fore-paw, and not, as do the Dogs, by a grip of the teeth. 



Not less characteristic of the Cat family than the points we have just considered are the number 

 and form of the teeth, which here attain the most perfectly carnivorous character, being so con- 

 structed as to be wholly incapable of grinding, thus making it impossible for their possessor to live 

 upon any but highly nourishing animal food. 



In the front part of the Cat's upper jaw are six small teeth with chisel-like edges three on 

 each side of the middle line. These teeth are, in shape, not unlike our own front teeth, and, like 

 them, are single - fanged, 

 but their small size, when 

 compared with those that 

 follow, is remarkable. They 

 are borne by a bone quite 

 distinct in young skulls 

 from that which carries 

 the other teeth the pre- 

 maxillary bone and are, 

 therefore, classed as incisor LION ' 8 CLAW ' SHEATHED AND UNSHEATHED. 



teeth. Corresponding with them in the lower jaw are six similar teeth the lower incisors ; so that 

 the incisors of the Cat are said to be f=j, that is, three on each side above and below. 



Following the last incisor, and separated from it by a short interval, comes on each side in both 

 jaws a long, pointed fang, the chief means by which the Cats seize and hold on to their prey. These 

 are the caniws, or dog-teeth, and correspond to the "eye-teeth" in ourselves, those adze-like teeth 

 immediately following and slightly projecting beyond the last incisor. When the mouth is closed 



