DIGITIGRADE CAENIVOEA. 



543 



skull is short and rounded, and beset externally with 

 long ridges, for the attachment of powerful muscles ; their 

 jaws, which are short, and of great strength, are furnished 

 with teeth few in number, but of the most trenchant and 

 formidable character, and move upon each other with a 

 vertical cutting action. Their tongue is covered with 

 numerous horny spines, set in close array, and directed 

 backwards, so as to form a kind of rasp, with which the 

 animal scrapes the flesh on which it is feeding from the 

 bones. 



The mechanism whereby the points of the claws are 

 kept from injury is extremely beautiful. Every one who 

 has handled the velvet paws of a Cat is aware that, in its 

 ordinary condition, the claws are quite concealed, but 

 that, at the will of the animal, they are forcibly thrown 

 forwards. This is accomplished in the following manner : 

 The last joint of each toe, the end of which is encased 



FIG. 467. TOE OF LIOX; a, with the claw extended; b, c, without the skin, 

 retracted and extended. 



by the claw, is, when at rest, drawn back, either upon or at 

 the side of the preceding joint, by the force of two elastic 

 bands, as represented in the accompanying figure 

 (.Fig. 467 b) ; from this position, however, it is plucked in 

 an instant by the tendon which bends the toe, and which 

 is attached to the base of the claws (Fig. 467 c), so that it 

 is protruded ready for action (Fig. 467 a) ; when the con- 

 traction ceases, the claw again springs back to its place, 

 and lies concealed beneath the hair at the back of the 

 foot. The silent tread of the Cats is partly owing to 

 this structure, and partly to the elastic pads with which 



