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CLAW AND TONGUE OF LION. 



is termed " digitigrade," from the Latin words " digitus," a finger, and " gradus," a step. 

 As, however, this mode of progression would endanger the sharpness of the claws, if 

 they were permitted to rest upon the ground, there is a beautiful structure by means 

 of which the talons are kept from the earth, and preserved in their so-called sheaths 

 until they are wanted for their legitimate use. 



In the accompanying figure the mechanism of the claw is exhibited. 



When the animal is at rest, the upper tendons draw the claw backwards, so that it is 

 lifted entirely from the ground, and the weight of the body rests only on the soft pads 

 which stud the under surface of the foot. But when the creature becomes excited, and 

 thrusts out its paw for the purpose of striking a blow, or clutching at its prey, the upper 

 tendons become relaxed, while the lower tendons are tightened, and the claw is thrown 

 boldly forward, sharp and ready for either use. 



The claw which is represented is that of the Lion, but the mechanism is common to 

 all the true cats. 



Another curious structure is common to the group of feline animals ; and as the Lion 

 seems to be their most perfect representative, the example has been taken from that 

 animal. 



CLAW OP LION. 



TONGUE OP LION. 



Every one who cares for cats, and who in consequence is cared for by those graceful 

 creatures, is familiar with the dry roughness of pussy's tongue, as she licks the hand of 

 her human friend. This peculiarity of formation is the more conspicuous because it 

 presents so great a contrast with the wet, smooth tongue of the dog ; and, as a general 

 rule, men are more accustomed to the lingual caresses of the dog than of the cat. The 

 cause of the strangely dry tongue of the Felidae is at once seen by reference to the 

 tongue of a lion or tiger, or by applying a magnifying glass to the tongue of a domestic cat. 



The entire surface of the tongue is covered with innumerable conical projections, which 

 arc so curved that their points lie towards the throat. On the central line of the tongue 

 these projections are larger than at the side. Their chief, if not their only use, is to aid 

 the cat in stripping the flesh from the bones of the animals which it has killed, and so 

 to prevent the least avoidable waste of nutriment. Truly, in nature the economical 

 system reigns supreme, and waste is an impossibility. 



So strongly made are these armatures, that the constant licking of a cat's tongue will 

 remove the living tissues from a delicate skin, while the tongue of the Lion can rapidly 

 cause the outflow of blood. There is a well-authenticated anecdote of a tame Lion 

 cub and its owner, which exhibits strongly the rasping power of the feline tongue. 



