714 



MAMMALIA. 



In retractile claws, the last phalanx of the digit with its attached claw 

 is drawn back into a sheath on the outer side of the middle phalanx in 

 the fore-foot, on the upper side in the hind-foot. When the animal is 

 at rest or is walking, the claw is retained in this bent position by an elas- 

 tic ligament, and is in this way protected. When the animal straightens 

 the phalanges, the claws are protruded. 



Digitigrade animals walk on their toes only, plantigrade forms plant 

 the whole sole of the foot on the ground, but between these conditions 

 there are all possible gradations. Most Carnivores are sub-plantigrade, 

 often when at rest applying the whole of the sole to the ground, but 

 keeping the heel raised to a greater or less extent when walking. 



/ELUROIDEA Cat-like Carnivores. 



Family FelidcS, including the most specialised forms. The canines 



T 

 are large, the ,molars are reduced to -, the carnassials are the 



i 



last premolars above (with a three-lobed blade), and the molars 

 beneath (with a two-lobed blade). The skull is generally 

 rounded, the zygomatic arches are wide and strong, the tym- 

 panic bullse are large and smooth. The limbs are digitigrade, 

 the claws retractile. There is no alisphenoid canal. The 



3 I 3 I 



dentition of the typical genus Felis is 



3121 



Examples: The lion (Felis led] in Africa, Mesopotamia, Persia, 

 N.-W. India ; the tiger (F. Tigris], widely distributed in 

 Asia ; the leopard (F. Pardus} in Africa, India, Ceylon, 

 Sumatra, Borneo, &c. ; the wild cat (F. catus] ; the Caffre 



