ORDER V. THE LARNIVORA. 



109 



FELinj; — Cats. 



Cuvk'r says, that of all the carnivcirous animals the cats are tlic most 

 complctelv and powci-fully armeil, and provided witli Aveapons tor seizini; 

 and overcoming their prey. iliey have si.\ front teetii in eaeli jaw, and 

 also two canine teeth, verv jiowerfid, and formed for tearing ; in the upper 

 jaw four cheek or molar tcctii, and in the under, three pointed, shaped like 

 a wedge, and formed for cutting. Have the head large and round ; eyes, 

 with the pupil often olilong ; tongue with strong horny ]ia])ill;v directed 

 backwards. They have four toes on the hind feet and five on tiie fore, armed 

 with very strong, hooked, and sharp claws, which are retracted when the 

 animals walk or are at rest. They seek living animals for food, never 

 feeding on carrion unless severely jiressed liy hunger. They inhabit forests, 

 or wooded rocks, where shelter can be obtained in the clefts. They arc 

 n;itives of Em-ope, Asia, AtVic'a, and America ; but the most powerful species 

 are confined chiefly to the tropical regions. 



The ancients ap[)ear to lun e had considerable knowledge of these species, 

 especiallv the lions, tigers, and leopards, which were made to take part, as 

 with the liomans, in their games, triumphs, and the cruel sports of the 

 amphitheatre. Immense munhers of these animals were collected at Rome, 

 and transported to all parts of the Koman empire ; but by what means they 

 coidd have been taken in such int'redible numbers it is difficult to conjec- 

 ture. Eutropius tells us that five thousand wild beasts were slaughtered at 

 tlie dedication of the amphitheatre of Titus. It is said that at the ojiening 

 of l'omi)ey's theatre five hundred lions were slain in fi\e days, and at a 

 subsequent exhibition the entertainment consisted in the slaughter of one 

 hundred lions, the same number of lionesses, twi.i hundred leopards, and 

 tln-ee hundred bears. It was thought in the highest degree honorable to 

 engage in battle with these fierce beasts ; and thus we find persons of the 

 highest rank ambitious to enter the arena, and dis[>lay their courage in such 



conflicts. 



Animals in such enormous numbers could not have been furnished but 

 by the employment of whole armies in their capture; and we find that even 

 sovereigns went out to hunt them, with all the "pomp and circumstance of 

 war," and with jJi'cparations as carefully considered as if they were aijout 

 to make war upon some powerful nation. Claudian's description of the 

 number and variety of wild beasts brought to liome can scarcely be con- 

 sidered an exaggeration. 



" All that v/ith potent tcTth cimmiar.J the pUin, 

 All that run horrid with erected inane, 

 Or, jiroud of stately horns or bristling hair, 

 At onee the forest's ornament or fear ; 

 Torn from their deserts by the liouuin jiowor, 

 Kor strength can save, nor craggy den secure." 



