348 YEKTEBRATE ANIMALS, 



Tigei-s, Leopards, Panthers, Cats, and others. In all these the ani- 

 mal walks lightly upon the tips of the toes, and the soles of the feet 

 are hairy. The jaws are short, and owing to this and to the great 

 size of the muscles which move the lower jaw, the head assumes a 



Fig. 262.— Side-view of the skull of the Lion. 



rounded form, with a .short muzzle. The molars and prwmolars 

 (figs. 249 and 252) are fewer in number than in any other of the 

 Carnivora — hence the shortness of the jaws : and they are all fur- 

 nished with cutting edges, except the single molar in the upper jaw. 



Fi". 253. — Bones and ligaments of the toe of a Cat, showing the claw letiacted (A) 

 and protruded (B). 



which is tuberculate. The legs are nearly of equal length, and the 

 hind-feet have only four toes, whilst the fore-feet have five toes 

 each. All the toes are furnished with strong curved retractile claws, 

 which, when not in use, are withdrawn within sheaths by the action 

 of elastic ligaments (fig. 253). The tongue is armed with horny 



