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TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



contraction of the muscle, the tendon and elastic bands mentioned above 

 draw back the joints of the toe and the claws into their original position. 

 The flexible legs and sharp claws also enable the animal to climb up 

 high objects, such as trees, walls, etc., with ease and safety, and thus aid 

 it in the pursuit of birds. Finally, the sharp claws serve it as a much- 

 dreaded weapon of defence against its enemies (dogs). 



Hi. How the Killing, Tearing-up, and Consumption of the Prey are effected. 



1. Holding its victim tightly in its claws, the cat soon kills it with a 

 few powerful bites, the long and pointed canine teeth entering the flesh 

 like knives, and inflicting almost instantaneous death. Overlapping 

 each other, and thus forming pincers, as it were, these teeth hold the prey 

 tight, and prevent it from escaping. 



2. (a) The molar teeth form excellent instruments for tearing the prey 



Toe of the Foot of a Cat. Above, with Claw retracted ; below, with 

 Claw protracted. (After Graber.) 



M., Metatarsal bones ; 1, 2 and 3, first, second and third digital joints; Z., tendon of the 

 muscle (which lies higher upon the foot) which effects the retraction of the claw ; eB., 

 elastic hand ; B 2 , tendon of the muscle which bends the second digital joint ; B 3 , tendon 

 of the muscle (penetrating through B 2 ) which effects the flexion (protraction) of the third 

 digital joint and the claw. 



into pieces. Behind the canine teeth on each side above and below are 

 two smaller teeth, which end in several sharp points. They are called 

 premolars. (Why?) They bite edge to edge in such a manner as to 

 tear up and mangle the prey. Behind these rises the strongest and 

 most formidable of the set, the so-called camassial tooth. It possesses a 

 double-pointed cutting-edge. In closing the jaws the upper carnassials 

 glide closely along the outer surface of the lower ones, and in this way 

 form the saw-like blades of two pairs of shears, as cutting as instruments of 

 steel. 



