30 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



used for biting off large pieces of flesh, but merely for gnawing the 

 bones. 



6. The mouth forms a wide cleft, as may be seen when the animal is 

 yawning. This enables it to drive the canine teeth deep into the flesh 

 of its victim, to carry it off (see Section 8), and to tear it in pieces. 



7. The work of the canine teeth and molars is carried out by very 

 powerful muscles. The mouth being very wide, the masticatory or 

 jugal muscles, though powerful, are not nearly so large as in rodents 

 (which see). On the other hand, the temporal muscles are strongly 

 developed. Their surface of attachment is enlarged by the development 

 from the middle of the parietal bone of a high bony ridge or crest, which 

 is continued into two lateral ridges in the occipital region. The jugal 

 arches have a wide sweep in order to provide space for the lower parts of 

 the strong temporal muscles and the strongly developed coronal processes 

 of the mandible, to which the temporal muscles are attached. 



8. The cat prefers to consume its prey in a safe place where it may 

 not be disturbed by intruders ; moreover, in its former wild state it used, 

 as cats who have run wild do still, to kill animals of considerable size. 

 Accordingly, it is provided with a strong neck, which enables it to carry 

 its prey for considerable distances in its mouth. 



9. The cat is not obliged to grind down its food as finely as, e.g., a 

 ruminant animal. (Why is this not necessary ? See ox). The oesophagus 

 is accordingly of great width. 



10. Animals of smaller size are consumed bones and all ; consequently 

 the gastric juices needed for the solution, and digestion of such harder 

 materials are in the cat very acid. 



11. The food of the cat is of highly nutritious quality, and the 

 intestine accordingly short (see ox). 



E. The Mental Faculties oj the Cat adapted to its Predatory 

 Mode of Life. 



To succeed in the pursuit of its prey, the pursuer must excel its 

 victim, not only in bodily strength, but also in mental qualities. The cat 

 displays courage in defending itself against even the largest dogs ; patience 

 and calmness when it sits for hours motionless in front of a mouse-hole. 

 With great cunning it allows the mouse to slip out of its safe hiding-place, 

 and with accurate judgment it chooses the right moment for making the 

 decisive leap. However, in discussing the mental characteristics of the 

 cat, we must not omit to mention its cruelty and bloodthirstiness. It does 

 not kill its victim outright, but allows it to run for some distance, seizes 

 it again, and repeats this performance for an indefinite time, till finally 



