PICTORIAL MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



Wk enter within the doors of our Pictorial Museum, 

 and our eye is at once arrested by a group of fierce 

 yet beautiful animals, among which stands one pro- 

 minent in stern grandeur and majestic bearing, — 

 we cannot mistake him,— the lion, king of beasts. 



The group which encircles this "noble beast, 

 and of which he is the most prominent example, is 

 termed the Feline. (Felidae.) It. includes the tiger, 

 the leopard, the lynx, the cat, and many others. 



Felid.e. — In this family group, which scarcely 

 admits of any generic subdivisions, are compre- 

 hended the most sanguinary, the most, formidable, 

 and the most typical of the order Camivora. That 

 is to say, in these animals the organs of destruction 

 exhibit the highest degree of development. Among 

 quadrupeds they are what the eagles and falcons 

 are among birds. 



Essentially carnivorous, still, unlike the dog which 

 relishes carrion, they reject putrescent flesh, and 

 consequently are more expressly endowed and fitted 

 for the work of wholesale slaughter. Their instincts 

 and powers are, in fact, in admirable accordance. 

 Their frame is vigorous, but agile,— their limbs are 

 short, the joints well-knit, but supple, and every 

 motion is easy, free, and graceful. They leap and 

 bound with astonishing velocity. Their footfall is 

 silent, the feet being provided with elastic pads, 

 namely, a large basal ball or cushion, and one under 

 each toe (see fig. 5). The claws are of enormous 

 size, hooked, and sharp, and when not in use com- 

 pletely retracted within a sheath, so as not to be 

 visible. These, indeed, and the teeth, are the in- 

 struments of their destructive energy. 



The dentition of the Felidae is v'ery characteristic. 

 The incisors are very small, six above and six below. 

 The canines are of enormous size and strength ; the 

 false molars are sharp and compressed ; above there 

 are two on each side, — the first small, the second 

 Jong and conical. This is followed by the la*niary 

 molar (earnassiere), which is bicuspid with an inner 

 blunt tubercle ; behind the laniary is a very minute 

 tuberculous molar, but this is wanting in the lower 

 jaw, and the laniary is bicuspid. 



Dental formula.— (See figures 10, 11, 12.) 



Incisors _, canines JH , molars 



6 1—1 3—3 



The shortness of the muzzle and the boldness of 

 the occipital ridge give an appearance to the skulls 

 of the Felidae as if they were drawn out backwards ; 

 the forehead has no sudden rise, but is continued 

 from the nasal bones to the occiput, in a gradual 

 arch. The union of the interparietal and occipital 

 ridges forms a beetling promontory (to which is at- 

 tached the ligamentum nuchae), overhanging the 

 occipital bone, which has a perpendiculai\ and even 

 inwardly inclined, direction ; so that the back of the 

 skull appears abruptly truncate. The orbits are 

 large, of a somewhat oval form, and obliquely situ- 

 ated. The outer ring is incomplete, excepting, as 

 far as we ourselves have examined, in one species, 

 the Felis planiceps of Sumatra, in which, as in the 

 ichneumons, it is a fair circular ring ; indeed, the 

 skull of this species (of which we have only seen a 

 single specimen) we considered as approaching in 

 its contour to that of some of the viverrae. The 

 tympanic bulla, enclosing the internal organs of 

 hearing, is largely developed. In the Felis plani- 

 ceps it is of peculiar magnitude. 



The bold ridges, and the strength and form of the 

 zygomatic arches, indicate the immense volume and 

 stress of the. muscles destined to act upon the lower 

 jaw. The articulating condyles are not raised above 

 the straight horizontal line carried along the sides of 

 the lower jaw; they are cylindrical, and firmly 

 locked in the transversely elongated glenoid ca- 

 vities, the margins of which are so elevated before 

 and behind as to render any but a simple hinge-like 

 motion impossible. This scissor-like action of the 

 lower jaw is in accordance with the trenchant cha- 

 racter of the molar teeth, the mutual action of which 

 on each other resembles that of the blades of a pair 

 of shears. (See figures 2, 3, 4.) 



The skulls of the Felidce exhibit a general same- 

 ness of contour ; the principal difference being that 

 of size, according to the species. The ocelot has, 

 perhaps, the most rounded skull, while that of the 

 Felis. planiceps is flattened between the orbits and 

 narrow. Those of the lion and tiger are very simi- 

 lar, and not easy to be discriminated from each 

 other. There is greater straightness in the longi- 

 tudinal outline of the upper surface in that of the 

 lion ; greater flatness of the space between the 

 orbits; and the infra -orbitar foramina are larger and 



often double. The following character, first noticed 

 by Professor Owen, appears to be an unfailing cri- 

 terion. In the tiger, the nasal processes of the 

 maxillary bones nevei extend upwards as far as the 

 union of the nasal bones with the frontal, failing by 

 the third of an inch; while in the lion, the nasal 

 processes of the maxillary bones always attain the 

 line of union between the nasal and frontal bones, 

 and sometimes even pass beyond it. 



In the limbs of the Felidae we behold the finest 

 display of muscular development which can be con- 

 ceived. The dissected arm of a lion or tiger is a 

 subject worthy the study of an artist. Hence to 

 dash down their prey is an easy task. It has been 

 said that the Bengal tiger has been known to frac- 

 ture the skull of a man with one stroke of its heavy 

 paw. We may easily conceive the force of the 

 muscles destined to act on the claws or talons to 

 which we have already alluded. There are five toes 

 on the anterior, and four on the posterior extremi- 

 ties ; and these are armed with the formidable 

 weapons in question. By a beautiful structural 

 conformation of the bones, ligaments, and muscular 

 parts, they are always preserved without effort from 

 coming in contact with the ground, and are retracted 

 within a sheath, so as to be kept sharp and ready 

 for service. 



This involuntary retraction, counteracted only by 

 the action of muscles, is effected by two elastic 

 ligaments so contrived as to roll back" the ultimate 

 phalanx which the claw encases, and bring it down 

 by the outer side of the penultimate phalanx, which 

 is flattened off to remove every obstruction. From 

 this position the talon can be thrown forward in a 

 moment, the action of the double elastic spring 

 being counteracted by that of the flexor muscles. 

 In the act of striking with great violence, the flexor 

 muscles strongly contract, brace up the tendon, and 

 throw out the talon, which, when the act is over, 

 returns to its sheath. An analogous arrangement 

 exists in the claws of the sloth. Its hooks, as they 

 may be termed, are governed by an elastic liga- 

 ment, but its tendency, contrary to what we see in 

 the cat tribe, is to press them towards the palm, in 

 order to enable the animal to cling without fatigue 

 to the branches from which it suspends itself. In 

 figure 7, which is a toe from the left foot of a young 

 lion represented in a state of extension, a points to 

 the two elastic ligaments ; b the tendon of the ex- 

 tensor muscle ; c a slip of inelastic tendon ; d the 

 tendon of the flexor muscle, which passes over the 

 upper extremity of the last phalanx at e, as over a 

 pulley, and thus assists the powerful action of that 

 muscle. 



In figure 6, a toe from the hind foot, the two 

 elastic ligaments (a) converge to be inserted into 

 the upper angle of the last phalanx, and draw it 

 backwards upon, instead of by the side of, the 

 penultimate phalanx, c is a slip of the lateral in- 

 elastic tendon, and d the tendon of the flexor pro- 

 fundus, which .is strongly strapped down by an 

 annular ligament e. 



Figures^ and 9 are also illustrative of the me- 

 chanism described. 



Figure 9 a and b, the extremities of the two bones 

 of the fore-arm ; c c the carpal or wrist bones ; d d 

 the metacarpal bones ; e e the first row of phalangal 

 bones ; // the second row of phalangal bones ; g g 

 the last row encased with the claws. 



Figure 8, a, second phalanx of a toe ; b the last 

 phalangal bone ; c, an elastic ligament. 



The general skeleton of the Felicia?, as exemplified 

 by that" of the lion (figure 1), will claim a moment's 

 notice. 



The back and loins are long ; the. vertebras of the 

 neck are remarkably large and solid, the first or 

 atlas having its lateral processes flat and expanded : 

 the spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrae are 

 long, with the exception of the last two or three ; 

 the "transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae are 

 large ; the spinous processes are broad but rather 

 short, and inclined gently forwards, but become, as 

 they advance to those of the dorsal vertebrae, more 

 upright, while, on the other hand, those of the dor- 

 sal in descending lose their obliquity ; the chest is 

 deep ; the scapula is broad, with a high strong 

 spine ; the clavicle is small, and merely imbedded 

 in the muscles of the shoulder ; the humerus is 

 short and stout ; it is remarkable for a high ridge or 

 crest, which rises above the outer condyle of its 

 mwer articulation. Above the inner condyle there 

 is an orifice for the passage of the artery, which 

 does not run round the bone, but, as it were, pierces 



it in a direct course onwards. This orifice is found 

 not only in all the Felidae, but in some of the Ameri- 

 can monkeys, in the seals, the badgers, the coatis, 

 the racoons, the mustelae, the civets, the ichneu- 

 mons, and others, but not in the dog, the hyaena, or 

 the bear. 



With respect to the perfection of the senses in 

 the Felidae, a few words may be necessary. 



Sight. — The sense of sight is very acute, and 

 adapted not only for diurnal', but also for nocturnal 

 vision. The eyes are placed obliquely, and glare 

 in the dark, owing to the brilliancy of the tapetum 

 lucidum, a concave mirror at the bottom of the eye. 

 _ This glare is visible even during the day, espe- 

 cially when the animals are enraged, for the pupil 

 dilates under excitement. In the smaller cats the 

 pupil is vertically linear when contracted, but in 

 the larger, as the lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, ja- 

 guar, &c, it is circular. 



Hearing. — The sense of hearing is exquisite, and 

 the auditory apparatus is accordingly developed. 

 We have already noticed the magnitude of the 

 tympanic bulla. 



Smell. — This sense is also in great perfection, 

 and the olfactory apparatus is complicated, and 

 abundantly supplied with nerves. The Felidae are, 

 however, less distinguished for the sense of smell 

 than the canine race. 



Taste. — The sense of taste is not very refined. 

 The tongue is rough. The roughness of the tongue 

 of the common cat is familiar to every one, as well 

 as the action of lions and tigers in licking the bones 

 of their prey in order to scrape off the adherent par- 

 ticles of flesh. This is effected by numerous horny 

 papillae, differently arranged in different species, 

 but always with the points directed backwards. 

 Figure 15 shows these papillae on the lion's tongue ; 

 and figure 14, a magnified view of them on a small 

 portion. 



Feeling. — The long bristles called whiskers on 

 each side of a cat's mouth are familiar to all : these 

 are important organs of touch. They are attached 

 to a bed of close glands under the skin, and each is 

 connected with a nerve. Hence they communicate 

 to the animal an impression from the slightest, touch. 

 If we imagine a lion or tiger stealing through 

 a jungle during the darkness of night, we shall bt>. 

 able to account for the use of these whiskers. They 

 indicate to him, through the nicest feeling, any ob- 

 stacle which may present itself in his progress ; 

 they prevent him from rustling the leaves or boughs, 

 and alarming his prey ; and they thus, in conjunc- 

 tion with the soft springy pads of his feet, which 

 render his steps noiseless, enable him to steal upon 

 his unsuspecting victim, and make his fatal bound. 



16—26. THE LION. 



Aeoji/ {Leon) of the Greeks {A'eaiva. {Lecena) lioness) ; 

 Leo of the Latins {Lea and Lecena, lioness) ; Leone 

 of the Italians {Leonessa, lioness) ; Leon, Spanish : 

 Lion, French {Lionne, lioness ; Linceau, cub) ; 

 Lowe, German {Loioinn, lioness) ; Felis Leo, Linn. 

 Male, as a general rule, ornamented with a mane : 

 of which the female is destitute. 



The stern dignity of the lion, his enormous 

 strength, his glowing eyes, his deep roar, and his 

 destructive powers, all combine to render this terror 

 of the desert one of the most attractive objects of a 

 menagerie. The lion is now limited to Africa and 

 certain parts of Asia ; but formerly it was more ex- 

 tensively spread, the eastern line of Europe being 

 within its boundaries. Herodotus informs us that 

 the camels which carried the baggage of the army 

 of Xerxes were attacked by them in the district, of 

 the Paeonians and Crestonaei, on their march from 

 Acanthus to Therme (afterwards Thessalonia, now 

 Saloniki) : he adds also that these animals were 

 •numerous in the mountains between the rivers 

 Nestus, in Thrace, and the Achelous, which flows 

 through Acamania. Aristotle gives the same local- 

 ity as the abode of lions, and the same fact is re- 

 peated by Pliny, who says, ' Longe viridibus pisestan- 

 tiores iis quos Africa aut Lybia gignunt,' — ' They far 

 exceed in strength those produced in Africa or 

 Lybia.' Pausanias, alluding to the disasters which 

 befel the baggage-camels of Xerxes, states that the 

 lions often descended to the plain at the foot of 

 Olympus, between Macedonia and Thessaly. 



Lions were common in Syria, as we gather from 

 numerous passages in the sacred records. Oppian 

 states that Armenia and Parthia produced a formida- 

 ble breed. At present the lion is confined to the inte- 



