126 



ANIMAL MECHANICS. 



(c). The Carnivores. I have examined the deep flexor 

 tendons of the following Carnivores : — 



I. 



The Tiger. 





2. 



The Wolf. 





3- 



The Pyrenean Mastiff. 





4- 



The Bengal Fox. 





5- 



The Virginian and Japanese Bears. 





i . Tiger (deep flexors of fingers)* 





Flexor dig. prof., . . 



IOO 



j , 



First finger, .... 



23.4 per cent 



2. 



Second finger, . . . 



15-5 » 



3 



Third finger, . . . 



12.7 „ 



4- 



Fourth finger, . 



12.5 „ 



5- 



Fifth finger, . . . 



1 1.8 „ 



6. 



Pad refractor, . . . 



1.4 »> 



7- 



Deficiency, . . . . 



22.7 ft 





Total, . . . 



100.0 









The Tiger has no fl.poll. long, distinct from the fl. dig. long. 

 muscle, and the thumb is therefore flexed by the same mus- 

 cular effort as the other fingers ; the strength of the tendon 

 that flexes the thumb, as compared with that of the tendons 

 of the other fingers, is remarkable, and shows the great im- 

 portance of this digit in the grasping action of the animal's 

 paw. 



There are some circumstances in the history of this fine 

 tiger, which throw light upon the details of muscular action, 

 and which are, in themselves, sufficiently interesting to jus- 

 tify a slight digression. The tiger and tigress, brother and 



* These measurements were taken from the left paw 



