CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIYORA. 
247 
of tlic ligaments, and Avithout any exertion on the part of tlie animal. But, yvhen a cat is 
about to strike its prey, the claw joint is ]Dulled down bv the flexor muscles, and the formidable 
talons are then protruded, ready to 
be buried in the flesh of the victim. 
The animals of this family have gener- 
ally very acute senses, esp.ecially those 
of hearing and sight. The nictating 
membrane is very large and movable : 
the glaring or glistening of the eye, 
in a dim light, seeming as if the ball 
were on fire, is common to many carnivorous animals, but in none is it so conspicuous as in 
the cats. This feature gives to the larger 'species an indescribable look of ferocity, especially 
when they are excited, either in pursuit of their prey or in conflict with an enemy. The 
lower surface of the foot is furnished with thick, 
ball-like pads of the epidermis, upon which the 
animal walks, and these are the cause of the pe- 
culiarly noiseless tread which is characteristic of 
all the members of this family. They always take 
their prey by spi'inging suddenly upon it from 
some concealed station, and, if they miss their aim 
in the first attack, rarely follow it up. Accordingly they are all cowardly, sneaking animals, and 
never willingly face their enemy unless brought to bay or wounded, trusting always to their 
power of surprising their victims by the aid of their stealthy and noiseless movements.- They are 
mostly nocturnal and solitary in their habits ; some of them, however, live in families. They never, 
with a few rare exceptions, unite in troops, like the wolf or the jackal. They are distributed in 
all parts of the world, with the exception of Australia, but principally in the warmer regions, 
where alone the larger species are met with. 
In our notice of these animals, we shall first describe those of the old continent, and then 
those of the new. 
Genus FELIS. — At the head of this remarkable genus stands the Lion, Jf'elis leo, often called, 
on account of his strength, his aspect, and his general ascendency over the brute creation, the 
J(^i7ir/ of Beasts. 
Although the lion is not a native of our continent, still, nearly every person has become 
familiar with its appearance, either by representations of it or by seeing it in menageries. The 
impressions thus obtained are, however, often erroneous, and always imperfect and inadequate. 
It is necessaiy, therefore, to describe him as he appears in his natural state. 
The male lion has a large head, and, in repose, has a countenance of such gravity as to appear 
majestic. When excited, his eye flames as with fire, and his aspect becomes terrible. The neck 
is usually ornamented with a flowing mane, which lends a savage beauty to his grand and noble 
form. At the same time, he carries his head high, as if conscious of his power and proud of his 
ascendency. When full grown, the body measures about eight feet ; the tail is half that length, 
and usually terminates in a spine or claw, which, however, is attached only to the skin, and is 
easily worn oft'. No use for this is known. The structure of the bones and muscles presents a 
model of strength and activity. A lion can crush the skull of a bufi'alo with a stroke of his paw, 
and can carry off the body of a man, or antelope, as easily as a cat does a rat. One of them 
has been known to gallop off" with a two-year-old heifer, and in its pi'ogress to leap a broad dyke 
with the utmost facility ; another to kill a horse, and drag the body to the distance of a mile ; 
and still another, having killed a young cow, to run off" with it, and, although pursued by men 
on horseback for five hours, the body only touched the ground two or three times ! 
The lion lies in wait for his prey ; he creeps near to it, and then rushes upon it with a series 
of tremendous leaps, seldom failing to secure his prize. The cat, hunting a mouse, is a good 
example — on a minute scale — of a lion hunting an antelope or a quagga. His nature leads him 
to seek concealment, to skulk under cover, and to gain his object by stealth rather than open 
7 
cat's retractile claw, covered and uncovered. 
cat's claw -with tpie flexor muscle. 
