FELIDAE; 
OR, THE CAT TRIBE. 
'HE beautiful and terrible animals which are known by the general name of the 
Cat Tribe, now engage our attention. 
With the exception of one or two of the enigmatical creatures which are 
found in every group of beings, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, the Cats, 
or Felidae as they are more learnedly termed, are as distinct an order as the 
monkeys or the bats. Pre-eminently carnivorous in their diet, and destructive 
in their mode of obtaining food, their bodily form is most exquisitely adapted 
to carry out the instincts which are implanted in their nature. 
All the members of the cat tribe are light, stealthy, and silent of foot, quick of ear and 
eye, and swift of attack. Most of them are possessed of the power of climbing trees or rocks, 
but some few species, such as the Lion, are devoid of 
this capability. 
The teeth of the exclusively carnivorous animals 
are always of a form which permits them to seize and 
tear their prey, but does not give them the power of 
masticating their food after the manner of the vege- 
table feeders. We are all familiar with the mode in 
which the domestic cat consumes her food, whether 
it be a piece of butchers’ meat which is given to her 
by the hand of man, or a mouse which she has cap- 
tured by her own paws. Instead of the grinding 
process which is employed by monkeys and other 
creatures whose teeth are fitted for grinding their jaws and teeth op lion. 
food, the cat tears the meat into conveniently sized 
morsels, and then eats the food by a series of pecking bites. The annexed engraving of a 
Lion’s teeth and jaws will explain the reason for this mode of action. 
In the accompanying figure the mechanism of the claw 
is exhibited. 
When the animal is at rest, the upper tendons draw 
the claw backwards, so that it is lifted entirely from the 
ground, and the weight of the body rests only on the soft 
pads which stud the under surface of the foot. But when 
the creature becomes excited, and thrusts out its paw for 
the purpose of striking a blow, or clutching at its prey, 
the upper tendons become relaxed, while the lower ten- 
dons are tightened, and the claw is thrown boldly forward, 
sharp and ready for either use. 
claw op lion. The claw which is represented is that of the Lion, 
but the mechanism is common to all the true cats. 
Another curious structure is common to the group of feline animals ; and as the 
Lion seems to be their most perfect representative, the example has been taken from that 
animaf. 
Every one who cares for cats, and who in consequence is cared for by those graceful 
