13 
from side to side. The crowns are sharp and pointed, the two series, during 
the action of the jaws, closing in upon each other like the blades of a pair of 
scissors. Their function is therefore essentially cutting, while that of the 
huge dagger-like canines, assisted by the incisors, consists in tearing and 
lacerating— the due performance and integrity of these actions being secured 
by the strong temporal and nuchal muscle acting upon the occiput and the 
lower jaw; and further, to prevent any lateral motion, such as we find in 
those animals which grind and triturate their food, the condyles or articu- 
lating facets of the last-named bone are firmly lodged in the corresponding 
transversely-elongated glenoid sockets. 
Co-ordinating with this prehensile and offensive armature of the jaws, we 
also find the structural modifications of the feet eminently suggestive. Those 
of the anterior limbs are pentadactylous, while the posterior feet are tetra- 
dactylous ; but the peculiarities which principally distinguish them arise out 
of the beautiful provision made for the preservation of their formidable re- 
tractile claws. The mechanical contrivances here displayed are perfect. Not 
only are the actions of flexion, extension, pronation, and supination amply 
provided for — by the peculiar manner in which the bones of the fore-limb are 
articulated together — but the muscles of this member are so prodigiously 
developed, that, as is well known, a single blow from the sledge-hammer-like 
paw of the lion or tiger will fracture the skull of a man, and deal out death 
to almost any animal that may happen to come within its ponderous swing. 
In addition to this, we find the claws ordinarily maintained in a state of re- 
traction : this concealed position is accomplished by the agency of three 
elastic ligaments or bands, which being severally placed above and on either 
side of the digit, serve to connect the ultimate phalanx to the penultimate 
segment of the same toe. All injury to the claw is hereby prevented — a 
circumstance which, associated with the presence of resilient sole-pads of 
thickened submucous tissue placed under the ball of the toe, also serves to 
secure the characteristically graceful and noiseless tread of the feline animal. 
Antagonistic to the elastic binding cords above mentioned, the tendon of a 
large muscle, called the flexor profundus perforans, is inserted below into the 
base of the ultimate claw- supporting phalanx. When, therefore, it becomes 
necessary to display or employ these fearful instruments of destruction, a 
violent contraction of the muscle in question — 
which, of course, involves a drawing back of 
the tendon, and a consequent thrusting forward 
of the claw — is the principal agency by which 
this change is effected. There are likewise 
other small extensor muscles inserted at the 
upper end of the digit (fig. 5), serving to steady 
the movement and regulate the degree of pro- 
trusion, according to the will of the animal. 
It may be further remarked that, although the 
above constitute the more prominent features in 
the various structural changes adapted to the 
wants and habits of the Feline Mammalia, there 
are others also worthy of being mentioned ; such, 
for example, as the strong, horny, recurved pa- 
pillae of the tongue, formed for rasping the soft 
flesh from the bones of their slaughtered victims — 
the comparatively small salivary glands, showing 
how little mastication is required — the uninter- 
rupted chain of osseous elements extending from 
the larynx to the head — the flexibility of the 
vertebral column — the small caecum — the short- 
ness of the alimentary canal — and, more par- 
ticularly, the simple cylindrical stomach, which 
explains that the food is more readily reduced to 
the condition required for nutriment than obtains 
in the Herbivora, properly so called. 
Fig. 5. 
Dissection of a Lion’s 
Foot, displaying the 
tendons and liga- 
ments. 
