Felidae. MAMMALIA. Felid.e. 109 
FAMILY VI,— FELIDiE. 
Having in our introductory observations on the Car- 
nivora selected examples of the present family for the 
purpose of enunciating the leading characteristics of tlie 
order — mainly on account of its forming the most typical 
subdivision of that great mammalian group — the obser- 
vations which w'e have now to offer must necessaril}' 
assume a supplementary character. In the remarks 
above alluded to, attention w'as drawn to the general 
massiveness of all the osseous elements entering into 
the solid framework of the typical carnivorous skeleton 
— this adaptation to the destructive habits of the crea- 
ture being more particularly conspicuous in the structure 
of the skull. In the accompanying representation of 
the cranium of a tiger — fig. 31 — the remarkable short- 
ening of the facial hones, associated with the powerful 
Fig. 31. 
grasping teeth, and a surprising transverse breadth of 
the skull below the orbital and temporal fossae, are 
remarkably significant. The teeth are thirty in num- 
ber, and of these we find only four true and ten 
spurious molars, the ultimate grinder on either side of 
the upper series being tuberculated. This tooth, how- 
ever, is particularly small, and widened laterally ; hut, 
with this exception, all the molars are much compressed 
from side to side, and the crowns being sharp and 
pointed, the twm series, during the action of the jaws, 
close 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 muscles acting 
upon the occiput and the lower jaw ; and farther, to 
prevent any lateral motion, such as we find in those 
animals which grind and triturate their food, the 
condyles or articulating facets of the last-named hone 
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 pentadac- 
tylous, while the posterior feet are tetradactylous ; hut 
the peculiarities w’hich pilncipally distinguish them 
arise out of the beautiful provision made for the pre- 
servation of their formidable retractile claws. Tlie 
mechanical contrivances here displayed are perfect. 
Not only are the actions of flexion, extension, pronatioii, 
and supination amply provided for by the peculiar 
manner in which the bones of the fore limb or arm are 
articulated together, but the muscles of this member 
are so prodigiously develojied, that, as is well known, 
a single blow from the sledge-hammer- like paw of a 
lion or tiger will fracture the skull of a man, and deal 
death to almost any animal that may happen to come 
within its ponderous swing. In addition to this, we 
fitjd the claws ordinarily maintained in a state of 
retraction ; 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 (fig. 32). All 
injury to the claw is hereby prevented — a circumstance 
which, associated with the pres- 
ence of resilient sole-pads of 
thickened submucous tissue 
placed under the ball of the toe, 
also serves to secure the charac- 
teristicallj'' graceful and noiseless 
tread of the feline animal. 
Antagonistic to the elastic bind- 
ing cords above mentioned, the 
tendon or string of a large 
muscle called tlie flexor profun- 
dus 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 part of the digit, serving 
to steady the movement and regulate the degree of 
protrusion, according to the will of the animal. But, we 
have further to remark, that, although these constitute 
the most prominent features in the several structural 
changes adapted to the wants and habits of the feline 
mammalia, there are others equally worthy of being 
mentioned, such as the strong, horny, recurved papillae of 
the tongue, formed for rasping the soft flesh from off the 
bones of their slaughtered victims — the comparatively 
small salivary glands, showing how little mastication is 
required — the uninterrupted chain of osseous elements 
extending from the larynx to the head — the flexibility 
of tbe vertebral column — the small coecum — the short- 
ness of the intestinal canal, and, more particular!}', the 
simple cylindrical stomach, which explains that the 
food is more readily reduced to the condition required 
for nutriment, than obtains in the herbivorous quad- 
rupeds. Do not these, and other peculiarities elsewhere 
noticed, satisfactorily demonstrate that the typical 
carnivor is intended to occupy the field in the economy 
of creation for which his powers are so befittingly 
adapted? Surely one would suppose that the legitimacy 
of such a self-evident conclusion could not be denied ! 
Are we perverting truth to say, that the lion was not 
formed to eat straw like an ox ? Unfortunately, there 
Fig. 32. 
