File:Brehm's Life of animals - a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia (1896) (19792166813).jpg

Title: Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammalia
Identifier: brehmslifeofanim1896breh (find matches)
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884; Pechuel-Loesche, Edward, 1840-1913; Haacke, Wilhelm, 1855-1912; Schmidtlein, Richard
Subjects: Mammals; Animal behavior
Publisher: Chicago : Marquis
Contributing Library: Internet Archive
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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THE CAT FAMILY 89 only weapons possessed by the feline animals, their claws being no less terrible instruments for seizing their prey and speedily terminating its existence. Their broad, rounded paws are proportionately short ; for the last toe-joint is curved upwards. In repose and in ordinary walking two tendons keep the member in its upright position ; but when the animal is angry and needs its claws, a strong flexor muscle inserted below draws it down, stretches the ,)a\v and makes it an effective weapon. This struct- ure of the feet enables the Cats to walk without leaving any traces of the claws, and the softness of their step is due to pads upon their soles. The Cats are both strong and agile and their every movement displays vigor and lithesome grace. Nearly all members of this family partake of the same physical and moral traits, although some special group may seem to have a particular advantage over the others. force of their spring. They are also capable of car- rying considerable burdens, and easily convey to a convenient hiding place animals they have killed, although their prey may be as large as themselves. Acute Senses Of their senses those of hearing and of the sight are the most acute. The ear Cat Family. undoubtedly is their guide on their hunting expeditions. They hear and determine the nature of noises at great distances ; the softest foot- fall or the slightest noise from crumbling sand is not lost upon them, and they are thus able to locate prey that they cannot see. The sight is less keen, though it cannot be termed weak. Probably they are unable to see distant objects, but at short range their eyes are excellent. The pupil is round in the larger species and dilates circularly when the animal is in a state of excitement ; smaller species show an elliptical pupil, capable of great dilation. In the
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THE ROYAL TIGER. Here is presented a faithful portrayal of the scourge of Asia in his native jungle. The flaming yellow hue that forms the ground color in his coat is left to the imagination, but the dark, stripings are accurately depicted. He sees his prey and is rapidly approaching it. for the uplifted tail in these animals is a signal of attack, and the whole expression ot the face in the picture is one of voracious expectancy. Soon those sharp canine teeth and the yet sheathed claws will claim a life. The fierce nature and muscular structure of the Tiger are well brought out. (Felis tigris.) All Cats walk well, but slowly, cautiously and noise- lessly ; they run quickly and can jump distances that exceed many times the length of their respect- ive bodies. There are only a few of the larger species that are unable to climb ; the majority being greatly skilled in this accomplishment. Although as a rule averse to water, they swim well, when necessity compels ; at least, none of them can easily be drowned. Each member of this family knows how to curl up its handsome body and reduce its compass, and all are experts in the use of their paws The large species can strike down animals larger than themselves with one stroke of the paw and the daytime it shrinks to a narrow slit under the influ- ence of the bright light ; in darkness or when the animal is excited, it assumes a nearly circular shape. The sense coming nearest to that of sight in keen- ness is probably that of touch, which manifests itself in sensibility to pain and other outward condi- tions as well as in a discriminating faculty of feel- ing. The most sensitive organs are the whiskers, the eyebrows, and, in the Lynx, probably also the ear-tufts. A Cat with its whiskers cut off is in a very uncomfortable plight; the poor thing is at a complete loss to know how to act and shows utter indecision and restlessness until the hairs have grown

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