File:Animal and vegetable physiology, considered with reference to natural theology (1836) (14784636103).jpg

Identifier: animalvegetable01roge (find matches)
Title: Animal and vegetable physiology, considered with reference to natural theology
Year: 1836 (1830s)
Authors: Roget, Peter Mark, 1779-1869
Subjects: Biology Physiology Plant physiology Natural theology
Publisher: Philadelphia, Carey, Lea & Blanchard
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
n account of the force to be exerted in tearing flesh, butalso that these animals might be enabled to carry away theirprey in their mouths. Hence we find that in the Lion, ofwhich the skeleton is represented in its relations to the out-line of the body, in Fig. 221, the first vertebra of the neck,or atlas, has very widely expanded transverse processes,while the second vertebra has a largely developed spinousprocess, for supplying levers for the muscles which have toperform these and other actions in which the head is con-cerned. The whole of the remaining part of the skeleton of theseanimals is constructed with reference to their predatory na-ture. The sudden springs with which they pounce upontheir prey must impart to the whole osseous frame the mostviolent concussion. The first stroke with which they attemptthe destruction of their victims is given with the fore leg:so that, had the limb been rigidly connected with the ster-num, by means of an entire clavicle, its motions would have
Text Appearing After Image:
been too limited, and danger of fracture would have been in-curred. The scapula is broad, and the humerus of great 366 THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS. length, compared with the same bones in ruminants; and thelatter has, besides, a large surface for its articulation withthe former of these bones, thus allowing of a great range ofmotion: the radius and ulna are perfectly distinct, and playextensively on each other. The fore feet rest on the ground by means of the secondof the three joints of which each toe is composed. The lastphalanges are raised at right angles to the former, for thepurpose of supporting the claws in an erect position. It hasbeen considered of such importance to preserve these formi-dable instruments constantly sharp, and in a condition fittedfor immediate use, that an express contrivance has been re-sorted to for this purpose. It consists in a sheath, withinwhich the claws, when not employed, are kept retracted, bymeans of an elastic ligament, which constantly tends to wi

Note About Images