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                              T H E

ANATOMICAL DESCRIPTION

                               OF A




B  Efore the opening of our Lion, we carefully examined all its external
     Parts, according to the Method which we propofed toourfelves, to
oblfrve in all the Defcriptions of the other Animals. We found that the
greatnefs of the I-lead, which is remarkable in this Animal, confified chiefly
in theextraordinary abundance of the Flelh which covered it, and in the
greatnefs of the Bones which compofe the Jaws. That the Breafl likewife,
which appeared large, was only by reafon of the long and thick Hair which
incompaffed it, the Sternim being compreffed, and much more pointed, than
it is in moff Horfes and Daogs: And that by the fame reafon, the Tail feemed
not to be of equal thickneis from one end to the other; but by reafon of
the
inequality of the Hair wherewith it was invironed, which was flhorter to-
wards the beginning, where the Flefh and Bones are thicker, and which
grew longer as thefe parts grow leffer and lefer, towards the end.  And that
this long Hair which is about the Neck and Breall, did differ from that of
the reft of the Body only in its length, having nothing refembling Man's
Hair.
  The Claws had no cafes, as Pliny reports they have, to keep them from be-
ing dulled by their walking - but it appears rather, that thefe Animals ,
as
Plutarch and Solinus obferve, do provide for that by retraafing them, between
their Toes, by the means of the particular Articulation of the laft Joynt,
which
was fuch, that the laft Bone fave one, by bending it felf outwards, gives
place
to the laft which is articulated to it, and to which the Claw is faftened
to
bend it felf upwards and fide-ways, more eafily than downwards; being
drawn upwards by the means of a tendinous Ligament, which faftens
together the two hail Bones in their fuperiour and external part only ; and
which fufferinga violent distention when the Toe is bent inwards, extends
this laff Articulation, as foon as the 1muJfeli flexores come to flacken,
and
Strengthens the Aaion of the  uficuli xetenforci: So that the Bone which
is at
the endofeveryToe, being almoflcontinually bent upward, it is not the
end of the Toes which refls upon the ground, but the Node of the Articui'ati-
on of the two lail Bones; and thus in walking, the Claws remain elevated,
and retraded between the Toe, to witt, all thofe of the right Paws, tow-irds
the right fide of every Toe, and all thofe of the left Paws, towards the
left
                                A                                fide