532 



PLANTIGRADE CARXIYORA. 



The teeth next to the canmes are named false 

 molars ; to these succeeds a tooth of great size, called 

 a lacerator, and behind these are others of smaller 

 dimensions, which are generally more or less blunted, 

 called hlunt molars. Those genera that are provided 

 with the fewest false molars will, of course, have 

 their jaws proportionately short, and, consequently, 

 stronger and more vice-like in theu- action. 



But, beside these differences in the teeth of the 

 carnivora, they differ remarkably in the structure of 

 their hinder feet. Some of them, in walking, place 

 the entire sole of the foot upon the ground, and 

 this part is destitute of hair, whilst others walk only 

 upon the tips of their toes, the hinder part of the 

 foot or tarsus being raised from the ground and 

 hairy; the former are called Plantigrade, and the 

 latter Digitigrade Carnivora. 



Plantigrade Carnivora. 



The Bears ( Ursusj have three large blunt molar teeth in each jaw, 

 in front of which is a small lacerator, preceded by a variable number 

 of very small false molars; they consequently live almost enthely 

 upon vegetable food, and seldom eat flesii by choice. They lay the 



Fig. 45S.— bkak. 



