CAKNIVORA. 



391 



molars may be " tuberculate," their crowns being adapted for 

 bruising rather than cutting. As a general rule, the shorter 

 the jaw, and the fewer the preemolars and molars, the more 

 carnivorous is the animal. The jaws are so articulated as 

 to admit of vertical but not of horizontal movements ; the 

 zygomatic arches are greatly developed to give room for 

 the powerful muscles of the jaws ; and the orbits are not 

 separated from the temporal fossse. The intestine is com- 

 paratively short. 



In all the Carnivora the clavicles are either altogether ivant- 

 ing, or are C[uite rudimentary. The toes are provided with 

 sharp curved claws. 



The order Carnivora is divided into three very natural 

 sections : — 



Section I. Pinnigrada or Pinnipedia. — This section com- 

 prises the Seals and Walruses, in which the fore and hind 

 limbs are short, and are expanded into broad webbed swim- 

 ming-paddles (fig. 673, b). The hind-feet are placed very 



Fig. 673.— Feet of Carnivora (after Owen), a, Plantigrada, Foot of Bear ; b, Pinnigrada, 

 Hind-feet of Seal ; c, Digitigrada, Foot of Lion. 



far back, nearly in a line with the axis of the body, and they 

 are more or less tied down to the tail by the integuments. 



Section II. Plantigrada. — This section comprises the 

 Bears and their allies, in which the whole, or nearly the 

 whole, of the foot is applied to the ground, so that the 

 animal walks upon the soles of the feet (fig. 673, a). 



