CARNIVORES. 85 



flesh-teeth, and are aquatic and mainly marine in their habits, 

 the Hmbs are converted into paddle-Hke flippers. Accordingly, 

 we may define the Order as including Carnivorous Mammals 

 having either a pair of specially modified flesh-teeth in each 

 jaw, or with both pairs of limbs converted into flippers. 



In connection with these flesh-teeth, it may be observed 

 that while in the upper jaw the pair thus named form the last 

 of the pre-molar series, that is to say, they are preceded by 

 milk-teeth, in the lower jaw they form the first of the molar 

 series, or those which have no such predecessors. 



Mentioning a few of the leading characteristics of the Order 

 generally, it may be observed that the feet frequently have five 

 toes each, and never less than, four ; such toes (except in the 

 case of some of the Seals, where they are reduced to more or 

 less well-developed nails) being furnished with claws. In no 

 case is the first toe of either the fore- or hind-limbs capable of 

 being opposed to the other. The teeth are always divided 

 into incisors, canines, pre-molars, and molars ; the incisors 

 almost always comprising three pairs in each jaw, of which the 

 outermost are larger than either of the others, and the canines 

 being well-developed and assuming the form of distinct tusks. 

 The pre-molars always have sharply-pointed crowns, and in 

 some cases, as in the Seals, the whole of the cheek-teeth are 

 tlius acuminate. Among the Bears and Badgers, however, the 

 molar teeth (with the exception of the first, or flesh-tooth, in 

 the lower jaw) have the crowns broad and flattened, and more 

 or less adapted for grinding ; although in such cases they never 

 have folds of enamel penetrating the crown. Owing to the 

 fact that the lower jaw is articulated to the skull by means of 

 a half-cylindrical hinge, or condyle, the motions of the jaws are 

 limited to a vertical plane, and they are thus incapable of a 

 lateral grinding action. In all Carnivores the stomach is simple; 

 and the teats are placed on the abdomen. Unlike the Insecti- 



