AJhort Account of the Mammotl. 165 



the province of comparative anatomy not only to trace out 

 the points of diftinftion, but, fince they originate from cer- 

 tain Jixed principles, in the dil'crimination of variations, 

 to confirm tlicir propriety by an examination of the princi- 

 ples on which they are founded. 



Although it is fufficicntly evident to thofe who are accuf- 

 tomed to this kind of inveftigation, from the obfcrvation of 

 a few fads, that this animal niuft have been carnivorous ; yet 

 to others it is necelTary to introduce every proof and conclu- 

 five evidence. Manv perfons, from a fali'e impreflion, be- 

 lieve that teeth are determined to be carnivorous merely from 

 their having a rugged furface : with this opinion they very 

 properly alk, " Mav not the vegetable food be of a coarfer 

 quality ?" It is true that the furface is roughert on thofe 

 graminivorous teeth which are employed in the maliication 

 of the coarfeft veactable fubftanccs, not only bccaufe fuch 

 rousrhncfs is requilite, but bccaufe the teeth are rendered 

 fo from ihe quality of the food, the bony interflices wearing 

 down more eafily than the ridges of enamel, which operate 

 as the roughncfs in a mill-ftoiie. It is not therefore from 

 this fpecies of roughnefs that we prefume on fo important a 

 determination: tlie roughncfs exifting on the furface of car- 

 nivorous tc£th is of another nature, much more ItrongTy 

 marked, and far from being rendered fo by ufage : the more 

 they are ufed, the more even do they become. The tO' th of 

 a graminivorous animal is compofed of alternate veins of 

 enamel and bone, which thus pervade the whole mals : thole 

 of carnivorous animals are covered with a Ihell or cruft of 

 enamel, which is merely external, and exifts as well in the 

 cavities as on the ridges; which is not the cafe with other 

 teeth. This enamel is required in the cavities, becaule the 

 teeth interlock with each other, the prominences ftriking 

 into ihe cavities. 



•An uniform compofition of tooth, as it refpcds the inter- 

 niiitnre of enamel and bone, is obicrvcd to prevail in thofe 

 of the elephant, hori'e, ox, he. principally diil'cring from 

 each other in the figure which thole veins of enamel alfume, 

 and by which alone ihev may be dilcriminated among ihem- 

 fehes. On the other hand, cainivorous teeth, incrufied with 

 enamel as far as the gums, yet vary in the form and number 

 of their protuberances, lo as generally to dclignate their 

 fpecies : yet among them there is a very proper diliindion lo 

 hi: oblervcd, whieh is, that thofe carnivorous animals, the 

 form of whole teeth and the attachment of whole jaws allovv 

 ihcu) the fide or grinding motion, are always of the inivt 

 kind. Man, the monkey, hog, &c. are carnivorous aui- 

 L 3 niil.^ 



