526 



CHORD AT A, 



the temporal fossa to be inserted in the mandible, the 

 coronoid process of which is large. In this region we also 

 observe the strong and widely protruding zygomatic arch. 

 The tympanic bone is expanded into a large bulbous swel- 

 ling or tympanic bulla. If the inside of the cranium be 

 viewed through the foramen magnum, a bony septum or 

 tentorium will be seen which protrudes between cerebrum 

 and cerebellum. 



Compared with the liorse and ox the cranial part of the 

 skull is larger and longer in comparison with the facial 

 portion, the orbits face forwards and, in dried skulls, are 

 confluent with the temporal fossae. 



Fig. 363.— The Skull of thk Dog from the right side. 



(From Flower and Lyddeker.) 



We saw that the facial portion of the Ungnlata (Horse 

 and Ox) was long, partly at least to provide room for the 

 long row of grinding molars. In the dog and cat the pro- 

 portion between cranial and facial part is altered from at 

 least two causes. Firstly, the brain is proportionately larger 

 and more highly developed, hunting being a more intel- 

 lectual pursuit than grazing ; and, secondly, the mechanical 

 necessities for a powerful " bite " demand a shortened jaw. 

 (See below.) 



The features given above are typical of the skull of the 

 higher Carnivora, and they are mostly referable, directly or 

 indirectly, to the carnivorous habit. 



