MASTICATION. 113 



The canine teeth are of enormous size and strength, 

 tapering gradually to a sharp point, and turned inwards 

 for the purpose of holding whatever they grasp, like a 

 pair of hooks. 



They also pass each other in such a manner, as when 

 once fixed, to render it impossible for the victim to es- 

 cape without leaving the included part within the jaws 

 of the animal. 



The molar teeth instead of being rounded and blunt 

 on the crown for grinding, are armed with pointed pro- 

 jections which correspond in the opposite jaws, so as 

 exactly to lock into each other like the teeth of a steel 

 trap, when the mouth is closed. All the muscles which 

 close the jaws are of enormous size and power, so that 

 their action imprints the bones of the skull and jaws with 

 deep impressions. The condyle or articulating surface 

 of the jaw c, is received into a deep cavity, constituting 

 strictly a hinge joint, which has no grinding motion, but 

 is confined to that of opening and shutting, like a pair of 

 huge forceps. 



Teeth of the Antelope. As an example of the herbiv- 

 orous animals, the skull of an Antelope is represented by 

 Fig. 77. In this animal the lower jaw is furnished with 



Fig. 77. 



eight cutting teeth, the upper having none. There is 

 no canine teeth in either jaw. The grinders have ex- 

 tended flat surfaces, fit only to reduce tender substances 

 to a pulpy mass. The temporal muscle attached at t, 



Describe the most remarkable parts of the masticating apparatus in 

 the tiger. 



10* 



