50 



CARNIYORA. 



The teeth in front of it are more or less sharp, pointed, and com- 

 pressed ; those behind are broad and tuberculated. The sectorial 

 in the upper jaw is the hindmost premolar, and consists of a more 

 or less compressed bicuspid or Iricuspid crown on two roots and an 

 inner lobe supported by a third root. In the Ursidce, in which the 

 sectorial teeth are ill-developed, the inner lobe and root are want- 

 ing. The lower sectorial is the first true molar, and consists of two 

 roots supporting a bilobed compressed crown, with, in general, a 

 keel and an inner tubercle ; both of which, however, are wanting 

 or rudimentary in the most specialized Camivora, as the Felicia. 



Fig. 14. Upper sectorial teeth of I. Fclis, II. Canis, III. Ursits. (Flower, 

 Art. Mammalia, 'Encyclopedia Britannica.'). 1, anterior, 2, middle, 3, 

 posterior cusp of blade; 4, inner lobe supported on distinct roots ; 5, inner 

 lobe posterior in position, and without distinct root, characteristic of the 

 Ursula. 



Suborder FISSIPEDIA. 



As already mentioned, the limits of this suborder (or order 

 according to some writers) are generally admitted but the sub- 

 division into sections and families is difficult, owing to the com- 

 plicated relationships between the different genera. The majority 

 live entirely upon animal food ; but a few, like the bears, feed on 

 a mixed diet, of which vegetables form a portion. A considerable 

 number, as the cats and dogs, walk on their toes, and are known as 

 Digitigrade, whilst others, for instance the bears, rest upon their 

 palms (palm(i) and soles (planta) and are distinguished as Planti- 

 grade ; a somewhat intermediate mode of progression, found in the 

 weasels, otters, and badgers, being termed Semiplantigrade. This 

 distinction has been extensively employed in classification, but is 

 defective, for Paradoxurus, Arctictis, and Cri/ptoprocta are more or 

 less plantigrade, although in other respects much more nearly 



