THE TEETH OF CARNIVOEA. 



383 



by the loss of a premolar in both jaws. The incisors are 

 very short, the canines very large, widely apart, and sharply 

 pointed, with a pronounced longitudinal ridge very charac- 

 teristic of the Felidce ; the premolars nearest to them are 

 quite short, so that they stand practically alone, and so can 

 penetrate the flesh of living prey more readily. 



The first upper (really the second of the typical mam- 

 malian dentition) premolar is almost a rudimentary tooth ; 



FIG. 166 ('). * 



the second, a far larger tooth, is sharply pointed ; the third 

 is a well pronounced carnassial tooth, of which the "blade" 

 is divided by two notches into three sharp lobes, with the 

 middle one of which the " tubercle " is connected by a slight 

 ridge. 



The solitary true molar is a small tooth, placed trans- 

 versely, and within the back of the premolar, so that looking 

 from the outside it is not visible at all. 



In the lower jaw the carnassial (first molar) is reduced to 



(*) Side view of lower, and palatal aspect of upper jaw (Leopard). 



