FUNCTIONS OF QUADRUPEDS. 9 



subulatecK In the Horse they are blunt ; and they are en- 

 tirely wanting in the upper jaws of all the horned ruminating 

 quadrupeds. 



The canine-teeth, which have likewise the name of dog- 

 teeth and eye-teeth, for the most part stand single on each 

 side, betwixt the front-teeth and the grinders. They are 

 usually pointed, somewhat bent, and often longer than the 

 other teeth. In some animals there are two or more on each 

 side : in others they are so concealed under the gum as often 

 to be considered entirely wanting* In the Hog tribe they 

 have the name of tusks, as they have likewise in the Elephant 

 and the Walrus, where their length is often enormously 

 great. In the Babyrussa they stand upward, and are 

 so curved as to appear almost like horns. 



The grinders , or molar teeth, have generally their upper 

 surfaces blunt. Sometimes, however, they are hollowed in- 

 the middle; and sometimes, (particularly in such animals as 

 are carnivorous, and do not masticate much) they have pro* 

 minent incisive surfaces. The grinders of Seals have each 

 three sharp points. 



The jaws of all quadrupeds are furnished with lips, the chief 

 uses of which are to cover the teeth and close the mouth in front. 



The tongue is surrounded with glands which supply it with 

 saliva, in quantity proportioned to the nature of the food un- 

 der mastication. In most of the quadrupeds this member is of 

 considerable breadth, but in some it is narrow and slender : 

 in the Seals it is cleft at the end. The skin on the upper 

 part of the tongue, in many animals that feed on vegetables, 

 is covered with hard tubercles: in some it is aculeated ; and, 

 as in the animals of the Cat tribe, the prickles point back- 

 ward towards the throat. The principal uses of the tongue 

 are, to serve as an organ of taste ; to direct the aliments be- 

 twixt the teeth for the, purpose of being masticated ; and 

 lastly, after the mastication, to guide them in their passage 



down 



