18 THE BRITISH MAMMALS : ORDERS, FAMILIES, ETC. 



the upper molars have no central fifth cusp. The nose is pointed ; 

 the ears are rounded and flat against the head. There are two 

 genera on our list, Crossopus and Sorex (Plate IV., 18 to 20). 



The Carnivora have four or five toes on each foot, and the toes 

 are generally armed with strong claws. The radius and ulna are 

 distinct, as are the tibia and fibula, the fibula being slender ; the 

 scaphoid and lunar are consolidated into one ; the clavicles are 

 incomplete or absent. The condyle of the lower jaw is semi-cylin- 

 drical, and works in a glenoid cavity of similar form, so that only 

 vertical movement is possible. The incisor teeth are not chisel- 

 shaped ; with few exceptions they are three in number on each side 

 of the jaw, the outer pair, especially in the upper jaw, being longer 

 than the rest ; the canines are large and slightly recurved ; the cheek 

 teeth, except in the seals, are more or less compressed and sharp- 

 edged, and the crowns are not divided into lobes by inflexions of 

 enamel. There are two sub-orders, the Fissipedia, or land carni- 

 vores, and the Pinnipedia, or seals. Of the eight families of Fissipedia 

 we have representatives of the Felidae, the Canidae, and the Muste- 

 lidas ; of the three families of Pinnipedia we have on our list but one, 

 the Phocidas. 



The Felidae have five toes on the fore feet and four on the hind 

 feet ; the foot is rounded and the toe-pads in a regular curve ; the 

 claws are sharp, curved, and, except in the hunting leopard, fully 

 retractile. The head is short and more or less rounded. The 

 auditory bulla is dilated and rounded, and is divided by a septum 

 into two chambers. The paroccipital process is flattened against the 

 bulla, and does not project behind. In the upper jaw are three 

 incisors, a canine, three premolars, and only one molar, which is 

 small and transversely extended; in the lower there are three 

 incisors, a canine, only two premolars, and a molar. The outer 

 incisors are the largest. The upper flesh tooth has four lobes, the 

 lower has no inner cusp. There are thirteen dorsal vertebrae. Of 

 this family the only British representative is the Wild Cat (Plate 

 V., 21). 



The Canidae have five toes on the fore feet and four on the hind 

 feet, except in the genus Lycaon ; the foot is long and the middle toe- 

 pads are in advance of the others ; the claws are generally blunt 

 and non-retractile. The head is long, as a rule. The auditory bulla 

 is dilated and rounded, but not divided. The paroccipital process 

 is flattened against the bulla, and projects behind. In the upper jaw 

 there are three incisors, one canine, four premolars, and one, two, 

 three, or four molars, the crowns of which are triangular ; in the 

 lower there are three incisors, a canine, four premolars, and two, 

 three, or four molars. The upper flesh tooth has three lobes, the 

 outer one large, conical, and pointing backwards ; the lower is very 

 large, and has a bilobed blade, and, generally, an inner cusp. Ol 

 this family there is but one British representative, the Fox (Plate 



V., 22). 



The Mustelidae have five toes on each foot ; the claws vary in 

 character. The head is generally long. The auditory bulla is not 

 rounded or divided, and slopes towards the meatus, the lower lip of 

 which is prolonged. The paroccipital process is free from the bulla, 



