486 Dr. Falconer on Cuvier's Laws of Correlation, 



Ferine type. The occasional carnivorous properties of the 

 common Hog are well known, and they correspond with the 

 minor degree of resemblance which this existing Pachyderm 

 presents to the same type*/^ On the other hand, " The essen- 

 tial characteristic of the dentition of the true Bears is the 

 development, in the lower jaw, of the true molar teeth to their 

 typical number in the placental JMammalia, and their general 

 manifestation, in both jaws, of a tuberculate grinding surfacet-'^ 

 In other words, the Hog and some of its allies, in certain respects, 

 diverge in their structure from the ungulate towards the car- 

 nivorous type; while conversely, the Bears similarly diverge 

 from the carnivorous type towards the Ungulata; the result 

 being the same, — that is, regarded in the mass, they become 

 omnivorous. But the exceptions, so far from being inconsistent 

 with the law of correlation, furnish fine illustrations of the 

 manner in which its details are carried out, in contrasted cases 

 of mixed types. 



But as regards the pure herbivorous Ungulata — say the Horse 

 — with flat grinding teeth when in full wear, the fitting reply 

 to the first part of ]\Ir. Huxley's query would be — Why should 

 not a pair of millstones serve as well to cut up broad cloth as a 

 pair of scissors ? The typical Ungulata have their molars con- 

 structed on the grinding principle, — the Carnivora on the scis- 

 sorial ; and both physicists and naturalists know, upon a very 

 wide induction, that the antecedents and consequents in these 

 cases are not reciprocals. As to the second part of the query, 

 the teeth and correlative organs tell us that the speed of the 

 Horse is to enable him to run away from his predaceous and 

 other enemies — not to run down, seize, and destroy other animals. 

 Nature, like a thrifty housewife, has endowed him with organs 

 of locomotion suited to his wants, and not gone beyond them. 



The last objection raised by Mr. Huxley is, " What purpose, 

 save support, is subserved by the fore-legs of the Dog and Wolf ? 

 how large are their clavicles ? how much power have they of 

 rotating the fore-arm ?" Every one has seen a dog gnawing a 

 bone. If there is flesh or gristle on it, his paws (^. e. the pre- 

 hensile function of the combined clavicle, scapula, and fore-arm) 

 enable him to place the object in the most favourable position 

 for his jaws to act. If it is flat, like a blade-bone, he can raise 

 it edgewise and so on; being selective acts of manipulation, 

 which are impossible to the Horse with his less artificially en- 

 dowed fore-arm. All this is familiar and elementarj' knowledge; 

 the only marvel is, that one should have to adduce the facts at 

 the present day in such an argument. 



* Owen, Odontography, vol. i. p. 562. t Ibid. p. 501. .d) 



