ORPER 



THE CAENIVORA. 



WE now come to the fifth order, including several 

 families; but all exclusively, or partially, feeding 

 on flesh. They are unguiculate, and have three 

 kinds of teeth. The two last orders were, by their 

 want of bulk and power, and by the conical tuber- 

 culous form of the teeth, nearly all, in their appetite 

 for animal substances, reduced to grubs and insects; 

 but in those we are about to consider, there is im- 

 parted more or less of strength to satisfy the lust 

 for slaughter. In this order, we always find four 

 great laniary or canine teeth, having between them, 

 in each jaw, six incisors; the molars are either 

 entirely formed for cutting, or are mixed with parts 

 that have low tubercles, but no conical points. 



Their carnivorous propensity is greater in pro- 

 portion as the teeth are more exclusively trenchant; 

 and, by comparing their tubercular surface to that 

 which is shaped for cutting, what the degree of their 

 appetite for blood in the choice of food is, may be 

 indicated almost with unerring precision. The an- 

 terior molars are always the most trenchant, upon 

 them follows a molar more voluminous than the 



