THEORY OF THE EARTH. ' 101 



In order that the teeth of a carnivores animaf 

 maybe able to cut the flesh, they r^qiiir^'tcv'b^ \\\\ A 

 sharp, more or less so in proportibn to 'the 'greater 

 or less quantity of flesh that they have to cut. It 

 is requisite that their roots should be solid and 

 strong, in proportion to the quantity and the size 

 of the bones which they have to break to pieces. 

 The whole of these circumstances must necessarily 

 influence the developement and form of all the 

 parts which contribute to move the jaws. 



To enable the claws of a carnivorous animal to 

 seize its prey, a considerable degree of mobility is 

 necessary in their paws and toes, and a considera- 

 ble strength in the claws themselves. From these 

 circumstances, there necessarily result certain de- 

 terminate forms in all the bones of their paws, and 

 in the distribution of the muscles and tendons bj 

 which they are moved. The fore-arm must pos- 

 sess a certain facility of moving in various direc- 

 tions, and consequently requires certain determi- 

 nate forms in the bones of which it is composed. 

 As the bones of the fore-arm are articulated with 

 the arm-bone or humerus, no change can take 

 place in the form and structure of the former with- 

 out occasioning correspondent changes in the form 

 of the latter. The shoulder blade also, or scapu- 

 la, requires a correspondent degree of strength in 

 all animals destined for catching prey, by which it 

 likewise must necessarily have an appropriate 

 form. The play and action of all these parts re- 



