288 ANATOMY OF THE DOG. 



The dog has no collar-bone, so that his fore quarter is only at- 

 tached to the body by muscular tissue. This is effected chiefly by 

 a broad sling of muscle, which is attached above to the edge of the 

 shoulder-blade, and below to the ribs near their lower ends. It is 

 also moved backwards by muscles attached to the spine, and for- 

 wards by others connected in front to the neck and head, so that 

 at the will of the animal it plays freely in all directions. 



The teeth are 42 in number, arranged as follows : 



Incisors 3 ^ f Canines ^ Molars ~ 



TEETH OF THE DOG AT VARIOUS AGES. 



The incisors are somewhat remarkable in shape, having three 

 lobules at their edges resembling a fleur-de-lis (Figs. 43-44). Next 

 to these come the canine teeth or tusks, and then the molars, which 

 vary in form considerably. In the upper jaw, in front, are three 

 sharp and cutting teeth, which Cuvier calls false molars ; then a 

 tooth with two cutting lobes; and lastly two flat teeth, or true 

 molars. In the under jaw, the first four molars on each side are 

 false, or cutters ; then an intermediate one, with the posterior part 

 flat ; and lastly two tubercular teeth, or true molars. As the inci- 

 sors are worn away and the dog becomes old, the lobules on the 

 edges wear away and are flattened (see Figs. 45 and 46). The teeth 

 are developed in two sets; the first, called milk-teeth, showing 

 themselves through the gums about a fortnight or three weeks 

 after birth, and lasting until the fifth or sixth month, when they are 

 displaced by the permanent set, the growth of which is accom- 

 panied by a degree of feverishness, which is often mistaken for dis- 

 temper. The dog's teeth should be beautifully white, if he is 

 healthy and well reared, and until the third year there should be 

 no deposit of tartar upon them, but after that time they are always 

 coated with this substance at the roots, more or less, according to 

 the feeding and state of health. 



