776 



MAMMALIA. 



position by an elastic ligament, and is in this way protected from 

 wear. When the animal straightens the phalanges, the claws are 

 protruded. 



Digitigrade animals walk on their toes only ; plantigrade forms rest 

 the whole sole of the foot on the ground ; but between these conditions 

 there are all possible gradations. Many Carnivores are sub-plantigrade, 

 often when at rest applying the whole of the sole to the ground, but 

 keeping the heel raised to a greater or less extent when walking. 



(i) /RLUROIDEA Cat-like Carnivores 



Family Felidae, including the most specialised forms. The canines 

 are large, the molars are reduced to ^, the carnassials are the 



last premolars above (with a three -lobed blade), and the 

 molars beneath (with a two-lobed blade). The tuberculated 

 upper molars are very small, and of little if any use in 

 mastication. The skull is generally rounded, the zygomatic 

 arches are wide and strong, and the tympanic bullae are large 

 and smooth. The limbs are digitigrade, the claws retractile. 



