+4 NATURAL HISTORY. 
the true Carnivora, with few exceptions, entirely sub- 
sist. 
67. The animals of this order are readily distinguished 
from others by their teeth, which are formed for seizing, 
tearing, and cutting flesh, while those animals that eat 
grains and grass have their principal teeth formed for 
grinding. In Fig. 24 you have a representation of one 
side of the jaws of a carniy- 
orous animal. The very long 
pointed teeth are called ca- 
“ nine teeth, because they are so 
observable in the dog. The 
teeth in rear of these are most- 
ly cutting teeth, the upper 
and lower going a little past 
each other so as to cut like 
Be Ne scissors. Herbivorous (herb 
or vegetable eating) animals have grinding teeth in this 
rear part of the jaw. 
68. The digestive organs of this order are conformed 
to the nature of their food. As this is similar in quality 
to the substance of the animal itself, it does not require 
any complicated process to bring it into a fit state to 
nourish it. The stomach is therefore very simple and 
small, and the intestines are short; while in the grain 
and grass eating animals the digestive apparatus is com- 
plicated and extensive, it requiring, of course, much ma- 
chinery to change into blood substances which are so un- 
like if as these articles of food are. I shall speak of this 
subject again when I come to the herbivorous Quadru- 
peds. 
69. Some of the families of this order are not wholly 
carnivorous. And just so far as any admit vegetable 
food into their diet we see a corresponding variation from 
the true carnivorous character of the teeth and the di- 
gestive organs. The teeth, for example, lose to a greater 
or less extent-their tearing and cutting character. 
