344 



VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



Order XII. Carnivora. 



Tlie twelfth order of Mammals is tliat of the Carnicora or Beasts 

 of Prey, comiirisiiig the Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Dogs, Cats, Hya'iias, 

 Seals, Walruses, &c. The Carairora are distinguisheil by possess- 

 ing two sets of teeth, which are simply enamelled, and are always 

 of three kinds, incisors, canines, and molars, differing from one an- 

 other in size and shape. The incisor teeth ax-e generally si.x in each 

 jaw ; the canines are always two in each jaw, and are mnch longer 

 and larger than the other teeth. The priemolars and molars are 

 mostly cutting teeth, furnished with sharp uneven edges, but one 

 or more of the hinder teeth have tuberculate crowns. The molars, 

 too, graduate fi-om a cutting to a tuberculate form as the diet is 

 strictly carnivorous oi' becomes more or less miscellaneous. 



The dentition (fig. 249) ditfei-s considerably in different members 

 of the order, but suljjoined is the dental foi-mulaof the Cats {Felida:), 

 which are the most typical examples of the Carnivoi'a — 



.30. 



F\'^. '240.— PcTiiiniiciit dentil ion nf (lie Linn (F('//.s Zco). la the upper jaw the letter 

 j/! indicjid's tlic upper catnaHsiiil, wliile in tlie lower jaw the letter m indicates the 

 lower carnassial. 



In the ty|iical and most highly specialised Carnivores (such .as the 

 Fdidai), the last jira'molar in tlte u]iper jaw, and the first molar 

 in the lower ja,w (fig. 240, ■pnv' and wi) are specially developed, and 

 ai-e known as the "carnassial " teeth, liaving a sharp cutting-edge ; 

 whereas in other cases the corresponiling teeth are blunt and " tuber- 

 cnlated." Even ill their most trenchant condition, the carnassial 

 tooth coniiiionly has a more or less developed tuberculated process 



