502 CARNIVORA 
Family FELIDZ. 
In all the forms, both recent and fossil, which can be included 
in this family the canines are strongly developed, there are never 
more than one upper and two lower molars, and the three lower 
incisors are placed in the same horizontal line. With one exception, 
the humerus has an entepicondylar foramen. 
The following characters are common to all the existing 
members. True molars reduced to one above and below, that of 
the upper jaw very small and transversely extended. Only two 
inferior premolars. Upper carnassial with three lobes to the 
blade ; lower without talon or inner cusp. Auditory bulla not ex- 
ternally constricted. No alisphenoid canal. Carotid canal very 
minute. Digits 5-4. Dorsal vertebre 13. 
Felis.1—The whole structure of the animals of this genus ex- 
hibits the Carnivorous type in its fullest perfection. Dentition: 
i 3,¢4, p 3, m+; total 30. A distinctly cusped inner tubercle 
to the upper car- 
nassial. Claws com- 
pletely —_retractile. 
The upper anterior 
premolar (p. 2), al- 
ways small, and may 
be absent without 
any other modifica- 
tion in the dental 
or other structures. 
Such a variation 
should not therefore 
be considered as 
of generic import- 
ance. Incisors very 
small. Canines 
; large, strong, slightly 
recurved, with trenchant edges and sharp points, and placed wide 
apart (Fig. 223). Premolars compressed and sharp pointed. The 
most posterior in the upper jaw (the carnassial), a very large tooth, 
consisting of a sub-compressed blade, divided into three unequal 
lobes supported by two roots, with a very small inner tubercle 
placed near the front end of the tooth and supported by a distinct 
root (Fig. 220). The upper true molar a very small tubercular 
tooth placed more or less transversely at the inner side of the 
hinder end of the last. In the lower jaw the true molar (carnassial) 
reduced to the blade alone, which is very large, trenchant, and 
Fic, 223.—Frout view of skull of Lion (Felis leo). 
? Linn, Syst. Nat. 12th ed. vol. i. p. 60 (1766). 
