306 



VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



from a cutting to a tuberculate form as the diet is strictly car- 

 nivorous or becomes more or less miscellaneous. 



The dental formula differs considerably in different mem- 

 bers of the order, but subjoined is the dental formula of the 

 Cats {FelidcB), which are the most typical examples of the 

 Carnivora — 



3—3' 1—1'-^ 2—2' 1—1 



Besides the strictly flesh-eating dentition of the Carnivo- 

 ra, the order is distinguished by always having the feet pro- 

 vided with strong, curved claws, and the collar-bones (clavi- 

 cles) are either quite rudimentary, or are altogether absent. 

 The Carnivora are divided into the foUovsdng three sections, 

 founded upon the nature of the limbs : 



Fig. 153.— Feet of Carnivora (after Owen). A, Plantigrada, Foot of Bear; B, Pinm 

 grada. Hind-feet of Seal; C, ZMgiiigrada, Foot of Lion. 



1. Pinnigrada (Fig. 153, B), in which both the fore and 

 hind legs are short, and the feet form broad, webbed, swim- 

 ming-paddles. The hind-feet are placed very far back, nearly 

 in a line with the axis of the body, and they form with the 

 hinder end of the body a powerful caudal fin. In this section 

 are the Seals and Walruses. 



2. Plantigrada (Fig. 153, A), comprising the Bears, in 

 which the whole, or nearly the whole, of the foot is applied to 

 the ground, so that the animal walks upon the soles of the 

 feet. 



3. Digitigrada (Fig. 153, C), comprising the Cats, Lions, 



