OEDEE OF CAENIVOEA. 823 



molars, are thus called on account of their large and flattened 

 crown, sometimes being entirely wanting in the lower jaw, where 

 they are always fewer than in the upper jaw. 



The flesh-teeth and tubercular teeth diifer, not only in their 

 structure, but also in the way in which they meet in the act of 

 mastication, and by the special modifications which they com- 

 municate to the food. The flesh-teeth are alternate in their 

 action ; that is, they slip one over the other, something like the 

 blades of a pair of scissors ; they are, therefore, eminently fitted 

 to cut and divide flesh. The tubercular molars, on the contrary, 

 being exactly opposite to each other, and fitting closely, crown to 

 crown, are very well adapted to grind and triturate vegetable 

 matters. 



From what has been already said, we may conclude that an 

 animal will be carnivorous in his nature in proportion as the 

 flesh- teeth are more, and the tubercular less developed ; and that, 

 on the contrary, he will be omnivorous, that is, eating both flesh 

 and vegetables, when these conditions are reversed. We may, 

 therefore say, with Isidore Geoffrey Sainte-Hilaire, " that the 

 exact extent to which an animal is carnivorous, is defined with 

 an almost mathematical accuracy by the modifications of its dental 

 system, and especially of the flesh-teeth." 



The Carnivorous Mammals, which are generally very agile in 

 their habits, are handsome and perfect in organisation. 



Their limbs are weU-proportioned, and their toes, which are 

 entirely separated from each other, are terminated by stout and 

 strong claws, more or less sharp according to their habits of life ; 

 these, with their teeth, constitute their means of attack and 

 defence. In all the members of the Feline tribe, — the Car- 

 nivora par excellence, — the claws are retractUe, that is, they 

 have the power of withdrawing them into the interior of the 

 paw at the will of the animal. This faculty is owing to the 

 peculiar arrangement of the claws, and the action of a special 

 muscle. The object of this ingenious contrivance is to keep the 

 claws thoroughly sharp and pointed, by protecting them from all 

 the causes which would wear them away, arising from walking 

 and rubbing on the ground. 



The Carnivora vary very much in their mode of placing their 

 feet on the ground. Some, such as Bears, Badgers, &c., tread 



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