§12. COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 139 



jaws of the skulls before us, those, for example, of a Bengal 

 Tiger {Lign, 18), and of a Cat {Lign. 19), we perceive that 

 there are cutting teeth in front, sharp fangs on the sides, and 

 molar, bruising, or crushing teeth, in the back part. The 



Lign. 18. — Skull of the Bengal Tiger. 



molars rise into sharp lanciform points, and overlap each 

 other in the upper and lower jaw, like the edges of a pair 

 of shears ; and the teeth are externally covered with a 

 thick crust of enamel. This is evidently an apparatus for 

 tearing and cutting flesh, or for cracking bones ; but is 

 not suited for grinding the stalks or seeds of vegetables. 

 The jaws fit together by a transverse process or joint, which 

 moves in a corresponding depression in the skull, like a 

 hinge ; they open and shut like shears, but admit of no 

 grinding motion ; this, then, is such an articulation as is 

 adapted for a carnivorous animal ; and every part of this 

 instrument is admirably fitted for its office. 



But all these exquisite adjustments would be lost, were 

 there not levers and muscles to work the jaws, — were not 

 each portion of the animal frame adapted to all the other 

 parts, — and were not the instincts and appetites of the 

 animal such as are calculated to give to this apparatus its 

 appropriate movements. 



Let us reverse the order of the argument, — let us assume 

 that the stomach of an animal be so organized as to be 

 fitted for the digestion of flesh only, and that flesh recent, — 

 we should find that its jaws would be so constructed as to 



