CAT TKIBE. 
Order IV. CARNIVORA. 
(Lower Gallery, Cases 17 to 32 and F & F^\) 
The Carnivora comprise the animals known as Beasts of Prey, 
such as Cats, Wolves, Dogs, Bears, Weasels, and allied Mammals. 
From this terrestrial type (Carnivora Fissipedia) has been 
developed another, adapted for an aquatic life, with limbs 
modified into swimming-organs, viz. the Carnivora Pinnipedia, 
or Fin-footed Carnivora, as represented by Seals and Walruses. 
The Carnivora form a large and natural division of Mammals, 
distinguished by their specialized double sets of teeth; the second 
or permanent set being almost invariably made up of three 
incisors on each side, above and below (of which the outer is the 
largest), one long, sharp, and powerful canine or eye-tooth, and 
a variable number of molars and premolars. They are also well 
characterized by their clawed toes, of which there are never 
less than four on each foot, non-opposable first toes, and 
incomplete or absent clavicles. 
In the Land-Carnivora, or Carnivora Fissipedia, the skeletons 
are such as to represent perfectly the normal Mammalian type 
(figured on p. 6). The limbs are adapted for walking, running, 
or climbing, but are not specially modified for swimming, as are 
those of the second group. The zygoma, or cheek-arch, of the 
skull is broad and powerful, in correlation with the great 
development of the biting-muscles ; and the lower jaw is articu- 
lated to the skull by a closely-fitting transverse hinge, which gives 
great strength and firmness to the joint, but deprives the animal 
of the power of moving the jaw backwards and forwards, or 
from side to side, its only motion being in a vertical direction. 
The varied and highly-developed dentition differs from that of 
other Mammals by the development of the last premolar of the 
upper jaw and the first molar in the lower into the so-called 
‘‘ sectorial or “ carnassial ” teeth, which are specially adapted 
for cutting animal food. The shape of these teeth is highly 
characteristic of the different genera. 
The Cats, or Felidce (cases 17 to 19), are the most highly [Cases 
organized of all the Beasts of Frey, representing the predaceous 
type of animal in its fullest perfection. They are all lightly but 
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