CARNIVORA. 
185 
THE DOGS. 
A REMOVE farther from the perfect adaptation to 
a carnivorous regimen is to be found in the teeth of 
the dog tribe; which consists in their having two 
posterior molar or flat teeth behind the carnivorous 
or cutting teeth. The first of these, in the upper 
jaw, is very large ; and the antepenultimate, or last 
tooth but two in the lower jaw, has the anterior lobe 
cutting ; but the posterior part of this tooth is also 
molar : the consequence of which arrangement is, as 
was observed of the weasels, that any food placed at 
the back of the mouth will be pounded ; while the 
cutting lobes of the other teeth, crossing each other 
like a pair of scissars, will cut in the manner of this 
instrument. There are six cheek-teeth in the upper 
jaw, and seven in that below ; and two canine teeth, 
and six incisive in each. The various species of this 
genus, like the cats, agree in the character of the 
teeth, so that the opposite delineation of those of the 
wolf is alike applicable to all. 
Their tongue is smooth and soft. The ears, when 
in a state of nature, are always erect and pointed. 
The tail is of a moderate length. Their fore feet 
have five toes, and those behind but four, armed 
with long nails, which, not being at all retractile, 
are exposed to constant wear, and become in con- 
