252 
THE LION. 
below,—which are the long teeth you see 
upon each side of the incisors; and eight 
grinding-teeth, or molars, in the upper jaw 
and six in the lower,—making thirty in all.” 
“Take your slate and write down the 
dental formula, as I showed you,” said Miss 
Winston. 
Annie did so, and, after a little considera¬ 
tion, handed it to her aunt. It read—“In¬ 
cisors, f ; Canines, {:{; Molars, f:f.” 
“ Quite right,” said Miss Winston. “Try 
to keep this in mind, for it is very im¬ 
portant. All the other parts of the skeleton 
invariably correspond in some manner to 
the character of the teeth; and it is by ob¬ 
serving their agreement that naturalists are 
able to determine the general form and 
habits of an animal, and, as it were, re¬ 
construct it, from a single tooth.” 
