23 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



time that it survived, it seemed very gentle, and only bit me 

 once, although I used frequently to handle it. 



Sub-family c. Ve&pertilionina. 



FLECOTUS. (Gr. TLhtKu, I fold; owf, an ear.) 



Aurltus (Lat. auris, an ear Eared), the Long-cared Bat. 



Order II. ... FERjE.(Lzt. fcrus, wild. Wild beasts.) 

 Family I. . . . Felidsc. (Lat. fells, a cat. Cat kind.) 

 Sub-family a. Fellna. 



THE former sections have been characterised by the number 

 and properties of the hands. In the section that we are about 

 to consider, the hands have been modified into feet. At the 

 head of the quadrupeds, or four-footed animals, arc placed the 

 carnivora, or flesh-eaters, and at the head of the carnivora, the 

 FelidsB, or Cat kind are placed, as being the most perfect and 

 beautiful in that section. The Felida) all take their prey by 

 creeping as near as they can without observation, and then 

 springing upon their unfortunate victim, which seldom suc- 

 ceeds in making its escape, as the powerful claws and teeth of 

 its enemy usually dash it insensible to the ground. The jaws 

 and teeth of the Felidrc are very different from those of the 

 animals already described ; their jaws are more powerful, and 



