QUADRUPEDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



CLASS MAMMALIA. 



The class Mammalia is divided by Cuvier into eight orders. 

 The first is Bimana, of which man is the type. The second is 

 QuADRUMANA, including animals with four hands ; it is entirely 

 wanting in the United States ; no monkey, according to tlie best 

 naturalists, has been observed beyond the twenty-ninth degree of 

 north latitude. The succeeding order embraces numerous species 

 which are widely distributed. They are characterized as follows : 



ORDER IIL CARNIVORA. 



Cho.raders of the order. Animals feeding mostly on animal 

 food ; destitute of a thumb which is capable of free motion, and 

 opposable to the toes ; possess three kinds of teeth. — It is very 

 naturally divided into four families, viz. Cheiroptera, In- 

 SECTivoRA, Carnivora, and Marsupialia. The first family 

 is distinguished by pectoral mamma?, and the fourth by abdominal 

 pouches. The species of the order Carnivora are exceedingly 

 numerous. A more minute subdivision of them is into the follow- 

 ing nine families. Vespertilionid^, Soricidje, Talpid^, 

 Ursid-e, Canid^, Felid^, Mustelid^, PHOciDiE, and 



TRICHECHIDiE. 



FAMILY I. VESPERTILIOXID^. The Bat Family. 



Characters of the family. Animals formed for flight, and 

 taking their prey on the wing ; nocturnal ; supplied with nails in 

 the form of hooks for the suspension of the body. Teeth. In- 

 cisors f ; canines ^=-^ ; molars jEj or iEj ; = 32 or 36. Su- 

 perior incisors in pairs ; the second often minute. Inferior, 



