CHAP, xm.] THE CAT'S PLAGE IN NATURE. 493 



their structural characters, yet it is obvious that the value of and the 

 relations between structural characters themselves, cannot be con- 

 sidered except by reference to conditions which are not structural. 

 Therefore, as in considering the question, which of all the groups of 

 animals is to rank highest, we must estimate the ralue of their 

 struduml characters, we must necessarily, in so doing, go beyond 

 facts of structure themselves, i.e., we must refer to the purposes they 

 serve, that is to physiology. 



It is therefore true that " something may be said in favour of cats 

 being the highest of mammals," if man is considered merely in his 

 animal capacity — in which alone he can be brought into comparison 

 with other organisms. 



But whether or not this eminence be allowed to the cat, there can 

 be no question but that it is the most highly-developed type of 

 carnivorous mammalian life — the most perfect embodiment of the 

 idea of a " beast of prey." Such, then, is certainly the " cat's place 

 IN NATURE : " It is a member of the typical genus of the typical 

 family of carnivorous placental mammals — mammals being the suck- 

 giving, tied-brained * class of back-boned animals. 



* I.e., witli their cerebral liemisplieres united by means of a corpus callosuni. 



