INTRODUCTORY NOTE 



Mammals form the highest class of vertebrate or 

 backboned animals. The name of the class is derived 

 from the Latin mamma^ meaning '' a breast," and it 

 covers all those vertebrates which suckle their young. 

 Man stands at the head of the class. All mammals 

 have hearts v^ith four chambers, are v^arm-blooded, and 

 breathe by means of lungs. The class includes some 

 creatures of the sea, such as whales and seals, and many 

 animals of greatly varied structure and habits. As the 

 title of this little book indicates, only British land 

 mammals are dealt with in its pages. These fall under 

 five different orders, as follows : 



1. The Chiroptera (Greek cheir^ hand ; pteron^ 

 wing) : The Bat Order. 



2. The Insectivora (Latin insectum^ an insect ; 

 vorare^ to devour) : The Order of Insect-Eaters, in- 

 cluding Moles, Shrews, and Hedgehogs. 



3. The Carnivora (Latin caro, carius^^ts\\\ vorare^ 

 to devour) : The Order of Flesh-Eating Mammals — 

 Dogs, Cats, etc. 



