Order FER^E. 



THE FLESH EATERS. 

 Suborder FISSIPEDIA. 



The order Fera^, fomierly known as Carnivora, contains the Flesh 

 Eaters or Beasts of Prey, which are widely distributed nearly throughout 

 the world.* The order is divided into two suborders: the Pinnipedia, 

 containing the marine Seals and Walruses; and the Fissipedia, which 

 is the one that conies within the scope of the present work and which 

 includes all the other known living forms belonging to the order, such 

 as Lions, Tigers, Cats, Bears, Wolves, Foxes, Skunks, Weasels, etc. 



While all the members of the order are flesh eaters, some of them, 

 like the Bears, are practically omnivorous and others vary their diet 

 with roots, fruits and berries. The dentition is especially adapted to 

 their mode of life; the canines are prominent, being large, sharp, and, 

 as a rule, somewhat recurved. f The incisors are pointed and are six 

 in number in each jaw (with rare exceptions) ; the cheek teeth (molars 

 and premolars) are unusually modified. The last premolar in the upper 

 jaw and the first true molar in the lower jaw are generally (but not 

 always) decidedly larger and longer than the rest of the cheek teeth 

 and are known as carnassial or sectorial teeth. All the teeth in front 

 of the carnassial teeth have cutting edges; the only teeth having broad 

 crowns are those situated behind the caniassials. The skull is furnished 

 with ridges to which are attached the powerful jaw muscles. The 



radius and ulna are separate and 

 the clavicles are more or less 

 rudimentary or absent. The 

 toes are amied with strong claws, 

 which vary in shape in different 

 animals. Some are curved and 

 some nearly straight. In the 

 Cats, for example, they are 

 strongly curved, sharp and 

 retractile, being drawn back and 

 sheathed when not in use. There 

 is a wide diversity in size, shape 

 and habits among members of 



* The Australian region would be excepted, if the Dingo of that country be 

 considered an introduced species. 



t The Sabre-toothed Tiger, a fossil species belonging to this order, the remains of 

 which have been found in Pleistocene deposits in some parts of the United States 

 and elsewhere, had the canine teeth enormously developed, reaching a length of 

 7 or more inches. 



275 



Skull of a Fox. 

 Incisors; o, canines; p. premolars; r, molars; 

 s. upper carnassial; t, lower carnassial. 



