308 ANNUAL, KEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



THE CARNIVOROUS MAMMALS 



Two distinct orders of this group are now recognized by mam- 

 malogists. The Carnivora proper, or Fissipedia, include the 

 families of cats, civets, hyenas, dogs, raccoons, weasels, and bears, 

 with their allies. The order Pinnipedia is comprised of the seals, 

 sea lions, and walrus. While there is immense variety in the denti- 

 tion of carnivorous mammals, as a rule the teeth are highly devel- 

 oped for the process of tearing and cutting flesh or the crushing 

 of bone. Some species are far from " carnivorous," and subsist 

 chiefly upon fruits and insects. The black and brown bears are good 

 examples of this latter type, but most carnivores do at times eat more 

 or less of vegetable food. Some of the smaller species are largely 

 insectivorous. 



The largest of living carnivores is the great brown bear of Kadiak 

 Island, Alaska; the smallest, the least weasel of the boreal regions 

 of both continents. 



The Pinnipedia are readily divided into groups typified by the 

 hair seals or harbor seals, the sea lions, and the walrus. The hair 

 seals have no external ears and the hind limbs are so placed and 

 modified as to be useless for walking on land. The feet, or hind 

 " flippers," protrude backward and are used in the nature of a tail 

 in swimming. The common harbor seals of both coasts belong to 

 this group. The sea lions, or sea bears, have external ears, and the 

 hind limbs are functional for walking on land. This group includes 

 the famous fur seal as well as the species of sea lions. Peculiarities 

 of the skeleton point to a very ancient separation of these two groups 

 of seals, and they are not so closely related as would appear from 

 their external appearance and habits. 



THE CATS 



Specimens of the larger members of the cat tribe are usually kept 

 in all menageries and are favorite animals with the public. The 

 collection in the National Zoological Park includes beautiful exam- 

 ples of many of the most interesting and showy species. The larger 

 kinds are shown in the lion house. 



The African lion (Fells leo) ranks foremost in popular interest. 

 The adult male is a magnificent beast with massive head, a full mane, 

 and a long tufted tail; he presents a most imposing appearance. 

 Lions thrive in captivity and develop much finer manes of softer, 

 more luxuriant hair on the neck and shoulders than is usual in wild 

 animals. Lions brought from the high and comparatively dry 

 plateaus of East Africa develop much darker coats in the Zoological 

 Park than in a natural state. This is supposed to be due to the more 



