NATURAL HISTORY. 



105 



Some say a sea-maid spawned her." SHAKSPERE. 



is possible that they are only varieties of the same original 

 species. 



323. Why is the ocelot so called? 



From the Latin ocellus, a small eye ; it refers to the animal being 

 spotted with small marks, or eyes. 



324. Why are seals classed among carnivorous " quadrupeds ? " 

 Because they are flesh eaters, possess carnivorous teeth, and in 



their skeletons the four extremities that distinguish quadrupeds are 

 represented in the fin-like members. 



325. The principles pursued in the classification 1 , of aaimals may be thus fami- 

 liarised : Seals belong to the first great division of the animal kingdom, Verte- 

 brata, because they possess a true back-bone formed of vertebrae (from verto, to 

 turn). They belong to the class Mammalia (from mamma, the breast), because they 

 have teats and suckle their young. They belong to the sub-order Carnivora (from 

 caro, flesh, and voro, to eat), because they are flesh-caters, and possess carnivorous 

 teeth. They are of the family Phocidx (from a Greek word meaning a sea-calf), 

 because of their fancied resemb'ance to a calf, and of their marine habits ; they are 

 made the type ofjmmerous animals that resemble them ; and they are ranted with 

 Qu tdrupeds (from, quadra, four, andped, foot), because in their skeletons the four 

 lower extremities that distinguish quadrupeds are well defined. 



The dog, as another example, belongs to the Tertebrated division, as the sea 

 does ; and for the same reasons, it belongs also to the class Mammalia, and the sub- 

 order Camioora. But here the resemblance ceases, and the dog enters the order 

 Ditj it iij fades (from digita, a finger or toe, and gradice, to walk), because it walks 

 principally on its toes ; and to the genus Canis, the Latin name for a dog, on accoum 

 cf certain peculiarities of the teeth. 

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