MAMMALIA. 583 



have retractile claws. The toes are usually f. The single 

 family of the Canidce is of world-wide distribution and com- 

 prises the dogs, foxes, wolves and jackals. 



The Arctoidea have, like the dogs, a large number ot 

 teeth (often |y||). They are largely omnivorous and the 

 molars are tuberculated with crowns worn to a flat surface. 

 The auditory septum is absent and the bulla itself is 

 flattened. The paroccipital process is quite free from it 

 and projects downwards, as in other orders. All are either 

 plantigrade or semi-plantigrade and there is the full com- 

 plement of toes. 



Family i. — Ursidae. — The largest forms are the Ursidce or bears, 

 which are found everywhere except in Notogoea and the Ethiopian 

 region. 



Family 2. — Procyonidae. — The ProcyonidcE are a small family of 

 fox-like animals, such as the American raccoons and coatis and the 

 panda of the Oriental region. 



Family 3. — Mustelidae. — The third family, Mustelidce, have a small 

 number of molars (|) and comprise the otter, the skunk of America, 

 the badger of the Palsearctic region, and a series of small fur-animals, 

 such as the marten, sable and weasel. 



SUB-ORDER II. — PINNIPEDIA. 



The sub-order Pinnipedia have the limbs adapted for 

 aquatic locomotion. The fore-limbs, as in Cetacea^ form the 

 paddles or flippers, but the hind-limbs are not aborted but 

 reflected back to form a double " tail," the true tail being 

 correspondingly reduced. They still retain their hair and, 

 to a large extent, their power of terrestrial progression. All 

 the digits are retained and the first and fifth of the hind- 

 limb are longer than the rest, forming a strong edge to the 

 flipper. Between the digits is suspended a web. The claws 

 of the hind-limb, when present, are situated on the upper 

 surface of the digits and do not reach to their ends. The 

 teeth vary considerably, but the incisor dentition is never 

 complete and there is no carnassial tooth. 



Family i. — Otariidae. — The eared-seals or sea-lions (OtariidcE) 

 are the most terrestrial. They can place the sole of the hind-limb upon 

 the ground and thus shuffle along. They are piscivorous in diet and 

 congregate in herds at the breeding season. Their fur, with the longer 

 hair removed, furnishes the "sealskin" of commerce. 



