FELID^. I. 15 



6. Molars J-lf- or flj- ; no foramen (as in the next); tail 



usually long and hairy ; (squirrels, etc.) SCIURID^, 10. 



5&. Molars f if to |vf ; zygomatic process of upper jaw with 



a foramen ; (rats and mice). . . MURDXE, 14. 



ft Fur with stiff spine-like bristles ; toes with long, curved 



claws SPALACOPODIDJB, 15. 



** Incisors f ; the middle upper incisors large, grooved, the outer 

 ones small ; teeth 28 ; tail very short ; ears long. 



LEPORIIXE, 16. 



F. FAMILIES OF MARSUPIALIA. 



* Tail long, prehensile, nearly naked ; feet plantigrade ; incisors 

 f :f ; teeth 50 DIDELPHIDHXE, 17 



OEDEB A.-OAENIYOEA. 



(The Flesh-Eaters or Ferae.) 



FAMILY I. FELID^E. 



(The Cats.) 



Digitigrade Carnivora with the toes 5-4; claws com- 

 jpressed, very sharp, retractile; palms and soles hairy, 

 with naked pads under each toe and the b all of the foot. 

 Body compact; head short, broad and rounded. Dentition 

 i. |;f ; c. -}; pm. f ;f or |:|; m. f |=30 or 28; canine teeth 

 long and sharp; teeth all strongly trenchant; tongue with 

 short, retrorse papillae. General aspect cat-like. A well- 

 known group comprising about fifty species, found in all 

 parts of the world excepting Australia and its islands. 



* Prernolars f ."f , anterior upper one very small ; tail at least half 

 as long as the body (exclusive of head and neck) ; fur compact 

 and glossy ; ears not tufted. . . . . FELIS, 1. 



** Prernolars f'f, (anterior upper one wanting); tail less than 

 half length of body proper ; ears triangular, tufted. LYNX, 2. 



