ZOOLOGY. 



mild and expressive physiognomy. These animals 

 seem to possess considerable intelligence ; they 

 are easily tamed, and become much attached to 



Harp Seal (Phoca GranZandica), attitude on land. 



their feeder. They subsist on fish, which they 

 always devour in the water, closing the nostrils by 

 a kind of valve. They are found chiefly in the 

 Arctic and Antarctic Oceans, but one species 

 (Phoca vitulina) is found on the northern shores 

 of Scotland. 



The Walrus (Trichecus rosmarus), Morse, Sea- 

 liorse, or Sea-cow, resembles the seals in the 



Walrus ( Trichecus rosmarus), 



form of its body and limbs, but differs in its 

 dentition. The lower jaw has neither incisors 

 nor canines, and is compressed laterally to pass 

 between the two enormous upper canines, which 

 are directed downwards, sometimes attaining a 

 length of two feet. They seem to be used by the 

 animal for hooking up the sea-weeds upon which 

 it partly feeds, and to assist it to get out of the 

 water upon the ice. They are bulky animals, 

 sometimes attaining the length of twenty feet. 

 They are found in all parts of the Arctic Seas, 

 chiefly living in herds. 



Section 2. Plantigrada. In the animals of this 

 section, the whole or greater part of the sole of the 

 foot rests on the ground, and the part of the sole 

 so employed is, as a general rule, devoid of 

 hairs. The whole sole being applied to the ground 

 in these animals, is favourable to the maintenance 

 of a firm position, but prevents great activity of pro- 

 gression. The typical family, the Bears (Ursidce), 

 have the molar teeth more or less tuberculated, 



in accordance with their omnivorous habits. The 

 bears are slow in their movements, and the species 

 which inhabit cold countries pass the winter in 

 a dormant state. Their claws are strong and 

 curved, but not retractile, and the nose is elon- 

 gated, forming a movable snout. The Brown 



Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos}. 



Bear (Ursus Arctos), the commonest species ; the 

 Black Bear (U. Americanus) ; the Grisly Bear 

 of America (U.ferox); and the White or Polar 

 Bear (Thalassarctos maritimus) which is exclus- 

 ively carnivorous, and confined to the arctic 

 regions, has the soles of the feet covered with 

 hair, giving it a more secure footing upon the 

 ice may serve as examples of the bear tribe. 

 Nearly allied to the bears are the Racoons 

 (Procyon) of North America. The bones of an 

 enormous species, U. spelaus, or Cave Bear, have 

 been found in the caves of Britain and Europe. 



The family of the Melidce, or Badgers, have 

 the carnassial tooth formed partly for cutting. 

 These animals have elongated bodies, and, by 

 means of the long claws of their fore-feet, can 

 burrow with great facility. They go in search of 

 food by night, and devour small mammals or 

 vegetables almost indifferently. They can emit 

 a fetid odour at will. The Common Badger 

 (Meles Taxus) is a well-known British species. 

 The Glutton, or Wolverine (Gulo luscus), which is 

 found in the north of Europe and America, is 

 reputed to be a ferocious animal. 



Section 3. Digitigrada. In this group the ends 

 of the toes only touch the ground, the heel being 

 considerably raised into the air, so that thus the 

 limbs can be used to much greater advantage in 

 running and springing than in the former section. 

 Some families exhibit transitional characters be- 

 tween this and the last group, and they are called 

 Svmi-plantigrada ; such are the family of Mus- 

 telida, or Weasels, which, on account of their 

 length of body and their short limbs, being enabled 

 to pass through small openings, are called Vermi- 

 formes. They are the most blood-thirsty of all the 

 Carnivora ; but they are not so well adapted for 

 devouring flesh as the Felidas. The Weasel (Mus- 

 tela vulgaris) of this country is one of the most 

 sanguinary of all, but it chiefly destroys mice, 

 rats, moles, &c. The Ferret, Marten, and Pole- 

 cat (M. putorius\ the last of which is a great 

 enemy to the game-preserve and warren, also 

 belong to the family. All these animals emit a 



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