FELID.E. I. 15 



b. Molars Jlf- or fif ; no foramen (as in the next); tail 



usually long and hairy ; (squirrels, etc.) SCIUBID.E, 10. 



5&. Molars f:f to f:f ; zygomatic process of upper jaw with 



a foramen ; (rats and mice). . . MURID^E, 14. 



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



claws SPALACOPODID^E, 15. 



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

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



LEPORID,E, 16. 



F. FAMILIES OF MAKSUPIALIA. 



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

 :f; teeth 50 DIDELPHIDIIXE, 17 



OEDEE A.-CAENIYOEA. 



(The Flesh-Eaters or Perm) 



FAMILY I. FELID^E. 



(The Gats.) 



Digitigrade Carnivora with the toes 5-4; claws com 

 pressed, 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. |;|; c. -:-}-; pm. f;| or f ;f ; m. ^=: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. 



* Premolars f if , 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. 



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

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



