THE AMPHIBIOUS CARNIVORA. 



AN Amphibious animal is said to be one which is 

 able to live in two elements, the elements implied 

 being air and water ; and there was a time when it 

 was generally supposed that there were such qua- 

 drupeds in existence. The reader will please to ob- 

 serve, that we are not here speaking of animals which 

 can reside on the land, and in and on the water ; 

 for such there unquestionably are ; on these we are 

 about to dwell, and in this old and familiar accepta- 

 tion of the term we mean to use it.* But the time 



* For this we can quote nearly universal usage, in the present 

 and preceding ages, and some of the most authoritative names in 

 the science ; amongst others those of Baron Cuvier and Latreille. 

 It is true that Cuvier did not here follow the footsteps of Linnaeus, 

 who placed these Amphibia in his 2d and 3d order, Bruta and 

 Fera, and made the Amphibia his 3d class, including Tortoises, 

 Frogs, Serpents, and many true Fish, such as the Sturgeon, 

 Shark, Skate, &c., so making a great jumble. We may add, 



