MAMMALIA. 39 



<^ "*' 

 Group II. 



Two flat tuberculous teeth behind the superior carnivo- 

 rous tooth, which is itself furnished with a large heel. They 

 are carnivorous, but do not exhibit a courage proportioned to 

 their size and strength; they frequently feed on carrion. 

 Two genera. 



GENUS I. CANUS, Lin. Dog. 



Three false molars above, four below ; two tuberculous 

 teeth behind each of the carnivorous ; the first upper tuber- 

 culous tooth very large ; a small tubercle upon the upper 

 carnivorous ; a very large one upon the under ; tongue soft ; 

 five toes to the fore and four to the hind foot ; claws for dig- 

 ging; sight excellent; hearing acute ; smell of an astonishing 

 delicacy ; diet half vegetable, half animal ; a depraved taste 

 for carrion ; size middling ; proportions of the body betoken- 

 ing strength and agility. Two subdivisions. 



Subdivision I. Dog properly so called. 



Head oblong, covered with hairs shorter than those of the rest 

 of the body ; tail little tufted ; pupil of the eye round during 

 the day; upper incisives presenting three festoons. The 

 different races of the domestic Dog are useful allies to Man, 

 faithful friends, who alone, of all other animals, have fol- 

 lowed him throughout the world. Some naturalists suppose 

 the Dog to be a Wolf or domesticated Jackal. 



Subdivision II. Fox. 



Head broader ; muzzle more pointed ; upper incisors 

 straight; tail longer and more tufted than in Dogs; fissure of 

 the pupil vertical during the day ; odour fetid. 



GENUS II. VIVERRA. Civet. 



Three false molars above, four below, the anterior of which 

 sometimes fall out ; two pretty large tuberculous teeth above, 

 only one below ; tongue bristled with sharp and rough pa- 

 pillae; claws more or less retractile. They often emit an 

 agreeable perfume. Three remarkable subdivisions. 



SUBGENUS I. VIVERRA, Cuv. Civets, properly so called. 



A deep pouch divided into two sacs, filled with a pom- 

 made of a strong musky smell ; pupil of the eye round during, 

 the day ; claws semi-retractile. 



