ORDERS OF MAMMALIA. 309 



the Jackals, all characterized by their pointed muzzles, smooth 

 tongues, and non-retractile claws, and by the fact that the 

 fore-feet have five toes, while the hind-feet have only four. In 

 the Hycenidce, comprising the Hyaenas, there are only four 

 toes to all the feet, the muzzle is rounded, the tongue is rough, 

 and the hind-legs are shorter than the fore-legs. The Hyaenas 

 are ill-conditioned, ferocious animals, which occur in Africa, 

 Asia Minor, Arabia, and Persia. 



The most highly carnivorous, and therefore the most typi- 

 cal, group of the (Jarnivora is that of the Cats or Felidce, 

 comprising the Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Panthers, Cats, and 

 others. In all these the animal walks lightly upon the tips of 

 the toes, and the soles of the feet are hairy. The jaws are 

 short, and, owing to this and to the great size of the muscles 

 which move the lower jaw, the head assumes a rounded form, 

 with a short muzzle. The molars and praemolars are fewer in 

 number than in any other of the Carnivora hence the short- 

 ness of the jaws ; and they are all furnished with cutting- 

 edges, except the last molar in the upper jaw, which is tuber- 

 culate. The legs are nearly of equal length, and the hind-feet 

 have only four toes, while the fore-feet have five toes each. 

 All the toes are furnished with strong, curved, retractile claws, 

 which, when not in use, are withdrawn within sheaths by the 

 action of elastic ligaments. The tongue is armed with horny 

 eminences, which render it rough and prickly, and adapt it for 

 the office of licking flesh from the bones of the prey. They 

 are all extremely light upon their feet, and excessively muscu- 

 lar ; and all have the habit of seizing their prey by suddenly 

 springing upon it. In this section are the Lion (Fells leo\ the 

 Tiger (Felis Tigris), the Jaguar (Felis onca\ the Puma (Felis 

 concolor), the Leopard (Felis leopardus)^ the Lynxes, and the 

 true Cats. 



The Lions are entirely confined to the Old World, inhabit- 

 ing Southern Asia and Africa. The males are maned, and the 

 tail is tufted. The Royal Tiger is exclusively Asiatic, as are 

 most of the Tiger-cats, but some of the latter are American. 

 The Spotted Cats or Leopards are represented, among others, 

 by the Leopard and Cheetah of the Old World, and the well- 

 known Jaguar of the American Continent. The Puma is also 

 American, but its color is uniform. The Lynxes are distin- 

 guished by their tufted ears, and are found both in the Eastern 

 and Western hemispheres. 



ORDER X. RODENTIA (Lat. rodo, I gnaw). In this order 



