28 



VERTEBRATE ANIMALS MAMMALIA DIAoL'AM 



Skull of Hedgehog. 



2nd. The Insect iuora, which arc 

 all small mammals, feed on insects, 

 In order to crush them, they 

 have molar teeth, set with pro- 

 jecting points. Among the in- 

 sectivora may be mentioned the 

 bats, the moles, the shrew-mouse, 

 and the hedgehog. 



3rd. The Carnivora form an order, 

 including the large mammals which 

 generally feed on flesh ; their molar 

 teeth are always more or less pointed 

 in order to divide their food, and they 

 Skull of a Dog. have very strong canines to tear it. 



In the order carnivora we find the family of the bears, the badger, 

 the family of the weasels, those of the cats and dogs, and lastly 

 that of the seals. 



4th. The Rodentia. The 

 mammals of this order 

 feed exclusively on vege- 

 table matters, as the car- 

 nivora feed principally on 

 animals. Consequently we 

 find the most injurious 

 mammals among the ro- 

 Skull of a Rodent. dents. Some of them are 



valued for their skins. It is sufficient to compare the teeth of a 

 rodent a rabbit, for instance, with those of a carnivorous animal, 

 to see that they cannot feed in the same manner. The rodents 

 have very strong incisors, which cut crosswise, with which they 

 can cut wood ; they have no canines, and their molars are flat to 

 crush their food. But this is not all ; the incisors are quickly 

 worn down by cutting such hard substances, and, therefore, 

 while the teeth of man and carnivora do not grow after they 



