ANIMALS. 



203 



method in classing quadrupeds should be ta- 

 ken from their most striking resemblances ; 

 and where these do not offer, we shall not 

 force the similitude, but leave the animal to 

 be described as a solitary species. The num- 

 ber of quadrupeds is so few, that indeed, with- 

 out any method whatever, there is no great 

 danger of confusion. 



All quadrupeds, the number of which, ac- 

 cording to Buffbn, amounts to but two hun- 

 dred, may be classed in the following^ manner. 



First, those of the Horse kind. This class 

 contains the Horse, the Ass, and the Zebra. 

 Of these none have horns, and their hoof is of 

 one solid piece. 



The second class are those of the Cow kind; 

 comprehending the Urus, the Buffalo, the Bi- 

 son, and the Bonassus. These have cloven 

 hoofs, and chew the cud. 



The third class is that of the Sheep kind ; 

 with cloven hoofs, and chewing the cud like 

 the former. In this is comprehended the 

 Sheep, the Goat, the Lama, the Vigogne, the 

 Gazella, the Guinea Deer, and all of a simi- 

 lar form. 



The fourth class is that of the Deer kind, 

 with cloven hoofs, and with solid horns, that 

 are shed every year. This class contains the 

 Elk, the Rein-deer, the Stag, the Buck, the 

 Roe-buck, and the Axis. 



The fifth class comprehends all those of 

 the Hog kind, the Peccari, and the Baby- 

 rouessa. 



The sixth class is, that numerous one of the 

 Cat kind. This comprehends the Cat, the 

 Lion, the Panther, the Leopard, the Jaguar, 

 the Cougar, the Jaguarette, the Lynx, the 

 Ounce, and the Catamountain. These are 

 all carnivorous, and furnished with crooked 

 claws, which they can sheath and unsheath 

 at pleasure. 



The seventh class is that of the Dog kind, 

 carnivorous, and furnished with claws like the 

 former, but which they cannot sheath. This 

 class comprehends the Dog, the Wolf, the Fox, 

 the Jackal, the Isatis, the Hyaena, the Ciret, 

 the Gibet, and the Genet. 



The eighth class is that of the Weasel kind, 

 with a long small body, with five toes, or claws, 

 on each foot ; the first of them separated from 

 the rest like a thumb. This comprehends 

 the Weasel, the Martin, the Pole-cat, the Fer- 



ret, the Mangoust, the Vansire, the Ermine, 

 with all the varieties of the American Mou- 

 fettes. 



The ninth class is that of the Rabbit kind, 

 with two large cutting teeth in each jaw. 

 This comprehends the Rabbit, the Hare, the 

 Guinea-pig, all the various species of the 

 Squirrel, the Dormouse, the Marmotte, the 

 Rat, the Mouse, the Agouti, the Paca, the 

 Aperea, and the Tapeti. 



The tenth class is that of the Hedge-hog 

 kind, with claw-feet, and covered with pric- 

 kles ; comprehending the Hedge-hog and the 

 Porcupine, the Couando and the Urson. 



The eleventh class is that of the Tortoise 

 kind, covered with a shell, or scales. This 

 comprehends the Tortoise, the Pangolin, and 

 the Phataguin. 



The twelfth is that of the Otter, or amphi- 

 bious kind ; comprehending the Otter, the 

 Beaver, the Desman, the Morse, and the Seal. 



The thirteenth class is that of the Ape and 

 Monkey kinds, with hands, and feet resem- 

 bling hands. 



The fourteenth class is that of winged quad- 

 rupeds, or the Bat kind ; containing the Bat, 

 the Flying Squirrel, and some other varieties. 



The animals which seem to approach no 

 other kind, either in nature or in form, but to 

 make each a distinct species in itself, are the 

 following : the Elephant, the Rhinoceros, the 

 Hippopotamus, the Camelopard, the Camel, 

 the Bear, the Badger, the Tapir, the Cabrai, 

 the Coati, the Ant-bear, the Tatou, and, last- 

 ly, the Sloth. 



All other quadrupeds, whose names are not 

 set down, will be found among some of the 

 above mentioned classes, and referred to that 

 which they most resemble. When, therefore, 

 we are at a loss to know the name of any par- 

 ticular animal, by examining which of the 

 known kinds it most resembles, either in 

 shape, or in hoofs, or claws, and then exami- 

 ning the particular description, we shall be 

 able to discover not only its name, but its his- 

 tory. I have already said, that all methods 

 of this kind are merely arbitrary, and that 

 Nature makes no exact distinction between 

 her productions. It is hard, for instance, to 

 ; tell whether we ought to refer the civet to the 

 dog or the cat kind; but, if we know the ex- 

 I act history of the civet, it is no great matter 



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