48 CARNIVOROUS MAMMALS. 



LESSON VI. 



FAMILY OP CARNIVORA. Zoological characters. Peculiarities of 

 organization. Division into three tribes. 



THIBB OP PLANTIGRADA. Zoological characters. Organization 

 and Habits of Bears, (Brown Bear, White Bear, Black 

 /3car.) Badgers. Use of their hnir. 



TRIBE OP DIGITIGRADAS. Zoological characters. Group of Ver- 

 miform Digit igradas. Histo>y of the Poli'-cat 9 ( common Pole- 

 cat, ferret, Weasel, Ermine.) The Martens, (common. Ma- 

 ten, the Beech Marien, Sable.) The Otters, (common Otter, 

 Sea Otter.) Genus of Dogs History and Habits of some 

 races, ( Wolves, Foxes.) Genus of Civets (Civet, Common 

 Wild-cat, llanpouste of Egypt.) Genus of Hyenas. Genus 

 of Cats. Habits, (Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Couguar, Lynx, Cat.) 



TRIBE OP AMPHIBIA. Zoological characters. Habits, (Seal, the 



Morse.) 



CONTINUATION OF THE ORDER CARNARIA. 



FAMILY OF CARNIVORA. 



1 . In its most general acceptation, the word Carnivorous belongs 

 to all animals that feed upon flesh, but naturalists give to this 

 word, a more limited signification, and only apply it to this family 

 of mammalia of the order Carnaria, which includes Bats, Hyenas, 

 Martens, Dogs, &c., and which is easily distinguished by the ex- 

 istence of teeth for tearing and cutting flesh. 



2. In these animals, which generally possess great strength, the 

 jaws are stout, and each one is armed with two long, stout, sepa- 

 rated canine teeth, and between these are placed six incisors. 

 Sometimes the molar teeth are all trenchant ; sometimes they are 

 mingled, some having blunt tubercles, but they never have coni- 

 cal points as in the insectivora. (Plate 2, fig. 12 ) One of the 

 great molars is ordinarily much larger and more trenchant than 

 the others, and bears the name of carnivorous tooth, (Plate 2, fig. 

 12, ca.) behind it are one or two, almost flat, which are called 

 tuberculous, (Plate 2, Jig. 12, t.) and between it and the canines, 

 a variable number of false molars. The form and disposition of 

 these teeth are in relation to the more or less carnivorous habits 



1. How is the term Carnivorous applied ? By what means can we re- 

 cognise the Carnivora? 



2. What is the posHon of the canine teeth in the Carnivora ? What is 

 the number of their incisor teeth? What is the character of tl\eir molar 

 teeth ? 



What is the carnivorous tno'h? What is meant by tuberculous tooth? 

 What is i he form and disposition of these teeth? Can we judge of the 

 Uature oi' the diet of a carnivorous animal by the teeth ? How ? 



