212 ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY 



sharp and curved, and aid their possessor in seizing and holding his 

 struggling prey; the premolars and molars are adapted for cutting and 

 grinding flesh, so that by means of these teeth a cat may be able to 

 chew a tough piece of meat that a human being could scarcely eat at all. 

 Most of the carnivora, at least of the terrestrial forms, have sharp claws 

 that aid in the capture of food and in self-defense; the canine teeth 

 also are, of course, important weapons of offense and defense. The 

 carnivora include most of our so-called "fur-bearing" animals. 



The dozen or more families of this order are usually grouped into 

 two sub-orders: the Fissipedia or Carnivora Vera, including a large 

 number of forms that are chiefly terrestrial; and the Pinnipedia, a 

 much smaller group of aquatic forms, such as the seal, sea-lion, walrus, 

 etc., to be discussed later. 



The families of Fissipedia occurring in the Western Hemisphere, 

 north of Mexico, with the approximate number of species of each 

 (according to Hornaday) are as follows: 



Canidae (dog, fox, wolf, etc.) 22 



Felidaj (cats) 8 



Ursidse (bears) 12 



Mustelidae (marten, mink skunk, etc.) 46 



Procyonidae (raccoon) 3 



The economic value of the Carnivora is chiefly due to their soft 

 hair or fur, though there are other ways in which they have considerable 

 economic importance, for example in the destruction of cattle. 



According to the Biological Survey there is an annual loss of more 

 than $20,000,000 due to the destruction of livestock, chiefly on the 

 western ranges, by wolves, coyotes, mountain lions and other predatory 

 animals. 



The Government, in cooperation with the states, is conducting a 

 great campaign against these and other animal pests, in which probably 

 more than $1,000,000 annually is being expended. 



Predatory animals are destroyed by poisoning, trapping, shooting and 

 den hunting during the breeding season. In this work from 250 to 350 

 hunters are employed under district inspectors; about one-fifth of 

 these hunters are paid by the states or by local organizations and 

 individuals. The skins taken by Federal hunters become the property 

 of the Government, with a total value during the last year of probably 

 $100,000. 



