PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 



FER^E. 



Destitute of wings. 



The absence of wings, confines the progressive motion of 

 the Ferae to the land or water. Those which are destined 

 to live chiefly in the water are incapable of using their 

 hind-feet to walk with on the land, and their fore-feet can 

 only aid' them in crawling. Taking advantage of these mo- 

 difications of the motive organs, this tribe may be divided 

 into such as have the hind-legs formed for walking, and 

 such as have the hind-legs incapable of walking. 



The feras chiefly subsist on animal food, which in some spe- 

 cies, is mixed with vegetables. Their intestines are slender; 

 and neither colon nor rectum are greatly enlarged. The teeth 

 are formed with prominent points, or so to lock into each 

 other, as to be capable of chewing the soft food, or of 

 bruising the bones with which it is intermixed. Where 

 much vegetable food is used, the summits of the grinders are 

 much flattened ; but where carrion alone is the food used, 

 the summits of the grinders are full of sharp eminences. 



The grinders vary in character so much, as to be capable 

 of division into three sorts* The tearing grinders orfaus- 

 ses molaires of M. F~ CUVIEB, correspond in some degree 

 to the bicuspides of the human subject. They occur im- 

 mediately behind the tusks, and vary in number according 

 to the species. They are compressed, with elevated points, 

 and are used along with the incisors and tusks, in tearing 

 the food. The chewing grinders, or carnassieres of M. F. 

 CUVIER, are placed immediately behind the preceding. 

 They are four in number, one on each side in each jaw, 

 and are usually the largest in the row. Their summits are 

 flatter, and more extended than the learing ones. They 

 are subservient to the purposes of chewing. The bruising 



