CONTENTS 



PAGE 



FOREWORD vii 



INTRODUCTION , 1 



NORTH AMERICA AND THE WEST 

 INDIES 



Order INSECTIVORA : Moles, shrews, and their relatives 5 



Family Nesophontidae : Extinct Antillean insectivores 5 



Family Solenodontidae : Solenodons 10 



Family Soricidae : Shrews 14 



Order CHIROPTERA: Bats 15 



Family Phyllostomidae : Leaf-nosed bats 16 



Family Natalidae : Long-legged bats 29 



Family Vespertilionidae : Simple-rosed bats 30 



Order EDENTATA: Edentates 34 



Family Dasypodidae: Armadillos 34 



Family Megalochnidae : Ground sloths 36 



Order RODENTIA: Gnawing mammals 41 



Family Sciuridae: Squirrels 42 



Family Castoridae : Beavers 49 



Family Cricetidae : Hamsterlike rats and mice 87 



Family Echimyidae : Spiny rats and their relatives 99 



Family Heptaxodontidae 125 



Family Dinomyidae: Giant rodents 126 



Family Dasyproctidae : Agoutis 128 



Order CARNIVORA : Dogs, cats, and their relatives 134 



Family Ursidae : Bears 135 



The black bears 135 



The grizzly bears 139 



Family Mustelidae : Weasels and martens 165 



The pine martens 165 



Family Canidae: Wolves, dogs, foxes 194 



The kit foxes 194 



The American wolves 199 



Family Felidae: Cats 233 



The pumas 234 



The jaguars 252 



xi 



