ORDERS CHEIROPTERA, INSECTIVORA, AND CARNIVORA. 1 33 



121. "We may further separate from the other Unguiculated 

 Mammalia, by very obvious characters, the following order : 



III. CHEIROPTERA, or wing-handed Mammals ; a group 

 which is identical with the Bat tribe. The peculiar adaptation 

 of the anterior extremities of these animals for flight, by the 

 enormous development of the bones of the fingers, and by the 

 extension of the skin over them, so as to form a widely expanded 

 wing, distinguishes them from all other Mammals. The teeth 

 do not here afford so distinctive a character ; being somewhat 

 irregular in number, and of great variety of forms, most of the 

 species being adapted to feed on Insects, but some of them, like 

 the greater part of the Monkeys, being formed to subsist on 

 fruits and other soft vegetable substances. 



122. The remainder of the Unguiculated Mammals may be 

 first arranged, according to the presence of all three kinds of 

 teeth, or the absence of some of them. These which have in- 

 cisors, canines, and molars, are destined to live on animal food ; 

 but this may be of two kinds, either the bodies of insects, or 

 animal flesh. Hence, we have no difficulty in distinguishing the 

 two following orders : 



IV. INSECTIVORA, or insect-eating Mammals ; a term which 

 might be applied to many animals in other groups, such as the 

 Bats, and even some Quadrumana ; but which is peculiarly cha- 

 racteristic of these the form of their teeth, and their whole 

 economy, being adapted to the capture, mastication, and diges- 

 tion of hard-bodied beetles, locusts, &c. Their teeth are easily 

 distinguished by the conical elevations they present, which 

 differ on the one hand from the rounded summits of those of 

 animals destined to feed on soft animal or vegetable substances 

 indiscriminately, and from the sharp edges of those of the truly 

 carnivorous Mammals. Their number is somewhat irregular ; 

 but there are usually 6 incisors and 2 canines in each jaw. 



V. CARNIVORA, or 'flesh-eating Mammals ; which are at once 

 known from all others, by the possession of six incisor teeth in 

 each jaw, two long canines, and a variable number of molars, of 

 which some are provided with cutting edges. They are pre- 

 eminently leasts of prey ; and their whole conformation is 



