202 ORDER CARNIVORA ; GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



seem to rank lower than any of the groups to which they bear 

 the nearest relationship, in regard to their intelligence ; and, in 

 the economy of both, hybernation is a leading feature. 



ORDER V. CARNIVORA. 



181. This group includes all the unguiculated Mammalia, 

 which show, in the structure of their teeth and digestive appa- 

 ratus, and in their general conformation, an adaptation to a diet 

 consisting of animal flesh. We have seen that, in many tribes 

 which have already come under our notice, there is a power of 

 subsisting in part, or even entirely, upon food of this kind ; 

 such is the case, for instance, with Man, and several of the 

 Monkey tribe. But all these animals are also capable of digesting, 

 and of subsisting on, food of a vegetable nature also; and where 

 the diet is exclusively animal, as in a large proportion of the 

 Bats, and in the Insectivora, it consists of Insects, Worms, &c., 

 and not of the flesh of larger animals, on which the true Car- 

 nivora, in a state of nature, depend entirely (with few excep- 

 tions), for their support. The members of this order are readily 

 distinguished from all others, by the character of their teeth ; 

 which are formed for seizing, cutting, and tearing animal flesh. 

 In the greater number of them, the size of the canine teeth is the 

 most obvious mark of distinction ; these are large, strong, and 



pointed, and project somewhat 

 forwards, so as to present them- 

 selves rather in front of the line 

 of the other teeth. Between the 

 canines of the two sides, are six 

 incisor teeth in each jaw ; these 

 are of moderate size, but are pro- 

 vided with sharp cutting edges. 

 The molar teeth, situated behind 

 FIO. 100. TEKTH OF CARNIVOROUS the canines, are usually from four 



ANIMAL. . , , 



to seven in number ; they are of 

 three different kinds; those which immediately follow the canines 



