DIVISION OP CABNIVORA INTO FAMILIES. FELID^. 207 



4. VIVERRID^E, or Civet tribe ; this family is closely connected 

 with all the preceding, and also with the Ursidas ; and it does not 

 possess any well-marked distinguishing characters ; nevertheless 

 we shall see that the animals it contains bear a strong general 

 resemblance to each other. The body is somewhat elongated; the 

 claws partly retractile ; the feet, in some digitigrade, in some 

 semi-plantigrade ; their habits are nocturnal ; and many (espe- 

 cially the types of the family) are remarkable for their strong 

 musky odour. The dentition is variable ; in the true Civets it 

 is as follows ; incisors -|, canines ^7, false molars gEf , carnivorous 

 tooth J^J, tuberculated molars ||. 5. URSID^E, or Bear tribe ; 

 the animals of this family are characterised by their robust 

 figure, heavy gait, and plantigrade walk ; as well as by the 

 adaptation of their teeth to a partly vegetable diet. The incis- 

 ors are f-, and the canines J^T, aa usual (the latter, however, 

 being small) ; the molars are usually ^, the three hindmost of 

 which are tuberculated, the carnivorous tooth of small size and 

 not possessing its characteristic form, and the false molars very 

 small, often dropping out at an early age. 6. PHOCID.E, or 

 Seed tribe ; these are at once distinguished by the adaptation of 

 their form to residence in the water, the body being elongated 

 and tapering from the chest to the tail, the hinder limbs being 

 directed backwards, so as to terminate the body, and the extre- 

 mities being converted into paddles. The dentition is variable 

 in the different genera, but it differs completely from that of the 

 other Carnivora ; the teeth are especially formed for laying hold 

 of the slippery prey on which these animals feed, and for divi- 

 ding the body of the fish they devour into large portions. 



186. The FELID.E are all essentially carnivorous ; in no in- 

 stance touching vegetable food, except under the influence of 

 domestication, and even then only in small quantity. They will 

 not, unless pressed by hunger, devour any flesh which they have 

 not themselves killed ; and altogether reject that which is un- 

 dergoing decomposition. They are, consequently, of all Mam- 

 malia, the most destructive in their propensities ; and their 

 bodily powers are in admirable accordance with their instincts. 

 Their frame is vigorous, but agile, the limbs short, the joints 



