138 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



This order is divided into the sub-orders, carnivora and insectivora. 

 The carnivora (flesh-devouring animals) subsist almost entirely on animal 

 food, and almost always kill their own prey, as the cats, weasels, &c. 

 The insectivora (insect-devouring animals) live on insects, which they 

 usually capture by digging in the ground, as the moles, shrews, &c. 



III. RoDENTiA. — Animals with generally two large, strong incisors 

 in each jaw, for the purpose of gnawing ; hence their name, from rodo, 

 to gnaw. They have no canine teeth, there being a space left vacant 

 between the incisors and molars, which are strong, with flat or tuberculated 

 crowns fitted for grinding their food, which is almost entirely vegetable 

 in nature ; their teats vary in number, and are placed on the belly ; in 

 this order are placed the beavers, squirrels, rats, &c. 



IV. RuMiNANTiA. — Animals which chew the cud ; they have cloven 

 feet, and the male, and often the female, has horns. They have no incisory 

 teeth in the upper jaw, the gum being calloused; their stomach is com- 

 pound, as in the ox, deer, &c. ; it is composed of four different compart- 

 ments ; the food, which is always vegetable in nature, is but little chewed 

 when passed into the first, or largest compartment, (which is called the 

 " paunch,") from this it passes into the second compartment, from which 

 it returns to the mouth, where it is completely masticated, and then 

 passed to the third stomach, from that to the fourth, and thence to the 

 intestines ; their teats are usually two in number, and are placed between 

 the thighs. 



Order: CHEIROPTERA. 

 Family: Vespertilionid^. — (Bat Family.) 



Characteristics. — Fingers of the anterior extremities elongated and 

 connected together, and with the posterior extremities, which are con- 

 nected together, and with the tail by a semi-transparent and generally 

 naked membi-ane. This arrangement enables the animals in this family 

 to fly, giving them increased facilities for securing the insects, of which 

 their food consists. They are nocturnal, and in our climate they 

 hibernate. Teats, two in number, placed on the breast. 



Genus : Vespertilio. — (Linn.) 

 V. pi-uinosus, (Say.) — Hoary Bat. 

 This is one of the least common, and much the largest species found 

 in this State. But little is known of its habits, except that it is less 

 nocturnal than most other species, it being seen occasionally quite early 

 in the afternoon, catching insects, of which it destroys great numbers. 

 Thompson, in his " Quadrupeds of Vermont," speaks of feeding one 

 (which he kept alive) with fresh meat, "of which it eat fearlessly and 

 voraciously." 



