678 MAMMALIA [OH. 



avoided by other animals and a terror to man. It is strikingly 

 marked with sharply contrasted black and white patches but these 

 alternations of shade tend to conceal it by breaking up its outline as 

 seen in the pale moonlight when it sallies forth to seek its prey. 

 The VIVERRIDAE should be mentioned although they are a tropical 

 group. In general shape they resemble the Mustelidae, but in the 

 shape of the carnassial teeth and in the division of the auditory bulla 

 by a septum they agree with the Felidae. The best-known members 

 of the family are the African and Indian Civet Cats ( Viverra civetta 

 and V. zibetha) from whose perineal glands the civet of commerce 

 is obtained. Fossil remains connect the Viverridae and Mustelidae 

 and one would not be far astray in calling them " Primitive Cats." 



The Carnivora mentioned hitherto are often grouped together as 

 the CARNIVORA VERA or FISSIPEDIA. The second group of recent 

 Carnivora is represented by the seals and is termed the PJNNIPEDIA. 

 The name is derived from the fact that fingers and toes are united 

 by webs of skin. The Seals are almost as purely marine animals 

 as the Whales and Sea-cows, but they have become adapted to 

 their surroundings in quite a different way. Thus their fur is 

 close and thick, and they are protected against the cold of the 

 water by it, instead of being covered all over by a thick layer of 

 fat as are the Whales. The tail is short and insignificant, but 

 they make a powerful stern oar by directing the feet backwards 

 parallel to the body so that the soles are turned up. Thus the feet 

 act just in the same way as the tail does in a Whale, making up and 

 down strokes and driving the animal forward. The whole upper 

 part of the limb is buried in the body. In one group, the true Eared 

 or Seal-skin Seals, OTARIIDAE (the fur of some species of which 

 is used for making jackets), the feet can be turned forward when 

 the animal comes on land. There are also some traces of an 

 external ear, whence comes the name OTARIIDAE or Eared Seals 

 which is given to them. They are confined to the Pacific coasts 

 of America and Asia. Species termed " Sea-lion " (Otaria jubata) 

 thrive well in captivity, and are often seen in Zoological Gardens 

 (Fig. 340). The Walrus, Trichechus rosmarus, of the Arctic seas, 

 is the representative of a second family, the TRICHECHIDAE. No 

 external ear is present but here also the feet can be turned forward. 

 The canine teeth of the upper jaw are very long and give the animal 

 a fierce appearance. They are however chiefly used for digging up 

 bivalves from the mud and for climbing on the blocks of ice in the 

 Arctic regions where the animal is found. The name " Old Man " 



