PLANTIGRADE MAMMALS. 49 



of these animals. Those that live most exclusively on prey have 

 the teeth most trenchant and the jaws shortest, (which increases 

 their power,) while those that feed on vegetable substances as 

 well as on flesh, have the molars for the most part tuberculous ; by 

 the proportion of these trenchant and tuberculous teeth, we can 

 judge of the more or less carnivorous nature of their diet. 



3. Animals of this family generally have the paws armed with 

 hooked nails, suitable for holding or even tearing their prey ; it 

 is to be remarked also, that they are almost entirely without 

 clavicles ; but the form of their extremities varies a great deal, 

 and is in relation to the difference in their mode of progression, 

 which is not less great. According to these characters the car- 

 nivora are divided into the three following tribes ; Plantigrada, 

 Digitigrada, and Jlmpkibia. 



(Tribes.) 



C Feet resting their whole ~) 

 Having feet I length on the earth, the i p 

 formed specially | soles of which are free ( 

 for progression. J from hair. J 



| Feet not touching the 1 

 earth except by the ends of 



CARNIVORA. { the toes ; the tarsus being j 



(^elevated in progression. J 

 Having feet in the form of paddles, so 1 

 short and so enveloped in the skin, that on ! A 



land, they can only crawl j but they are f AMP 

 excellent swimmers. J 



Tribe of Plantigrada. 



4. It is the zoological character of this tribe to have five toes 

 on all the feet, and, when the animal walks or stands, to rest 

 the entire sole upon the earth, (I'late 2, fig 13, and 14.) which 

 affords him a broad base of support, and greater facility of stand- 

 ing up on his hind feet. 



5. All the motions of the Plantigrades are dull. Like the in- 

 sectivora, they are subterraneous and nocturnal in their habits, 

 and in cold countries pass the winter in a state of lethargy, or 

 hibernation. The most remarkable genera of this tribe are the 

 Bears, Rackoons, Badgers, and Gluttons, which may be recog- 

 nised by the following characters : 



3. What kind of nails have the carnivora ? What kind of clavicles have 

 animals of this family? Is the form of their extremities the same in all 

 animals of this class ? Flow is this family divided ? 



KT(Answered in the table.) What are the organic characters that distin- 

 guish animals of the tribe of Plantigrada ? What distinguishes the Digiti. 

 grada ? What is the form of the extremities of the Amphibia? 



4. What is the zoological character of the Plantigrada 't 



5. What are the habits of the Plantigrada ? What are the most remarka- 

 ble genera of this tribe ? 



