340 MAMMALIA: FEILE. LIII. 



ORDER LIII. FER^J. (THE FLESH-EATERS OR CARNIVORA.) 



Canine teeth distinct, conical; molars more or less adapted for 

 cutting ; clavicles imperfect or wanting ; toes provided with claws ; 

 skin covered with hair or fur ; alimentary canal short. General 

 structure in accordance with the predatory life led by all these 

 animals. (Lat.,/mis, a wild beast; the name Ferce of Linnseus is 

 much older than Cuvier's term Carnivora^ which is in general use.) 



FamiUes of Ferae. 



a. Limbs short, unfitted for walking; the toes united in a flat paddle, from 

 which only the claws project; no external ear; tail very short; eyes 

 large; incisors often less than |. (Pinnipedia.)i 



b. Hind limbs directed backwards, used only in swimming; claws strong; 



neck short PHOCID^E, 198. 



aa. Limbs fitted for walking; the toes distinct; incisors f. (Fissipedia.) 

 b. Hind feet with 5 toes, 

 c. Feet fully plantigrade ; sectorial teeth and the molars behind them all 



tuberculate. 

 d. Tail well developed ; body rather slender, the snout sharp. 



PROCYONID.B, 199. 

 dd. Tail rudimentary; body very robust ; snout not acuminate. 



URSID.E, 200. 

 cc. Feet siib-plantigrade or digitigrade; only one tuberculate molar, the 



sectorial premolar of typical form MUSTELID^E, 201. 



bb. Hind feet with 4 toes. 



e. Teeth 42 ; claws not retractile ; snout more or less produced. 



CANID,E, 202. 



ee. Teeth 28 to 30; claws retractile into a sheath; snout short, the 

 head broad FELID.E, 203. 



FAMILY CXCVIII. PHOCHX3E. (THE TRUE SEALS.) 



Seals with the fore limbs well forward ; neck short ; hind limbs 

 directed backward, useless on land; hand and foot hairy; nails 

 usually well developed ; no external ear. Other characters further 

 distinguishing these seals from the Fur Seals and Sea-Lions (Ota- 

 riidce), and the Walruses (Odobcenidce], are drawn from the skele- 

 ton. Genera 10-11; species numerous; found on most coasts, 

 swimming freely in the water and feeding chiefly on fishes, resting 

 and sunning in the rocks on the shore, sometimes breeding on float- 

 ing ice. 



a. Incisors usually f ; interorbital region very narrow; nails of all digits 



well developed (other characters drawn from the skull). (Fhocince.) 

 b. Snout narrow ; incisors simple, conical PHOCA, 594. 



1 The Eared Seals (Otariidcs) and Walruses (Odobcenidce), having external ears, 

 and limbs used for walking, form a distinct suborder, Gressigrada, containing the Sea 

 Lions, Fur Seals or Sea Bears, and the Walrus. 



