OF THE CLASS MAMMALIA. 



271 



power of vision equal to the seeing through a stone wall 

 hence the phrase, lynx-eyed. 



The common cat comes originally from the forest. In a 

 wild state it is of a brown colour, somewhat greyish, with 

 deeper coloured transverse waves. The tail is annulated with 

 dark rings; the inner side of the thighs and feet, yellowish. 



The hyaena is distinguished from the genus cat by the 

 number of toes, which is four for all the limbs, as well as by 

 the enormous strength of the teeth and jaws, and by the 

 claws or nails, which are not retractile during walking. The 

 tail is short and pendant, and underneath the anus is a pouch 

 which secretes a disagree- 

 ably-smelling viscous mat- 

 ter. Their gait is odd, 

 and they carry their hind 

 quarters much lower than 

 the fore. They are noc- 

 turnal animals, preying 

 on whatever they can ven- 

 ture to attack ; cowardly ; 

 they disinter the dead, and 

 despise no kind of food. 

 They resort to caverns du- 

 ring the day-time. Their 

 reputation lor ferocity is 



not oorne out by the fact. The common hyaena belonged 

 originally to Asiatic Turkey, Syria, and to some countries 

 of Africa. 



The carnivora called putorius or polecat, mustela or common 



Fig. 233. The Spotted Hyama. 



Fig. 234. The Weasel. 



marten, otter or lutra, and some others, are remarkable for 

 the length of their bodies and shortness of their limbs. They 

 are all small, but extremely sanguinary. 



