CARNARIA. CARNIVORA. 49 



I. PLANTKJRADA. 

 Ursus,* the Bear. 



Linnaeus united all the plantigrades into this 

 genus, but modern zoologists have separated from it 

 the Raccoon, (Procyon,}~\ the Coati, (Nasua,)% the 

 Badger, (Meles s } the Glutton, (Gulo,) and one or 

 two others. 



The true Bears have nearly all their teeth tuber- 

 culated, in accordance with which their diet can be 

 almost wholly vegetable, and several of them rarely 

 eat flesh except from necessity. They are large stout- 

 bodied animals, with thick limbs, and a short tail. 

 They excavate dens, in which they pass the winter 

 in a state of lethargy, and without food. Their 

 heavy clumsy proportions, and their thick shaggy 

 coat, indicate the sleepiness and stupidity of their 

 habits, which are combined, however, with a great 

 deal of brute strength. Wanting the cunning and 

 agility of the Cats, the swiftness and perseverance of 

 the Dogs, and the insinuating worm-like slenderness 

 of the Weasels, they are in general little calculated 

 to pursue living prey ; the carnivorous structure is 

 at its lowest point of developement. And yet there 

 is a consecutive gradation from this point to its 

 maximum in the Cats, as we shall presently per- 

 ceive. 



* Its Latin name. 



f n^o, pro, before, and xvuv, kyon, a dog. J Nasus, a nose. 



Latin names. 

 VOL. I. D 



