CLASSIFICATION OF CARNIVORA. 9 



we have the family Mustelidce, which includes not only the "Weasel (Mustela), btit a number 

 of other genera, such as the Otter, Badger, Skunk, and many others. Furthermore, the 

 families are conveniently grouped into sub-orders, according to characters considered to be of 

 greater importance than those which determine genera or families. We may roughly compare 

 this method of grouping to the way in which the soldiers in an army are arranged. Thus, individual 

 men corresponding to species are arranged in companies, which we may take to represent genera ; 

 several companies are united into a regiment, just as a number of genera are united into a family ; a 

 greater or less number of regiments go to form a battalion, in the same way as the families go to form 

 a sub-order ; and, lastly, two or three battalions constitute an army, which is the complete assemblage, 

 and corresponds, in our rough illustration, to an order. 



We suppose that nine persons out of ten, if asked to give three common examples of land 

 Carnivores, would, almost without hesitation, name the Cat, the Dog, and the Bear. The most 

 accomplished naturalist would be unable to give a better answer to this question, as those three well- 

 known animals are types of the three primary sections into which the whole sub-order is divided, 

 and which may, in fact, be termed respectively the groups of the Cats, Dogs, and Bears. It must be 

 borne in mind, however, that the words are here used in the broadest and most general sense, for the 

 group of " Cats " includes not only the animals properly so-called, bxit also the Civets, Ichneumons, 

 Hyaenas, whilst amongst " Bears" are grouped Racoons, Otters, Badgers, Weasels, and many others. 



It will, perhaps, be as well to give the scientific names for these three groups which we have, 

 most unscientifically, called Cats, Dogs, and Bears. We have first the JEluroidea* or Cat-like 

 animals; next the Cynoidea,"^ or Dog-like animals; and, lastly, the Arctoidea,]. or Bear-like animals. 

 We also give below a list of the families of land Carnivores arranged under their respective sections, 

 with the most important forms belonging to each family ; as such a list will, in all probability, 

 be useful for reference. 



The splitting up of our flesh-eaters into these sections is not an arbitrary matter, but is deter- 

 mined by certain definite anatomical characters, one of the chief of which is the structure of the base of 

 the skull. These matters will, however, be better discussed under the various families, when we shall 

 also devote a short time to that very important branch of anatomy, the form, number, and arrange- 

 ment of the teeth. 



THE CAT FAMILY. || 



This is the chief of the families of Carnivora, containing as it does all the great beasts of prey. Its- 

 members are the most perfectly constructed of animals for a life of rapine ; their weapons teeth and 

 claws attain the utmost degree of perfection, and their elegant form, silent movements, and often 

 beautiful colouring, make them in every respect the culminating forms of the flesh-eating group,, 

 and one of the chief of the upper branches of the great Mammalian tree. 



* From the Greek, afooupos, a Cat, and elSos, form. f From Kvcav, a Dog. J From UpKros, a Bear. 



Section I. ^ELUROIDEA (Cat-like animals). 

 Family 1. Felidce (the Cat family). 



Examples : Cat, Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Serval, Lynx, Cheetah, &c. 

 Family 2. Hycenidce (the Hyaena family), contains the Hyaenas only. 

 Family 3. Ci'yptoproctidcB, the Cryptoprocta only. 

 Family 4. Protelidce, the Aard-Wolf only. 

 Family 5. Viverridce (the Civet family) . 



Examples : Civet, Genette, Ichneumon, Suricate, Binturong, &c. 

 Section II. CYNOIDEA (Dog-like animals). 

 Family 6. Canidce (the Dog family). 



Examples: Dog, Wolf, Fox. 

 Section III. ARCTOIDEA (Bear-like animals). 

 Family 7. Ursidce (the Bear family). 



Examples : The various kinds of Bear. 

 Family 8. Procyonidce (the Racoon family). 



Examples : Racoon, Coati, Kinkajou, Cacomixle. 

 Family 9. Ailuridce, contains the Panda only. 

 Family 10. Mustelida: (the Weasel family) . 



Examples .- Weasel, Stoat, Ferret, Badger, Skunk, Ratel, Glutton, Marten, Polecat, Otter. 

 H Felidce. 

 51 



