MAMMALIA. 653 



are so remarkable. The perfection of their limbs, and the acute- 

 ness of their senses, at once indicate their superiority over the Herb- 

 ivorous races ; and their jaws, armed with powerful fangs, usually 

 distinguished by the name of canine teeth, show at a glance the na- 

 ture of their appointed food, and their murderous propensities. 



The distribution of these tyrants of the animal creation we shall 

 find to be coextensive with that of the victims they are appointed to 

 destroy. 



(733.) The aquatic tribes of the Carnivora (Amphibia, Cuv.) 

 are obviously constructed for swimming. Their bodies, covered 

 over with short, close, and polished hair, taper off towards each 

 extremity, resembling in form those of the CETACEANS. The 

 cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine are light and 

 flexible ; and the pelvis contracted and placed as far back as possi- 

 ble. Both the anterior and posterior extremities, although com- 



Fig. 306. 



pletely formed, are short ; and in the living animal are only free 

 externally as far as the carpal and tarsal joints. The feet, more- 

 over, are broadly webbed, and thus become converted into most 

 efficient paddles, by the aid of which these creatures swim with 

 astonishing ease and elegance, the hinder pair performing at once 

 the functions of oars and rudder. Upon land, however, their 

 movements are, as might be supposed, extremely clumsy : it is 

 true that they not unfrequently scramble on to the beach, there to 

 bask in the sun, or to suckle their little ones ; but, if danger 

 threatens, they immediately take to the water, and fall easy victims 

 if their retreat towards the sea be intercepted. 



Such being the helplessness of the Seals when they quit the 

 water for the shore, it is not surprising that, in some of the larger 



