MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. 373 



each portion of the Creation, animate as well as 

 inanimate, is so obviously to be distinguished. 



The animals belonging to the fourth order of 

 Linnaeus, are known by their having two remark- 

 ably large, long, and chisel-shaped front teeth in 

 each jaw, and no canine teeth ; by their legs 

 being formed for running and bounding ; and by 

 their feet beinc: armed with claws for scratching. 

 They live principally upon the roots, bark, and 

 other parts of vegetable substances, a few only 

 eating animal food ; and as their operations are 

 carried on principally during the night, and as 

 they sleep much in the day, this order has been 

 denominated Glires, from Glis, the Dormouse, 

 though Cuvier has more correctly classed them 

 in his division of Rodentia, or gnawing animals. 



This order consists of eight genera, namely, 

 the Porcupine; the Hare, including the Rabbit; 

 the Castor or Beaver ; the Rat, embracing the 

 common Mouse, and the Dormouse ; the Guinea 

 Pig; the Marmot; the Jerboa, previously des- 

 cribed ; and the Hydrax, a Cape animal resemb- 

 ling- the Marmot. 



All the animals in this order, from their wild 

 and predatory habits, from their feeding on the 

 most useful vegetable substances, and from their 

 propensity to gnaw every obstacle that stands in 

 their way, are more or less destructive to human 

 property. But there are three of the species, 

 namely, the Beaver, the Hare, and the Rabbit, 



