ORDER CARNASSIER. 53 



Having 1 now gone through this very extensive sub-divi- 

 sion of the Animal Kingdom, the Order Carnassier, our 

 readers will permit us to indulge, in conclusion, in a few 

 general observations. 



The first remark, which the most superficial glance at 

 the subject suggests to the mind, is, what an immense 

 number and wonderful variety of animals are comprehended 

 in this order ! Families, tribes, genera, sub-genera, species 

 and races, multitudes of which differ from each other in 

 many and strong characteristics, and agree apparently but 

 in a single attribute, that of a greater or less propensity to 

 animal nutriment. Nay, we find included among the flesh' 

 eaters, those which are no flesh-eaters, while some whose 

 diet is partly animal, are excluded from this order. 

 Thus, among the Cheiroptera, some are frugivorous, and 

 some of the marsupial tribes are even totally herbivorous ; 

 and again, among the Quadrumana, some are insectivorous, 

 and many may be presumed from their dentary and diges- 

 tive systems, capable of subsisting on flesh. This last pre- 

 sumption derives additional probability from the physical 

 resemblance of several of their tribes to the human species. 



The wonderful external difference between many mem- 

 bers of this enormous family is indeed, at first view, mar- 

 vellously striking to the superficial observer. How widely 

 separated, for example, the Bat and the Lion ; the Mole 

 and the Seal, the Kanguroo and the Hyaena. Were the more 

 obvious attributes of strength, size, and ferocity, to be re- 

 garded as the basis of classification, who would hesitate to 

 unite together, 



" The rugged Russian bear, 



The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger," 



in preference to joining either of these animals with the 



