79 

 SUPPLEMENT 



TO 



THE CAXtNASSIEHS. 



The name given by our author to his second order of marami- 

 ferous animals, and which is adopted here without altera- 

 tion, may demand some explanation. It certainly has an 

 unscientific sound to scientific ears ; nor is it really unex- 

 ceptionable ; but as difficulties attend its rejection, and the 

 consequent substitution of a better term, greater than 

 those which accompany its use, prudence dictates the choice 

 of the lesser evil. 



Carnassiers (or flesh-eaters simply) is applied by our 

 author to eaters of flesh, either partially or exclusively. In 

 that comprehensive sense it would indeed include many 

 animals not arranged by him in this order, belonging both 

 to this and even other classes ; but it is restricted again to 

 such flesh-eaters as have the three kinds of teeth, together 

 with the jaws articulated exclusively for a vertical opening 

 and the other minor particulars pointed out by the Baron in 

 his introductory observations on the order. 



The word carnivora is more familiar to the English 

 reader, which, as it conveys a signification of a voracious 

 appetite for flesh, rather than simply the means or inclina- 

 tion to eat, it is aptly enough applied exclusively to those 

 which feed altogether, or almost altogether, on animal mat- 

 ter. These may be also conveniently termed beasts of prey. 



The Carnassiers, then, according to Cuvier, include, as we 

 have seen, five families : — the cheiroptera, or bats ; insecti- 

 vora ; carnivora, or beasts of prey ; the amphibia ; and the 

 marsupiata, or pouched animals. 



