544 Great and Small Game of Africa 



bush. Hides itself in impassable and many different places ; and is difficult 

 to hunt for this reason. It is uncertain whether it feeds by night or day — 

 probably the latter. It seems to be certain that this animal does not live 

 in herds like H. amphibius. It roams over the forest in pairs or alone. 

 Each pair covers a wide area ; and these animals, though in no locality 

 abundant, were known at any rate by name in all the districts through 

 which I travelled. Percy Rf.ndall. 



CARNIVOROUS MAMMALS 



Order Carnivora 



Cats and Lynxes 



Family Felidte. Genus Felis 



The characters by which the Carnivora differ from the Hoofed Mammals 

 are for the most part so familiar to all, that they need not be recapitulated 

 in detail. Especial importance attaches to the teeth, which are more or 

 less modified for the needs of a diet composed largely or exclusively of 

 flesh ; one characteristic feature of the land members of the order being 

 the pair of so-called carnassial teeth in each jaw, which bite against one 

 another, and in the most advanced types have an action comparable to 

 that of the blades of a pair of scissors. Fully as important are the characters 

 of the toes, which are frequently five in number, and always terminate in 

 claws instead of hoofs or nails. 



The Felidce may be regarded as the most advanced type of the Carnivora, 

 as is attested by their short and rounded heads, the reduced number and 

 highly modified characters of their teeth, and their strongly curved claws, 

 which can be more or less completely retracted within special protective 

 sheaths. The carnassial teeth have a perfectly scissor-like action, and 



