5 



STJB-CLASS MONODELPHIA. 



SUPER-ORDER EDUCABILIA. 

 ORDER CARNIVORA. 



FAMILIES OF CARNIVOKA. 



* Intestinal canal provided with a cseoum; feet digitigrade ; toes 5-4. 



t Teeth, 28 to 30 ; dentition, m. V pm. |, C. V, i- I X 2 ; head broad ; snout short, 



decurved ; claws sharp, compressed, retractile Felid^. 



tt Teeth, typically 42 ; varying between 38 and 46 (the trne molars being the varying 

 element.) Dentalformnla, m. | (j-|), pm. y, C. y, i. f X2. . . . Canid^. 



* Intestinal canal wifhont a caecum; feet usually plantigrade, if not, toes 5-5. 



t Teeth less than 40 ; body rather slender; feet often more or less perfectly digitigrade ; 



toes 5-5 MusTELiD^. 



tt Teeth 40 or 42; body stout; feet completely plantigrade. 



a. Tail rudimentary teeth 42 ; lower jaw with three true molars ; body very 

 large and heavy. ......... Ursid^. 



aa. Tail well developed ; teeth 40 ; lower jaw slender, with two true molars ; 

 body moderately stout Pkocyonid^. 



FAMILY PELIDiE. 



The Cats are digitigrade carnivora, with the toes 5-4. They are read- 

 ily known from allied families by the retractile and very sharp, com- 

 pressed claws. The palms and soles are densely hairy, with naked pads 

 under each toe and the bill of the foot. The dentition is reduced to its 

 simplest elements among all those mammals having incisors, canines, 

 and molars. Formula, i. fif; c. jii-; pm. l'_l, or |:|; m. i.:i-^30 or 28. The 

 canines are long, sharp, more or less curved, usually slightly compressed, 

 and in existing cats possess two longitudinal furrows on the outer side. 

 The posterior molar of the upper jaw, the only permanent one, is very 

 small, and its crown transverse ; in front of this is a large sectorial pre- 

 molar, with a smaller tricuspid one in front of it. The first premolar is 

 very small — absent in Lynx. In the lower jaw the posterior molar is 

 sectorial, with two smaller compressed premolars anterior to it. The 

 second upper and first and second lower premolars are trilobed, the cen- 

 tral lobe highest, and the lateral sometimes with accessory notches or 

 lobes. 



KKY TO THE GENERA OF FELID^. 



* Four molars above on each side (pm. 2-2) > ta-il ^^ least half the length of trunk; fur 

 compact and glossy ; shoulders high ; ears not tnfted at tips. . . . Felis. 



** Three molars above on each side (pm. 2-2-) ; short truncated tail ; ears triangular, 

 tufted. Lynx. 



