2S4 THE ANIMALS AND MAN 



The carnivorous mammals (Ferae). — The order Ferae 

 includes all those mammals usually called the carnivora, 

 such as the lions, tigers, cats, wolves, dogs, bears, panthers, 

 foxes, weasels, seals, etc. All of them feed chiefly on animal 

 substance and are predatory, pursuing and killing their 

 prey. They are mostly fur-covered and many are hunted 

 for their skin. They have never less than four toes, which 

 are provided with strong claws that are frequently more or 

 less retractile. The canine teeth are usually large, curved, 

 and pointed. 



While most of the Ferae live on land, some are strictly 

 aquatic. The true seals, fur-seals, sea-lions, and walruses 

 comprise the aquatic forms, all being inhabitants of the 

 ocean. The true seals, of which the common harbor seal 

 {Phoca vitulina) is our most familiar representative, have 

 the limbs so thoroughly modified for swimming that they 

 are useless on land. The fur-seals, sea-lions, and walruses 

 use the hind legs to scramble about on the rocks or beaches 

 of the shore. The fur-seals (fig. 133) live gregariously 

 in great rookeries on the Pribilof or Fur Seal Islands, and 

 the Commander Islands in Bering Sea. 



The bears are represented in North America by nine 

 species, of which the best known are the wide-spread 

 brown, or black bear (Ursus americanus) and the huge 

 grizzly bear {U. horribilis). The great polar bear (Thal- 

 arctos maritimus) lives in arctic regions. The otters, 

 skimks, badgers, wolverines, sables, minks, and weasels 

 compose the family Mustelidae, which includes most 

 of the valuable fur-bearing animals. Some of the mem- 

 bers of this family lead a semi-aquatic or even strictly 

 aquatic life and have webbed feet. The wolves, foxes, 

 and dogs belong to the family Canidas. The coyote {Canis 

 latrans), the gray wolf (C. nubilus), and the red fox {Vulpes 

 pennsylvanicus) are the most familiar representatives of 

 this family, in addition to the dog {C. familiaris), which is 



