78 NATURE-STUDY 



Mammals. 



I. Carnivorous Mammals (Flesh-eaters). 



1. Canine (Dog) Group: Dog (type), fox, wolf, coyote. 



2. Feline (Cat) Group; Cat (type), wild cat, panther, tiger, 

 lion. 



3. Bear Group: Bear, raccoon, mink, weasel. 

 II. Herbivorous Mammals (Grass-eaters). 



1. Ruminants (Cud-chewers) : Cow (type), bison; sheep, 

 goat; deer, reindeer; camel. 



2. Other Herbivorous Mammals: Horse; elephant; pig. 



III. Rodents (Gnawers): Squirrel (type), mouse, rabbit, beaver. 



IV. Insect-eating Mammals: Bat, mole. 

 V. Whale. 



VI. The Monkey Tribe. 

 VII. Man, in relation to the above. 



In order to get a more detailed classification we must re- 

 strict ourselves to a smaller number of groups. The rodents 

 by themselves, or the ruminants alone, would offer an ex- 

 cellent material for making finer distinctions. 



The most common wild animals which do not flee into the 

 wilderness at the approach of the settler, but continue to 

 live with us on our farms and even in our towns are squirrels, 

 chipmunks, gophers, woodchucks, muskrats, rabbits, rats, 

 and mice. These little animals are fairly numerous and often 

 quite tame, and can be easily observed in their free state. 

 They are all rodents and form a most excellent group of ani- 

 mals for comparative study. The beaver, the prairie dog, 

 and the guinea pig may be added to the list. The beaver is 

 especially interesting to children on account of its ingenious 

 ways and its association with the early settlement of this 

 country, when beaver fur was an important article of barter 

 with the Indians on the frontier. 



