16 VERTEBRATES: MAMMALS. 



and their efforts of this sort are often exceedingly lu- 

 dicrous. In imitation of its master an ape has sat at 

 table, using knife and fork, and drinking wine. It is 

 stated that an ape owned by a French priest once fol- 

 lowed him to church and hid upon the sounding-board, 

 — a fixture over the pulpit, — and, when the sermon 

 was going on, advanced to the edge of the board, and, 

 observing the actions of the preacher, began to perform 

 also, and his imitations were so perfect that the whole 

 congregation were unable to suppress their laughter. 

 The priest was shocked and indignant at such levity, 

 and commenced to give his audience severe reproofs ; 

 but seeing all his efforts failing, his action became more 

 violent and his voice louder; but his violent gestures 

 were taken up by the ape with no less animation than 

 that shown by his master, and at this apparent compe- 

 tition of the two the people burst into laughter louder 

 than before. 



FLESH-EATERS, OR CARNIVORES. 



These animals have their teeth and claws very sharp, 

 and they capture and devour other animals for food. 



Their back teeth, or mo- 

 lars, have sharp edges, and 

 those in the two jaws shut 

 by each other like the blades 

 of scissors, and thus cut 

 the flesh into pieces fit 

 for swallowing. Cats, Hy- 

 enas, Dogs, Civets, Wea- 

 Fig, 42, — Teeth of a Mesh-Eater, ^els. Bears, and Seals are 



the principal Carnivores. 



