Class 6. Mammalia. Order 8. Curnivora. 517 



5. The Civet Family {Viverridse). p J, ™ | ; sectorial poi-tion of the 

 molar series preponderatingly developed. Small animals, resembling the 

 Martens, with elongate body and shoi-t, legs. In the wai'mer parts of the Old 

 World. The following may be noted : the Civet Cat (Viverra), one species 

 of which, the Genet {V. genetia), inhabits South Europe and Noi-th Africa; 

 and the Mongoose {Herpestes ichneumon), of Africa and India. 



6. The Hyssna Family (Hyxnidse). p f , m j. Large, long-legged, 

 wolf -like, fairly long-tailed animals ; digitigrade. In the Old World, The species 

 of the genus Syisna are carrion feeders; the genus Proteles of South Africa, 

 with very feeble, small, cusped molars, preys chieily upon lambs. 



V. The Oat Family (Felidse). ^ f, m i ; tubercular portion of the molar 

 series rudimentary. Slim, elongate animals, with roundish head, long tail ; four 

 toes on the hind foot, very much curved, compressed and pointed claws ; digiti- 

 grade ; feed almost entirely on warm-blooded animals. The Lion {Felis leo), of 

 a uniform, tawny coloiu- ; male with mane ; Africa, West Asia, formerly in South- 

 East Europe: the extinct (Quartemary) Cave Lion, (F. spelaea), is a near rela- 

 tive. The Tiger (F. tigris), with transvei'se stripes; Asia. The Jaguar 

 {F. onca) , in the Southern districts of America ; and the Leopard or Panther 

 {F. pardus) of which there are several varieties in Africa and Southern Asia, 

 large, with circular spots. The Puma or Cougar {F. concolm-) of median 

 size and uniform colour ; in South America and in most of North America (the 

 "Panther " of the Americans). Smaller forms are: the Tiger Cats, various 

 small spotted forms (F. tigrina and others); the Wild Oats {F. catus), in 

 Central and South Europe, similar in colour to the grey Domestic Oat, but 

 shorter tailed; the Domestic Cat {F. domestica), which is apparently a 

 descendant of the Nubian Wild Cat {F. maniculata). The following are 

 aberrant forms : the Gueparde (F. [Cynailurus] jabata), a large-spotted, long- 

 legged form with claws less retractile than in other Felidse ; Africa and Asia ; 

 may also be tamed: the Lynx {F. lynx or Lynx vulgaris) distinguished by its 

 long legs, short tail, and the pencils of hairs on its ears (in the Lynx the first 

 interdigitating tooth of other Felidse is generally wanting, the dental foi-mula 

 being |) |, m i) ; Scandinavia, Russia, etc. ; formerly also in Germany. The 

 extinct Sabre-toothed Oats (Machssrodus) have p — l — , m ^, and thus 

 the molar series is stUl more degenerate than in living Oats, to which, in other 

 respects, they are allied : the canine of the upper jaw is extremely powerful and 

 very long. In another extinct group, the genus Dinictis, there is, on the other 

 hand, a larger number of teeth than in the living forms, one additional inter- 

 digitating tooth and a small tubercular tooth in the lower jaw (the teeth of the 

 upper jaw being as in Felis) : p ^, m ^. 



Order 9. Pinnipedia. 



The Pinnipedia are nearly related to tlie preceding group, with 

 whicli ttey liave many cliaracters in common ; indeed they may be 

 regarded as Carnivora, which have been adapted to a marine life. 



The limbs are short and broad and are turned back ; the proximal 

 part of the fore limb is concealed beneath the skin of the trunk, the 

 free portion bears a superficial resemblance to the pectoral tin of a 

 Fish : the hind limbs lie close to the trunk, with the tips of the feet 

 pointing backwards ; they are enclosed for the greater part of their 

 length within the general skin; in the true Seals they are fixed in this 

 position, but in the Walrus and Eareil Seals they min- be turned so far 



