196 CALIFORNIA MAMMADS. 



Order FerSB. (The Flesh-eating Mammals.) 

 Digits never less than four to the foot, each bearing a cl'aw ; 

 first and second digits not opposable as thumb and finger; teeth 

 rooted, of three kinds, incisors, canines and molars ; canine teeth 

 prominent; condyles of lower jaw semiclindrical and placed trans- 

 versely; clavicle incomplete or absent; radius and ulna distinct; 

 .scaphoid and lunar consolidated in one bone; stomach simple, 

 pyriform; placenta deciduous and usuall}' zonary; mammas ab- 

 doiminal. 



This order is often called the Carnivora because of the flesh 

 eating propensities of its members. A few species live partly on 

 fruits or vegetable materials, but all eat some flesh and the major- 

 ity feed on freshly killed flesh almost exclusively. Many species 

 rank high in intelligence and some are capable of useful domesti- 

 cation. 



Suborder Pinnipedia. Seals. 



Limbs short, fin-like, being useful only for swimming; first 

 toe of front foot and first and fifth of hind foot longest ; toes fully 

 webbed ; body prostrate ; tail rudimentary ; ears very sinall or 

 lacking; eyes large and' exposed, with flat cornea; no clavicles; 

 skull constricted interorbitally ; orbital f osste very large ; rostrum 

 short and broad ; milk teeth rudimentary and usually lost soon af- 

 ter birth; incisors varying in number with genus; canines length- 

 ened. 



Seals are abundant along Arctic seashores, common along 

 those of temperate regions, but are less common in the tropics, 

 where they are unknown on many coasts. The food of seals con- 

 sists principally of fish, some species also adding crustaceans and 

 mollusks. The fish are caught by pursuit in the water. 



Seals are expert swimmers and spend the greater part of 

 their time under water. They must come to the surface to breathe 

 evei"y few minutes, and they come ashore occasionally to rest oi 

 bask in the sun. Most species never venture more than a few 



