

i8 



ZOOLOGICAL 





the whole of Tibet and northwards to beyond the Altai Mountains. In an 

 easterly direction it reaches Ainurland and the island of Saghahen. 



Of the smaller Old- World members of the genus Felis may be mentioned 

 the Clouded Leopard (F. nebulosa) of South-eastern Asia ; the Serval (F. 

 served), found throughout Africa • the Caffre or Egyptian Cat (F. cafra), 

 an African species of special interest as being the probable ancestor of 

 our domestic pets, and also because it was held sacred by the ancient 

 Egyptians • and the Wild Cat (F. catus). The last-named species is widely 

 distributed on the continent of Europe, and in former times was a common 

 inhabitant of our own islands. At the present day, however, it is confined 

 to the northern mountainous districts of Scotland, where it is becoming 

 more scarce every year. 



In the New World 35 species of Felis are met with, chief of which are 

 the Puma and the Jaguar. The Puma (F. concolor)—see map— sometimes 

 called the Cougar, has an exceedingly wide distribution, its range of latitude 

 probably surpassing that of any other Mammal. Erom the Great Slave 

 Lake and New England in the north, to Patagonia (and perhaps Tierra del 

 Euego) in the south, it is of pretty general distribution, though becoming 

 scarcer with the march of civilisation. In North America it inhabits princi- 

 pally the Western States, occurring most numerously in Northern Washington. 

 In accordance with the great latitudinal range which it covers, the Puma is 

 subject to a wide variation of temperature, but it is equally at home tracking 

 its prey in the snow or wandering in hot, fetid swamps. It is an expert 

 climber, occurring in the Andes at 11,000 feet, and also lives in the 

 open pampas and prairies. The Jaguar (F. onca) — see map — is another 

 very wide-ranging American cat, but does not occur so far north as the 

 Puma. It occurs from Texas and Northern Mexico to 40° S. latitude in 

 Northern Patagonia. 



The second genus of Felidse, (Lynx) is that containing the Caracal and 

 the Lynxes, the latter being the most northern representatives of the family. 

 The former (L. caracal) is an animal inhabiting Western Asia from the 

 Transcaspian district to the Eastern Himalayas, and also in Arabia and the 

 greater part of Africa. The true Lynxes, eight in number, are found in the 

 northern and temperate regions of both Old and New Worlds. Five of these 

 are peculiar to North America, while the other three are European and 

 Asiatic. A good deal of difference of opinion exists among zoologists as to 

 the distinctness of all these species, some authorities contending that both 

 Old and New World forms are mere varieties of one. The northern Lynx of 

 the Old World (Lynx lynx) inhabits Europe and Northern Asia, from 

 Scandinavia to the Amur district and Saghalien. It seems to have been 

 exterminated from Central Europe, but in Asia it still extends southwards 

 as far as the Himalayas. Its remains have been found in caverns in Britain, 

 but there is no evidence of its occurrence within the historic period. The 

 American species range from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the 

 Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay to Southern California, or even to Mexico. 



The third and last genus of Felidss is that known as Cynailurus. Only 

 one species is known (C '. jubatus), which is popularly called the Cheetah or 

 Hunting Leopard. This animal is found in Southern and Western Asia, 

 from Syria and the Caspian region to Central and Western India, and 

 throughout Africa from Algeria and Egypt to the Cape. In South Africa a 

 form occurs (originally described as a distinct species) in which the body is 

 stouter and covered with a thicker and more woolly fur. 



The skins of a number of species belonging to this family are of value in 

 commerce, notably the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Puma, and tlie Lynxes. They 

 are principally used for rugs, carriage wraps, and saddle-cloths. Of the 

 Canadian Lynx (L. canadensis) from 20,000 to 50,000 skins are annually 

 brought into the market. 



At least 80 fossil species of Felidse have been described. Of these 50 

 form a separate and extinct sub-family (Machserodinse), and their distri- 

 bution is mainly North American and European. 



ORDER RODENTIA (2664 Species). 



The Order of Rodents, or Gnawing Mammals, is a vast assemblage of 

 small or medium-sized animals, all characterised by the habit of gnawing, 

 for which purpose they are provided with a pair of incisor teeth in each jaw, 

 which grow continuously throughout life and which, by their peculiar 

 method of wearing, are always kept chisel-shaped. In this, the largest of 

 the Mammalian Orders, two Sub-Orders are sometimes recognised, the first 

 of which (Duplicidentata) contains only the families Leporidse. and Ochotonidse, 

 and is characterised by the presence of two pairs of incisor teeth in the 

 upper jaw. The second Sub-Order (Simplicidentata), whose members only 

 possess a single pair of such teeth in each jaw, contains all the other families, 

 and is divided into three sections which are distinguished by anatomical 

 characters of a nature that need not be discussed here. 



Rodents are cosmopolitan in their distribution, the families having the 

 widest range being the Leporidse, Hystricidse, ticiuridse and Muridse,. The 

 last-named possesses representatives in all the regions, while the other three 

 are only absent from the Australian region. The Ochotonidee and Jaculidse 

 are somewhat widely distributed in both North America and the Old World, 

 while the Octodontidse are almost exclusively Neotropical and Ethiopian and 

 the Gastoridse Nearctic and Pakearctic. The Spalacidse and Myoxidse are 

 purely Old World inhabitants ; the Lophiomyidss, Pedetidse, Bathyergidse 

 and Anomaluridss are confined to the Ethiopian region ; the Geomyidse and 

 Htvplodontidse, only occur in North and Central America; while lastly the 

 Gaviidse, Dinomyidse and Chinchillidse are entirely Neotropical in their dis- 

 tribution, and the Dasyproctidae. mainly so. 



LEPORID-ffi (Hares and Rabbits ; 139 Species). Plate 6, Map i. 



Hares and Rabbits are of extremely wide distribution, and are found 

 truly indigenous in all the zoological regions save the Australian. Although 



in Australia and New Zealand Rabbits are at the present day so numerous 

 as to constitute a veritable pest, yet their presence is entirely due to human 

 agency. Only three pairs are stated to have been first turned down in the 

 former country, while now the skins annually exported must be reckoned 

 by millions. 



The typical Hares of the genus Lepus are widely spread in both the 

 Old and New World. Of the 94 described species 41 are Palsearctic and 28 

 Nearctic, 19 are Ethiopian, and the remaining half dozen Oriental. The 40 

 species classed together under the genus Sylvilagus are purely American, 

 and the only South American members of the family (about a dozen in 

 number) are placed here. The Common Rabbit is believed to have had its 

 original home in the Spanish Peninsula and other regions in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Mediterranean. This familiar animal has been introduced into 

 many parts of the world, and its nearest relative is a species found in South 

 Africa, the two forming the genus Oryctolagus. 



The British Isles possess three representatives of the Leporidse, viz. the 

 Common Hare (Lepus europseus), the Alpine or Mountain Hare (Lepus 

 timidus) and the Common Rabbit (Oryctolagus cunicidus). The first of 

 these occurs over the whole of England and the greater part of Scotland 

 but is absent from Ireland. On the other hand, the Mountain Hare occurs 

 throughout the hilly and mountainous portions of Scotland and Ireland, but 

 in England is not indigenous. The third British species is the Common 

 Rabbit, which is abundant in most districts. 



About a dozen species of this family are represented by remains in the 

 Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene beds of Europe and North America. 



OCHOTONIM (Picas ; 23 Species). Plate 6, Map i. 



These pretty little animals, called also Tailless Hares and Mouse Hares, 

 occur principally in the elevated and desert regions of Northern and Central 

 Asia, a single species just ranging into South-eastern Europe. Seven species 

 occur in the New World, being found in the Rocky and other mountains 

 from Alaska to California. The Picas are shy and active creatures, living 

 chiefly in burrows or the crevices of rocks. Several extinct species have 

 been described, all but one from the European Tertiary beds. Ochotona 

 pusillus, the species inhabiting South-eastern Europe, formerly occurred in 

 Great Britain, as evidenced by its remains found in caverns. 



DASYPROCTID^ or AGOUTIDJE (Agouties and Pacas ; 23 Species). 

 Plate 6, Map ii. 



The few species belonging to this family are peculiar to the Neotropical 

 region. One species only is found in the West Indies, occurring in the 

 Lesser Antilles ; six are confined to Mexico and Central America ; one, 

 known as the Paca (Agouti pacci) ranges from Mexico to Southern Paraguay; 

 while the remainder are restricted to South America. These elegant rodents 

 are chiefly nocturnal in habit, and dwell in forests or along the banks of 

 rivers, A single fossil species is known, from the Pleistocene of Southern 

 Brazil. 



CAVIIM (Cavies ; 19 Species). Plate 6, Map iii. 



The Cavies, of which the domesticated Guinea Pig (Guiana Pig) is the 

 most familiar example, range over practically the whole of South America, 

 but are absolutely unknown beyond its limits. They are pretty equally 

 distributed over the continent, and the best-known species of the typical 

 genus is that bearing the name of Kestless Cavy ( Cavia porcellus). This 

 creature is generally supposed to be the ancestor of the domestic pet, 

 and ranges from Guiana to the Rio de la Plata. The Patagonian Cavies 

 (Dolichotis patagonica and magellanica) extend the range of the family 

 southwards to beyond the 50th parallel. The Capybara (Hydrochcerus capy- 

 bara) is noteworthy as being the largest living rodent. This giant of the 

 Order attains a length of about four feet and is found throughout the whole 

 of the eastern part of South America. It is entirely aquatic in its habits, 

 possessing webbed feet, and frequenting the borders of lakes and rivers. 



More than 50 extinct species of this family are recognised, the great 

 majority of which are from the Tertiary beds of the Argentine Republic. 



DINOMYID^I (Dinomys ; 1 Species). Plate 6, Map iii. 



This family can be dismissed in a few words, since the only represen- 

 tative is the extremely rare creature known as Dinomys branickii. This 

 strange rodent, resembling the Paca in general appearance, was first de- 

 scribed in 1873 from an example said to" have been found wandering in 

 an orchard near a town in Peru. No other example was seen until the 

 year 1904, when Dr. E. A. Goeldi, Director of the Goeldi Museum, Para, 

 received a pair alive in a cage. These animals are described as being of a 

 peaceful and phlegmatic disposition, and devouring great quantities of food, 

 during the disposal of which they maintain an erect position on the hind feet. 



CHINCHILLID^I or VISCACILTLE (Chinchillas and the Viscacha ; 

 14 Species). Plate 6, Map ii. 



The members of this small family are of very limited geographical range, 

 the species of true Chinchilla, belonging to the genera Chinchilla and 

 Lagidium, being confined to the Higher Andes from Peru to the Argentine 

 and Southern Chili, while the animals known as Viscachas ( Viscacia viscacia 

 and allies), on the contrary, inhabit the open pampas of Argentina. The 

 Chinchillas possess long bushy tails and beautifully soft fur, for the sake of 

 which they are much persecuted. About 30,000 skins are annually brought 

 into the market, the finest of which realise about £5 each. These animals 

 live in burrows in companies of twenty and upwards, and while the Viscachas 

 are mainly nocturnal, seldom venturing out before dusk, the Chinchillas, on 

 the other hand, are frequently met with during the daytime. 



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