LECTURE IIL 93 



«L' GLIRES. 



We are now to survey the remaining Orders 

 of the Linnasan Mammaha, having passed through 

 the three first. 



The fourth Order is entitled Glires or Sleepers, 

 from the Latin word Glis, signifying an animal of 

 the Dormouse tribe, . 



The English term Sleepers j proposed by some 

 Zoologists, .must be confessed to be much too 

 vague a term ; since, though several Quadrupeds 

 of this order lie dormant during a good part of 

 the winter, yet the major part do not. The priii- 

 cipal character of the animals of this order con- 

 sists in a pair of very conspicuous, strong, and 

 lengthened teeth, placed close together in the 

 front of both jaws. They have no canine teeth, 

 but are furnished with grinders on each side. 



The first assortment or genus of the Glires is 

 that of Hystrix or Porcupine^ which, exclusive of 

 the teeth, such as just mentioned, is distinguished, 

 as every one knows, by the extraordinary covering 

 of its body, which is beset, all over the upper parts. 



