CARNIVORA. 
115 
modes of preserving their existence ; hut they act 
on different scales, and their relative capabilities 
vary greatly. 
Among the flesh-eating animals, the feline and 
the hyaenas may be considered as purely or perfectly 
carnivorous. Their powers are more or less calcu- 
lated for offensive warfare, and their teeth are not 
adapted to the mastication of any other than animal 
food. 
The carnivorous regimen is the point of perfection 
in this order: we have now, therefore, to seek for 
such animals as come nearest to those already men- 
tioned in this particular. 
The various species known by the generic name 
of weasels, with the exception of a few, which seem 
to have been improperly called by this name, stand 
next in order among the carnivorous quadrupeds, 
since the physical character of the teeth shows, that 
they are destined to seek in flesh their principal 
aliment ; though a slight departure from the carni- 
vorous form, in this respect, indicates a corresponding 
approach to the substitution of a vegetable diet. 
Their disposition, nevertheless, is extremely cruel ; 
but from inferiority in size and powers, they are 
capable only of an inferior degree of mischief. 
They have a large, perfect molar tooth, placed 
behind the carnivorous teeth, in the upper jaw, dif- 
fering materially in shape, situation, and office from 
the auxiliary tooth described as proper to the cat 
tribe. The other cheek-teeth also, although they 
have cutting or- carnivorous lobes on the outer side, 
I 2 
