MARSHALING OF THE RANKS. 
67 
lions with each other. I repeat that I have no doubt of the 
northern panther (chat cervier) having once lived in our forests as 
well as the glutton. Two (guetteurs) ambushers. 
Group of slaughterers or blood-drinkers (mustelians), animals 
recognizable by their pointed muzzle, their narrow waist, and 
their fetid odor ; the most ferocious and the most sanguinary of 
all animals, preferring blood to flesh. The slaughterers kill for the 
pleasure of killing, and get drunk with delight on the blood of 
their victims, which they bleed in the jugular vein like true prac- 
titioners. Eight species, of which one only is domestic : Marten, 
beech marten, skunk, mink, ferret, weasel, ermine, and erminette. 
One ambiguous genus : the fish hunting otter, an amphibious 
creature, destined to supply the fishing dog : Unique species. 
Finally the group of ambiguous sleepers, lazy fellows, hunters, 
dainty enough of flesh, but who accommodate themselves quite as 
well to fruits and honey, and who sleep upon their fat a great 
part of the cold season. Two species : the bear and the badger. 
The civilized nomenclature calls this genus the 'plantigrade, 
walking upon the sole, to distinguish them from the digitigrade 
(dog, cat) which walk upon their toes. I have found this distinc- 
tion insufficient, like that of mustelians, which means stretched rat. 
Slaughterer or blood- drinker is better undeniably. Total num- 
ber of species in the series of hunters : Sixteen. 
Series of Proboscidians or of gluttons. Hideous omnivora, en- 
dowed with unequaled voracity and sensuality, preferring animal 
nourishment, but making food out of every thing. Distinctive 
character of the family : the snout, sign of luxury, of avarice, and 
filthiness, whence the name proboscidian. Five groups : Boar or 
hog, hedgehog, mole (two varieties), desman, shrew mouse (three 
species). Total number of species in the series : Nine. 
Series of (Rongeurs) Rodentia, Gnawers. I shall willingly 
preserve the name which this series holds in civilized science, 
although that of ravagers is more to the purpose. It is the natu- 
ral family that counts most species in France. It encloses three 
principal groups, and is connected with all the other series by a 
number of ambigus.. The two distinctive characters of The gnawer 
are, to bear in each jaw two incisive teeth of extreme length ; next. 
