Caruivoba. MAMMALIA. Carnivora. 71 
would unfold itself and run off unhurt.” This last- 
not including the rudimentary tail, which is only three- 
mentioned phenomenon appears to give some clue to 
quarters of an inch long. The jaws are armed with 
the ridiculous story of the hedgehog’s voluntary falls 
thirty-six teeth — that is, eight incisors, six above and 
from the hranches of fruit-trees ; at all events, the cir- 
two below, and twenty-eight molars. The ears are 
cumstance illustrates the well-known remark, that all 
short and oval, the eyes being bright and distinct. 
widely-spread notions, however false and egregious, 
At the lower part of the body the spines degenerate, as 
have their origin in some misinterpreted faet or other 
it were, into mere bristles and stout hairs. The 
element of truth. Hedgehogs are readily tamed, and 
animal’s habits are essentially nocturnal, and during 
are, we believe, still kept by a few persons to eat up 
the winter it remains in a torpid state, hybernating in 
cockroaches and other noxious insects which infest our 
the hollows of decayed trees and similar secure retreats. 
houses. Some aver that the flesh is good eating, but 
The nest is carefully constructed and rain-proof. In 
others dispute its merits in this respect ; gipsies, at any 
the early part of the summer the female produces from 
rate, will cook and eat them. Without entering into 
two to four young ones at a birth, their skin being 
a lengthened description, we may remark that a full- 
covered with soft white elastic bristles, which in a very 
grown example measures about nine and a half inches. 
few days assume the ordinary hard spinous character. 
Order V.— CAENIVOEA. 
In the arrangement of Cuvier, this eminently carni- 
tusks, while the majority of the molars are trenchant 
vorous group of animals constitutes the third family of 
or cutting, two only being tuberculated, and these 
those unguiculated mammals, which he associated 
belonging to the upper series. In other Carnivora we 
together under the common title of Carnassiers. It is 
find a larger number of tuberculated molars ; and so 
in these Carnivora, properly so called, that we observe 
uniformly is the balance of structure and function 
the highest development of physical force combined 
marked by this peculiarity, that the degree of tubercu- 
with a purely zoophagous appetite. If, for example. 
lation on the one hand, and of sharpness on the other. 
we examine the skeleton of a lion, we shall find its 
affords a very accurate indication as to the amount of 
mechanism specially adapted for the purposes of active 
carnivority possessed by any one particular species. 
pursuit, and for the employment of overbearing 
According to Professor Owen, only four of the fourteen 
strength (Plate 33, fig. 105). The skull is short, broad. 
molars are true, the other ten being what are termed 
and massive, the hind part supporting at the vertex a 
spurious, false, or pre-molars. The vertebral column 
longitudinal ridge or crest. The object of this median 
of the lion is amazingl}’- strong, yet, at the same time, 
elevation is to afford attachment to the powerful tem- 
very flexible ; this combination of strength and elasticity 
poral muscles which act upon and are inserted into the 
being particularly well seen in the bones of the neck. 
base of the lower jaw. The several hones of the face, 
where the first two segments, termed the atlas and 
and consequently those of the jaw, bear a remarkable 
dentata, are remarkably enlarged, the transvere pro- 
contrast to the same osseous elements in the order 
cesses of the former and the spinous process of the 
previously considered; for, whereas in the latter we 
latter also affording admirable support and attachment 
invariably notice a more or less marked attenuation 
to those museles which act upon the occiput. There 
towards the snout, in the lion and other typical Carni- 
are thirteen ribs, but the number varies in different 
vora we find the facial bones terminating abruptly in 
genera. The skeletal elements of the fore-limbs dis- 
a broad and short muzzle. The orbital fossse are spa- 
play evidence of great power. The scapula or 
cious, in order to accommodate the largely-developed 
shoulder-blade, is particularly broad ; the upper end of 
eyes. That part of the temporal bone immediately 
the humerus, or arm-bone, it, is specially enlarged to 
connected with the function of hearing, is remarkably 
give insertion to the strong muscles of the shoulder ; 
developed for the purpose of exaggerating the power 
the radius, s, and the ulna, T, together with the bones 
of appreciating the most delicate sonorous vibrations — 
of the carpus, u, and metacarpus, v, are likewise cor- 
a circumstance obviously connected with the animal’s 
respondingly stout and powerful. In the lion and 
nocturnal habits. From the internal surface of the 
other digitigrade Carnivora — that is, those which walk 
occipital and parietal bones a peculiar shelf-like osseous 
on the tips of their toes — the ultimate digital phalanges. 
plate projects, so as to divide the cerebral cavity into 
w, are curiously modified for the support and protec- 
two or more parts ; in the living state these osseous 
tion of their terrible claws. The extremity of each 
laminae occupy the narrow interspaces between the 
phalanx is invested by the hooked nail, the base being 
principal divisions of the brain, and they are evidently 
also deeply grooved and hollowed out for the lodge- 
intended to protect the great nervous centre from 
ment and fixation of its root. With regard to the 
injury, during the violent and oft-repeated shocks to 
posterior pair of limbs, the femora, H, tibiae, i, and 
which the animal’s habits necessarily expose it. The 
fibulae, K, do not exhibit any more remarkable features 
prodigiously strong jaws are armed with thirty teeth. 
than those referable to an increased power ; the calca- 
twelve of these being well-developed incisors, six 
neum or heel-bone, L, is bulky, and with the metatar- 
above and the same number below ; the four canines 
sals, M, directed vertically upwards. This arrangement 
are long and stout, having almost the appearance of 
facilitates the actions of springing and leaping. The 
