40 
FIRST CLASS OF THE VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 
tribe remarkable for its great resemblance to Man, and the natural propensity to 
imitate his actions — qualities which are combined with some degree of skill and 
intelligence, a singular liveliness of disposition, and innate fondness for mischief. It 
is said that they form regularly organized bodies in their native forests, and establish 
among themselves a kind of rude police for pillaging or gtiarding the fruits of the 
different districts. The females carry their young in their arms like the Negresses, and 
arc often observed to kiss them tenderly, and frequently to beat or bite them os a 
punishment. This close resemblance between the Ape and the human species when 
in the savage state, will hereafter become the subject of our consideration. 
The Makis, a branch of the Quadruraana, are diminutive like the Apes, whom 
they resemble greatly, both in manners and disposition, but are at once distinguished 
by their pointed muzzle. Tliey Uve mostly on Insects, and are marked by meagre 
and elongated fingers and arms. 
3. Carn.\ssiers.— -After Ibis family we find the Bats, which bear a near relation 
to the preceding, both in general conformation,, and in having their mammae placed 
on the chest. Their wing-like arms, and their elongated fingers attached to a mem- 
braneous expansion, impart the power of flying, or rather of supporting themselves by 
a rapid succession of vaulting movements. They are all of a hideous aspect. The 
young cling to their mother, who gives them the breast even when flying. Unable, 
by the delicacy of their eyes, to endure the full blaze of day, they appear only at night, 
when they vault rather than fly after the insects which form their prey. In the 
warmer climates there are enormous Bats, which live also on the fruits of trees. 
All these animals hang by their thumb-nails in the depths of obscure grottoes, 
caverns, and other retreats, and in our climates they are observed to become torpid 
during the winter. 
The remaining tribes of Carnassiers follow the preceding races, and constitute two 
numerous, as well as interesting families. Among the Inscctivora, we find tlie 
Iledgehog-S (i?r<uacctts), the Shrews (Sbrear), and tlie Moles ( Talpa). Tlu* paws of 
the last ore not very unlike hands in their general appearance, and are used for 
digging in the earth, as well as for climbing and raising food to the mouth. All the 
gjnera of Inscctivora arc fond of darkness and retirement. Among the Carnivora 
we find the family Plantigrada, which walk with the entire soles of the feet upon the 
ground. In thi> first tribe of the Carnivora, we have the Bears ( Ursus)t the Badger 
(Mfles), and a few others — mostly animals of a surly and savage disposition, retiring 
during the wint^T into caverns and other obscure retreats. Among the Digitigrada, 
forming the second family of the Carnivora, we find the Weasels (il/uslc/a), the 
Otters (^Lvtra'), the Civets ( Viverrtt), possessed of a fine and glossy fur, a long and 
slender form, and a light step. Concealing themselves among crevices, they steal 
slyly upon their prey, whose blood they suck with delight. The animals of the 
Genus Alephitis exhale a most iDsupporl.ab]e odour. The Otters frequent the 
borders of streams or the sea shore, and seek their prey in the water. Among the 
move ferocious Digitigrada, we find the Wild Dog, Wolves, Foxes, and Jackalls 
( Canw), with the Ilyajna — animals with a keen sense of smell, hunting togellH‘r in 
packs, and overcoming by force of numbers the most powerful beasts of prey. They 
present a haughty demeanour, an elevated head, and are tunment at onec for bril- 
liancy of instinct, and for sanguinary courage. In the. last quality they are only 
surpassed by the Lion, the Tigers, Leopards, Panthers, and the Lynx, all forming 
part of an extensive genus (^Fclis), of which our domestic Cat is considered the 
type. These animals arc enabled by their strong and retractile claws to climb with 
facility. Their head is round, their eyes glitter in the darkness of night, their 
tongue is roughened like a file, and their teeth are exceedingly powerful. They w.oit 
for their prey ; with a sudden spring they dash it to the ground, and enjoy with ecstasy 
the flesh yet throbbing from the breast of their victim, and the blood still warm from 
its heart. Among the Amphibia, which conclude the long list of Carnassiers, we find 
the Seals (Phoc<t) and the Morse (^lYichec.hus)^ animals which greatly rc.scmble the 
Cetacea in external form and habits, but differ decidedly from them in the structure 
of the teeth. 
4 , lloDENTiA. — The family of Gnawers follow the Carnassiers, from whom they 
arc separated by very distinct characters. We find in them two long cutting teeth, 
in the front of each jaw, no canines, but molars, and intestines of great capacity. 
These timid animals, destined for the most part to gnaw vegetable substance.^, do not 
eat flesh except under extraordinary circumstances. Their hinder legs, and the entire 
hinder part of their body, is stronger than the fore, and tiiey run and leap rapidly. 
Their muzzle is more or less arclurd, their eyes project, yet their sight is not acute, 
but this deficiency is compensated by the fineness of their hearing. Such is the 
general character of the Dormice the Alumnots (Jrciomi/sji the Hamsters 
(^Cricctus), the Field Mice {ArvicolaJj animals W’hich become torpid during the 
winter season; also the Squirrels (^ScivnmJ, the numerous tribes of Bats and Alice 
(Musji the Hares (Lc/ji/sJ, tin? Guinea-Pigs (Caria), the blind Rat (Spalaj:)^ the 
Beavers the Porcupines and some others. We find the most 
singular habits aiul instincts among these animals. The industry of the Beaver.s is 
known to all, and the sagacity and skill with which they fell trees by meaas of their 
powerful tootii, draw them across rivers, form dikes with their liand-likc paws, and 
construct cabins above the water, wficro they amass stores of bark for their main- 
tenance. llieir large and fiat tail serves them as a trowel to work up tho earth with 
which they ferra the walls of their singular masonry. Every one is familiar with the 
nimbleness of the Squirrels (^Scivrus) ; but all arc not aware of that instinct which 
leads them to petd off a piece of bark from a tree, when about to cross a brook. 
Alounling tliis frail boat, with tlieir bushy tail stretched like a sail before the breeze, 
they gain the opposite bank in safety. In the geiiu-s Pteromys, we find the I’iying 
Squirrel? provided with a membrane extending from the fore to the hind feet, so that, 
by stretaiiiig out their limbs, they form a parachute, which assists their groat leaps 
from tree to tree. ]\Iany species of Bats and Field Alice (^Arvicola^, live in 
tliC earth, united together in social bands, where they amass magazines of provisions, 
and construct warm retreats of hay and moss, for their protection during the winter. 
'"I he Hamsters (^Criettus), have large checks, which tney fill with provisions, and 
transport the contents to their subterranean retreats. There arc other Rodentia, such 
as the Lemmings (Lemmws), which emigrate every year, according to the seasons, to 
gather the provisions which Nature has scattered over different countries. Ccrtahi 
species of economical Alice in Tartary, collect so large a quantity of nutritious roots, 
that the people of that inhospitable climate avail themselves of the supply afforded by 
tlieir nests as a provision for themselves during the winter. In the East Indies and 
in Africa, we find Jerboas (^Dipus\ a kind of Rat with hind-legs of so great a length, 
that they arc supported almost in a vertical position, and arc enabled, like grasshop- 
pers, to leap continually, and to an imniense distance. 
6. Edentata. — The first tribe (^Tardigrada) of the Edentata, is composed of 
those singular animals found in America, called Sloths (Brndijpus)^ from the exces- 
sive slowness of their movements. They present some slight resemblance to the 
Alonkey tribes in their general form, and in fbe circumstance of their inammse being 
pectoral, but they are destitute of the front teeth, and instead of hands, cxliibit largo 
crooked nails fitted for climbing on trees. Tliey live entirely upon leaves, and lead a 
life which we would consider melancholy, uttering the most lamentable cries, and 
moving themselves with great apparent difficulty. Of the remaining tribe composing 
the true Edentata, we find that n.aturo has provided some compensating protection for 
the want of canine and incisive teeth, either by bestowing on them scales, placed one 
over the other, resembling the sepals or flowcr-cup-leaves of the artichoke, as may be 
found in the Alanis, or else a bony cuirass of moveable pieces, seen in the Armadilloes 
(^Dasypits). The Ant-eaters (^Myrmecophaga^y are supplied only with hard and 
tufted hair, but being altogether destitute of teeth, they are furnished with an elon- 
gated and viscid tongue, which they extend into the nests of Ants, and these insects, 
adhering to it in numbers, are speedily brought into their mouth. 
6. AIarsui'Ialia. — C ommencing with our first tribe, Didolphida, we find in America, 
the Opossums (^Didelphis), and in New Holland, the Dasyurus — animals which are 
more remarkuble than perhaps any of the preceding. In form, they somewhat resem- 
ble a very small Fox, with a long tail, naked and flexible at will, while their fore- 
paws approach the form of hands. But the singular part of their structure is the 
abdominal pouch found in the females, whicli serves as a double womb. The young 
are produced before their time, and attach themselves inimoveably to the teats of the 
mother, which are placed within the pouch. After their second birth, they retreat 
into this natural pocket, which protects them from the severity of the cold. When 
arrived at a more advanced age, they climb upon the back of their mother, and, by 
means of a long and fle.xible tail, they honk themselves to her tail or limbs, so that 
she is able to carry them when alanned, in this manner, ajid can run or climb trees 
with considerable speed when pursued. Tins tribe is naturally carnivorous, feeding 
on birds and other small prey. The second tribe, Macropoda, of which the Kan- 
garoo (^Afacropus) may be considered the type, contains several remarkable animals, 
some of which arc almost as largo a.s our sheep. They have strong and large hind- 
limbs, with a long and stiff tail, collectively forming a tripod, upon which they stand, 
or rather sit, securely. Li this position they usually remain, for their fore-paws are 
very short, and art used only as hands. Instead of walking, they move nimbly by 
a succession of elevated leaps j but as their feeble progeny are unable to follow their 
mother in this rapid movement, a kind and benevolent Nature has bestowed upon them 
an abdominal pouch, like the Opossums, to transport their young one?. These species 
are of a mild disposition, arc easily tamed, and possess that timidity which wo find 
in most animals living exclusively upon vegetable food. The last tribe (^Alonoirc- 
muta) are also found in New Holland. These quadrupeds are covered either with 
smooth or bristly hair ; hut instead of jaws, they exhibit the singular anomaly of a 
beak exactly resembling that of a Duck, with reproductive organs like the Birds. 
These curious animals frequent the water, and burrow underground. 
Nearly all the genera of which wo Imvc spoken in the preceding outline have 
Clavicles, or collar-bones, which enable them to use their fore-feet for other purposes 
than walking. Tliey can seize various olyccts; their fingers are separate and fur- 
nished with nails, which distinguishes them from the Ungulatod or Fissipedo classes. 
The former arc also, in general, more expert and intelligent than the species of which 
we shall now treat; for the Ungulated animals being less free in tlie motions of their 
limbs, have also less skill and intelligence. Tho Ungulated Mammalia are mostly 
polygamous. That fond affection for their offspring which is found in the Unguicu- 
lated classes, is almost unnecessary with them, as their young arc more precocious, 
that is, they arrive sooner at the full exercise of their faculties than the progeny of 
tlie Unguiculated Alammalia. 
7. Pacuvderhata. — In the first rank of Ungulated Alammalia, we find the 
Elephant distinguished by the superiority of his intelligence from the proper Paohy- 
dermata: Ihese last mentioned animals are, on the contrary, very rude and unintelli- 
gent. They are covered with thinly scattered bristles rather than hair. The form 
of their bodies is clumsy and inelegant. They are fond of wallowing in tho mire, 
and of frequenting the water, or low and moist grounds, where they live on coarso 
food, such as stalks and roots. Their sight is not acute, but their sense of srnellm? 
is very fine. Under the skin, we usually find a (luck layer of lard, which renders 
them hut slightly sensitive, except towards the uoro and mouth. Wc next find thP 
interesting family of the Solipeda, so called from their feet being enveloped in a single 
hoof, such as the Horse, Ass, Zebra, and some other animals, all of tho genus Equtis» 
which are equally fitted, for running rapidly, or for the transportation of burdens. 
8. Rii5nNANTi.\. — Arriving at the nmiinating animals, we hero find the genera of 
the Camel and Dromedary {Camchis)^ the Lama and Vicugna (^Auc.hr.nxa)^ 
Alusk (^Aloschus), tho Elk, Rein-deer, Stag, Fallow-deer the gigantic 
Camelopard (^Ctitiielopardali^')^ the beautiful Gazelles or Antelopes (^Antilopci^j 
Goats (^Capra)t the Sheep (Oeis), tho Buffalo, Musk-Ox, and common Ox 
and many others of great interest. All these animals are readily marked by their 
cloven feet, that is, their feet divided into two hoofs, by the horn.s which most of 
them possess, and by tho want of front teeth in the upper jaw. Those ruminating 
animals naturally without horns, like the Camels, Vicugna, and Alu^k, find an cqn»' 
vfilent in the canine teeth of their upper-jaw. Among tho Deer, tho horns arc 
branched, and fall each year after the rutting season, when their warlike ardour i* 
over. In the other genera, tho horns are hollow, and fit firmly into a bony recep- 
tacle, which prevents them from falling. AH these animals food on grass or leaves » 
they have four stomachs, and ruminate, that is, they restore their food a second 
