340 
MAMMALIA. 
mere rudiments. The conclusion to be drawn from this fact is, 
that these animals do not possess a power of mastication suit- 
able for feeding on tough and muscular flesh, and that therefore 
something more easy of mastication, owing to the commencement 
of decomposition, is necessary for their nutriment. Observation 
has confirmed these conjectures. The Aard Wolf lives princi- 
pally on the flesh of very young or immature Ruminants. It, 
however, will occasionally attack adult Sheep, or equally defence- 
less animals. They also are frequenters of grave-yards. 
There is not much known about the habits of this animal. It [ 
has, however, been ascertained that it digs burrows, in which 
it retires during daylight. It is a native of Southern Africa, the 
Mozambique Coast, Nubia, and Abyssinia. 
The Felim:. — The Feline or Cat tribe form a strongly marked 
and easily characterised family. 
They have a round head ; jaws short, and consequently very 
powerful, armed with sharp teeth ; the tongue bristling with 
horny papillce, which produce the same sensation as a rasp when 
drawn across the bare skin, wounding by mere licking ; they 
possess five toes on the front and four on the hind feet ; claws 
sharp-cutting, pointed, and retractile, except in the Hunting 
Leopard ; eyes yellow, and organised for nocturnal vision ; the i 
ears well open, but slightly developed. If, to these various 
features, we add a digiti grade tread, an elegant shape, and an | 
astonishing degree of suppleness and activity enabling them to 
spring immense distances, we shall be able to form some general 
idea of these formidable quadrupeds. 
And, in fact, most formidable they are ! for amongst them are 
found the Lion, Tiger, Panther, &c., — the largest, the best armed, j 
and the most sanguinary of the Carnivorous Order. They feed, I 
except in rare cases, on none but living victims, the palpitating 
flesh of which they rend to pieces with savage energy. Although 
the various species differ much in size, they are all alike in their 
mode of attacking, their method of contending with, and ulti- 
mately killing, their victims. As a rule, they take them by sur- 
prise ; for they are not possessed of that courage which people are 
pleased to attribute to them. Crouched in some hidden retreat, 
silently and patiently they await their prey ; and as soon as within 
