AQUATIC CARNIVORA 
characters a little more in detail. In the first place 
we must distinguish two kinds of carnivora: there are 
the land forms, the tiger, bears, raccoons, weasels, and 
so forth ; and secondly, there is the remarkable group 
of the seals, sea lions, and walrus. The latter are purely 
aquatic creatures, with feet converted, so to speak, 
into fins by the aid of which they can swim, and are 
on that account termed pinnipedia; the land forms 
have been called by the corresponding name of Fissi- 
pedia. The former group is dealt with later under the 
heading “Sea Lion.’ As to the land carnivora, the 
Zoological Gardens always contain a large assortment 
of various forms. The land carnivora are spread all 
over the world, with the exception of New Zealand, 
and are chiefly to be found in the tropics of both worlds. 
Strictly perhaps we ought to except Australia from 
the list of those countries which contain carnivora, for 
the only representative of the order occurring therein 
is the dingo dog, concerning whose origin and habita- 
tion of Australia there is some dispute. It has been 
held that that dog is not an indigene, but has accom- 
panied the black man in his travels. The carnivora 
are somewhat diversified in their habits, as is natural 
with so extensive a group. There are, in the first place, 
purely slaying and killing carnivora, such as the lion, 
tiger, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, and several cats. These 
are solitary, or at times go about in families. The 
pack-hunting wolves, more entirely ground living than 
the cat tribe, form another assemblage. But while 
many carnivores live largely in trees, there is no type 
known which has become modified in the direction of 
“flight,” such as is seen among the arboreal rodents 
and marsupials. Nor is there any underground Car- 
nivora. The aquatic forms among the usually ter- 
restrial fissipeda are not very many. We have the 
otters of our own rivers, and those of other parts of the 
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