Text book of zoology / by J.E.V. Boas ; translated by J.W. Kirkaldy and E.C. Pollard.

Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Text book of zoology / by J.E.V. Boas ; translated by J.W. Kirkaldy and E.C. Pollard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    5. The Civet Family (Viverridie). p ^, m |; sectorial portion of the molar series preponderatingly developed. Small animals, resembling the Martens, with elongate Ijody and short legs. In the warmer parts of the Old World. The following may be noted: the Civet Oat (Viverra), one species of which, the Genet (F. genetta), inliabits Sonth Eiu-ope and Noi-th Africa; and the Mongoose (Horpestes ichneumon), of Africa and India. 6. The Hyasna Family (Hyuenidx). pi mi Large, long-legged, wolf-like, fairly long-tailed animals ; digitigrade. In the Old World, The species of the genus Hynma are cavrion feeders; the genns Proteles of South Africa, ■with very feeble, small, cusped molars, preys chiefly upon lambs. 7. The Oat Family {Felidip). p f, m i ; tubercular poi-tion of the molar series rudimentary. Slim, elongate animals, with roundish head, long tail; four toes on the hind foot, very much cui'ved, compressed and pointed claws ; digiti- grade; feed almost entirely on warm-blooded animals. The Lion (Felis leo), of a imiform, tawny colom*; male with mane; Africa, West Asia, foimerly in South- East Europe: the extinct (Quarternary) Cave Lion, (jP. speh'.a), is a near rela- tive. The Tiger (F. iigris), with transverse stripes; Asia. The Jaguar [F. onca), in the Southern districts of America ; and the Leopard or Panther {F. parchis) of which there are several varieties in Africa and Southern Asia, large, with circular spots. The Puma or Cougar {F. concolor) of median size and imiform colour; in South America and in most of North America (the Panther of the Americans). Smaller forms are: the Tiger Cats, various small spotted forms {F. tigrina and others); the Wild Cats {F. catus), in Central and South Eiu-ope, similar in colour to the grey Domestic- Oat, hut shoi-ter tailed; the Domestic Cat {F. domestica), which is apparently a descendant of the Nubian Wild Cat (F. manicidata). The following are abeiTant forms : the Gueparde {F. [C^jnailurus] jubata), a large-spotted, long- legged form with claws less retractile than in other FeUdse; Africa and Asia; may also be tamed: the Lynx {F. lynx or Lynx vulgaris) distinguished by its long legs, short tail, and the pencils of hairs on its ears (in the Lynx the first interdigitating tooth of other FeKdse is generally wanting, the dental formula being |, m i); Scandinavia, Russia, etc.; formerly also in Germany. The extinct Sabre-toothed Cats (Machxrodus) have p y^^, ni \, and thus the molar series is still more degenerate than in living Cats, to which, in other respects, they are allied : the canine of the upper jaw is exti-emely powerful and very long. In another extinct group, the genus Dinictis, there is, on the other hand, a larger number of teeth than in the living forms, one additional inter- digitating tooth and a small tubercular tooth in the lower jaw (the teeth of the upper jaw being as in Felis) : p ^, m ^. Order 9. Pimiipedia. Tlie Pinnipedia are nearly related to the preceding group, with which they have many characters in common; indeed they may be regarded as Carnivora, which have been adapted to a marine life. The limbs are short and broad and are turned back; the proximal part of the fore limb is concealed beneath the skin of the trunk, the free portion bears a superficial resemblance to the pectoral tin of a Fish: the hind limbs lie close to the trunk, with the tips of the feet pointing backwards; they are enclosed for the greater part of their length within the general skin; in the true Seals they are fixed in this position, but in the Walrus and Eared Seals they may be turned so far