THE

THIRD ORDER

OF THE

MAMMALIA.

THE CARNASSIERS

THESE form a considerable and very various assemblage of unguiculated quadrupeds, which, like man and the quadrumana, possess the three kinds of teeth. They all subsist on animal matter, and more exclusively so in proportion as their cheekteeth are more of a trenchant character. Such of them as have these teeth altogether or in part tuberculous, also take more or less of vegetable substances, while those who have them bristling with conical points, principally subsist on insects. The articulation of their lower jaw, directed cross-wise, and clasping like a hinge, does not allow of any horizontal motion; it can only shut and open

Their brain, although tolerably furrowed, has no third lobe, nor does it form a second covering for the cerebellum in these animals any more than in the families which succeed them. The orbit is not separated from the fossa temporalis in their skeleton. Their cranium is narrow, and the zygomatic

VOL. II.

B

arcades are dispersed, and elevated, to give more volume and force to the muscles of their jaws. The predominant sense with these animals is that of smelling, and the pituitary membrane is usually extended over very numerous bony laminæ. Their fore-arm can turn, but with less facility than in the Quadrumana, and they have no thumbs on the forefeet opposable to the other fingers. Their intestines are less voluminous, in consequence of the substantial nature of their aliments, and to avoid the putrefaction that flesh must undergo if it remained for any time in an elongated canal.

In other particulars their forms and the details of their organization vary considerably, and produce analogous varieties in their habits to such a degree as to render it impossible to range their genera upon a single scale. We are therefore obliged to divide them into several families, which are variously connected together by very numerous relations.

THE FIRST FAMILY OF THE CARNASSIERS.

The CHEIROPTERA

Have still some affinity with the Quadrumana by the pendulous penis, and the mammæ situated on the breast. Their distinctive character consists in a fold of skin extended between their fore-feet and their fingers, which sustains them in the air, and even enables them to fly, when the hands are sufficiently developed for that purpose. This arrange. ment demanded powerful clavicles and large shoul

der-blades to give the shoulder the requisite degree of solidity; but it was incompatible with the rotation of the fore-arm, which would have weakened the force of the impetus necessary for flight. All of these animals have four large canine teeth, but the number of the incisors vary. They have long been divided into two genera according to the extent of their organs of flying; but the first of these two requires many subdivisions.

The BATS (Vespertilio, Linn.)

Have the arms, the fore-arms, and the fingers extremely elongated, and those with the membrane which fills up the intervals between them, form real wings, as much extended as those of birds. Accordingly the bats fly to a considerable height and with great rapidity. Their pectoral muscles possess a thickness proportioned to the movements which they are designed to execute, and in the middle of the sternum is a ridge like that of birds, to form a point of attachment for these muscles. The thumb is short and armed with a hooked nail, which these animals make use of to hang by and to creep. Their hind-feet are weak, divided into five toes of equal length and all of them are armed with nails. There is no cæcum to their intestines. Their eyes are extremely little, but their ears are often remarkably large; and, together with their wings, form an enormous extent of membranous surface. This is almost naked, and so sensible, that the bats can di

rect themselves into all the nooks of the labyrinth in which they nestle, even after their eyes have been taken out, probably by the diversity of impulsions from the external air. They are nocturnal animals, and in our climates pass the winter in a lethargic state. During the day they remain suspended in obscure retreats. They generally have two little ones at a birth, which they hold clinging to their breasts, and the size of which is very considerable in proportion to that of their mother.

This genus is very numerous, and contains several subdivisions.

At first they must be divided into

The ROUSSETTES, (Pteropus, Briss.)

Which have sharp incisors in each jaw, and cheekteeth with flat crowns, or more properly with two longitudinal and parallel projections, which are separated by a furrow, and wear away in course of time by attrition. From this conformation, as it might naturally be presupposed, they subsist principally upon fruits. They are, however, sufficiently dexterous in the pursuit of birds and the smaller quadrupeds. These are the largest of the bat-kind, and their flesh is used for food. Their habitat is the East Indies.

The membrane in this subdivision is sloped to a considerable depth between the legs. There is scarcely any tail. The fore-finger, about one half shorter than the middle, has a third phalanx and a little nail which is wanting in the other bats: but

the other fingers have only two phalanges. The nose is simple, the ears small, and without parotides, and the tongue furnished with prickles, bent backwards. The stomach is a sack considerably elongated and unequally inflated.

1. ROUSSETTES without tails, with four incisors in each jaw. The Black Roussette, (Pterop. edulis, Geoff)

Of a brownish black, deeper in the under parts. Near four feet from the extremity of one wing to that of the other. An inhabitant of the Sunda and Molucca islands, where these animals conceal themselves in caverns. The flesh is remarkably delicate.

The Roussette of Edwards, (Pter. Edwardsii, Geoff.)

Fawn-colour, with the back of a deep brown.
Habitat, Madagascar.

The Roussette of Buffon, (Pterop. vulgaris, Geoff.) Buff. X. XIV.

Brown, the face and sides of the back fawncoloured. From the Isles of France and Bourbon, where they inhabit the trees in the forests.

The Collared Roussette. Rougette of Buffon. (Pter.rubricollis, Geoff.) Buff. X. xvII.

Grayish brown, the neck red. From the same isles, where it lives in the hollow trees.