CARNI'VORA, a term generally applicable to any creatures that feed on flesh or animal substances, but definitely applied to that order of the M'ammalia which prey upon other animals.
The forms of this order are varied, and the number of species considerable. Furnished like Nan and the Quadrumana with three sorts of teeth, and nails or claws on the feet, they entirely differ from those two orders in never having the thumbs of the anterior extremity capable of being opposed to the other fingers. The greater or less development of their molar teeth as cutting or lacerating instruments seems to determine the kind of animal food fitted.for their support. Those Carnirora which have their molars totally or partially tuber culated partake of a diet in which vegetables form a greater or less proportion, and those which have them serrated as it were with points live principally on insects. There are other modifications of these molars, fitting them for crushing bones or dividing animal muscle, according to the exigency of the animal ; but in all, as a general rule, the articulation of the jaw does not permit of horizontal movement, the power being simply that of opening and shutting, upwards and downwards, like a pair of shears.
In their general organisation the prevailing feature of the skull is the groat development of the zygomatie arch, affording room for the action of the powerful muscles that work the trenchant jaw ; the orbit in not separated from the temporal forma. The articulation of the bones of the fore-arm in most of the Carnirora is so constructed as to allow of free motion, though in a degree inferior to that bestowed on the Quadrumana. The brain (cerebrum) is considerable in hulk, well marked, but without a third lobe, and does not cover the cerebellum. Of all the senses that of smelling seems to be in the highest perfection, the pituitary membrane being extended over a manifold labyrinth of bony plates. The intestines are comparatively abort, the nature of their food requiring loss elaboration than that necessary for the extraction of nourishment from vegetables.
envier gives the name of Came/Wens (Flesh-Eaters) to the order, and divides it into the following families : I. Cheiropttra.
These, as he observes, have still some affinities with the Quadra Mann, as is innnifested by the pendulous genital organ of the male, and the position of the teats of the female on the breast. Their
distinguishing character consists of a fold of the skin, which rising at the aide of the neck is extended between the fore feet and the fingers or toes, so as to suspend the animal in the air, and in those genera which have the bones of the hand sufficiently developed to spreaxl sufficient extent of this membranous skin, there is a power of executing all the evolutions required for flight. Strong calvielos and large shoulder-blades were required for this feat, and we accordingly find great strength and solidity thrown into those parts ; but as the rotatory motion of the fore-arm would have been worse than useless, inasmuch as it would have weakened the force of the impulse of the membranous wing, and would have consequently lessened the power of flying, we find it almost entirely absent. Four great canine teeth are found in all the genera of this large family ; but the number of their incisors varies. Some idea will be formed of the arrangement of the teeth in the Chriroptera from the annexed cut.
In the Cheiroptere, as we have seen, the teat; are pectoral, but in all the rest of the families they are ventral.
The next family in Cuvier's arrangement is— I L Inert irora.
The lateral membranes with which the Cheiroptera are furnished aro no longer to be found in the Inaertirora, which still have clavicles; and their molars like those of the first family are serrated with conical points. In their dental system the position and relative proportion of their incisors and canine teeth vary. Some have long incisors in front, followed by other incisors and crinkles lower than the molars, a scale of dentition to be found among some of the Quadrumana (Teraina), and approaching in n degree the dental system of the Rodenlia. Othem have large and widely-separated canines, between which arc small incisors, the most ordinary disposition of the teeth in the Quadrumana and Carnirora. The feet are short, and their motions comparatively feeble ; the male organ is furnished with a sheath, and the teats are ventral. There is uo cartel appendage, and the entire sole of the foot is applied to the grouud in walking. Their habits, resembling in a degree those of the Cheiroptera, are frequently nocturnal and subterranean. Insects form their principal nourishment, and many of them, especially in cold couu tries, pass the winter in a dormant state.