CARPI'NUS, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Cupidtfere, and distinguished obviously from the Beech (Brink), the Oak (Quercus), &c., by it4 cupule being prolonged on one side into a leafy while its other lobes are shorter, and, as it were, abortive. &rya, the Hop Hornbeam, differs in having an inflated membranous cupule surrounding each nut. The following species are known :— C. Beattie, Common Hornbeam. It is an indigenous British tree very common in copses, and frequently pollarded by the farmer.
When allowed to acquire its natural appearance, it forma a graceful tree from 50 to 60 feet high, very often branching to within a short distance of the ground. In general appearance it resembles the Beech, but it does not acquire the smooth plump bole of that tree, nor are its leaves so shining. Its wood is coarse, and unfit for cabinet-makers' work, on account of the large size of its medullary processes ; but it is tough, and well suited for cogs, handles of tools, and for other purposes in which strength is required. It is much consumed on the continent as fuel. Like the Beech, the Hornbeam, if stunted, retains its withered leaves all the winter ; and as it bears clipping and close pruning remarkably well, it is much employed for hedges where winter shelter is required. The distinctive character of the Common Horn beam is—leaves oblong, cordate, oblique at the base, doubly serrated, smooth, with the veins of the under side, which is very shining, downy at the stalls. Lobes of the cupules nearly entire. A cut-leaved variety is known in gardens.
C. Americana, American Hornbeam. It has ovate oblong leaves, obliquely cordate at the base, doubly or almost simply serrated, smooth, with the veins of the under side downy at the axils. Lobes of the cupules somewhat falcate and serrated. Common from Lower Canada to the Carolinas, and extremely frequent in almost all soils except pine-barrens and swamps. It is a smaller tree than the European Hornbeam, not usually acquiring a greater height than 15 to 20 feet, 3. Cats (Pelid(z).
In this tribe we have the destructive power most highly developed. The short round muzzle, the abbreviated and powerful jaw, and the retractile claws sheathed by means of elastic ligaments when the animal is in a state of repose, so that they are kept sharp and ready for action, form with the rest of the organisation a destructive type of the highest order. All the Cats have two false molars above and two
below ; their upper flesh-cutter has three lobes and a blunt heel or process within ; while the lower one has two pointed and cutting lobes, hut without any heel or process ; and they have but one small tuberculated molar above without any corresponding tooth below. The species are numerous, and vary greatly in size and colour. [PEuri.] Subjoined is a cut of the skull and jaw of a Royal Tiger.
4. Amphibia, or Amphibious Carnivora.
Those who have seen a seal ou the land will have noticed the corn: partitive helplessness of the animal ; for the short limbs enveloped in the skin only serve them by assisting their awkward shufilings when In that situation. But as they never come on the land excepting for the purposes of repose, basking in the sun, or suckling their young, their organisation is adapted to that element in which the great por although specimens have been found as much as 30 feet high. From the small size of this species It is little used by the Americans: its wood appears however to have the same properties as that of C. Betas& C. orientans, Oriental Hornbeam. It has oblong doubly-serrated cordate leaves, and very little oblique at the lasso; when young, rather downy : lobes of the cupules coarsely and unequally serrated. It is a bushy tree of small stature, found In the eastern parts of Europe and on the mountains of Caucasus. It is of no known use, and principally differs from the Common Hornbeam in its downy leafstalks and green much-lacerated cupules. It is the C. duinensis of Scopoli.
C. simians is related to the last, but has taper-pointed leaves with simple or nearly simple serratures, and less deeply serrated lobes to the cupules. It is a large handsome tree with weeping branches, found on the mountains of NepauL C. faginea, from the same country, is distinguished from the last by its woolly leafstalks and simply setacco-serrated leaves, which are but little acuminated.