Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber’s Notes

This e-text is based on ‘Cassell’s Natural History, Vol. II,’ from
1896. Inconsistent and uncommon spelling and hyphenation have been
retained; punctuation and typographical errors have been corrected.

The spelling of toponyms might differ slightly from today's
orthographical conventions.

_Underscores_ have been used to indicate italic text in the
original. Small capitals have been converted to UPPERCASE LETTERS.

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(_From a Photograph by Symmons and Co., Chancery Lane, taken expressly for this work._)]

CASSELL’S

NATURAL HISTORY

EDITED BY

P. MARTIN DUNCAN, M.B. (LOND.), F.R.S., F.G.S.

PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY IN AND HONORARY FELLOW OF KING’S COLLEGE, LONDON;
CORRESPONDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA

VOL. II.

_ILLUSTRATED_

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED
_LONDON, PARIS & MELBOURNE_
1896

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THE LAND CARNIVORA.

PROFESSOR W. KITCHEN PARKER, F.R.S., F.L.S., &c., AND PROFESSOR T.
JEFFERY PARKER

THE AQUATIC OR MARINE CARNIVORA.

JAMES MURIE, M.D., LL.D., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c.

CETACEA.

JAMES MURIE, M.D., LL.D.

SIRENIA.

JAMES MURIE, M.D., LL.D.

PROBOSCIDEA.

PROFESSOR WILLIAM BOYD DAWKINS, M.A., F.R.S., &c., AND H. W. OAKLEY.

HYRACOIDEA.

PROFESSOR WILLIAM BOYD DAWKINS, M.A., F.R.S., AND H. W. OAKLEY.

UNGULATA:--

PERISSODACTYLA:
EQUIDÆ,
TAPIRIDÆ,
RHINOCEROTIDÆ,

ARTIODACTYLA:
SUIDÆ,
HIPPOPOTAMIDÆ.

PROFESSOR WILLIAM BOYD DAWKINS, M.A., F.R.S., H. W. OAKLEY,
AND PROFESSOR A. H. GARROD, M.A., F.R.S.

CONTENTS.

THE CARNIVORA.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS--THE CAT FAMILY. PAGE

THE CARNIVORA--Division into Terrestrial (Fissipedia)
and Aquatic (Pinnipedia)--Introductory Remarks on the
FISSIPEDIA--Their Relations to Man and to other Animals--Their
Distribution over the Surface of the Globe--Their
Structure--The Diversity of their Form and Habits--Their
Division into Lesser Groups--THE CAT FAMILY--Their Geographical
and Chronological Distribution--Their Skeleton--The
Peculiarities of their Skull, Teeth, &c. 1

CHAPTER II.

THE CAT FAMILY--THE LION.

THE LION--Its Geographical Distribution at the Present
Day and in Ancient Times--Its Haunts--Varieties of the
Lion--Distinction between the Lion and other Cats--Its Courage,
Speed, and Strength--Its Roar--Its Supposed Magnanimity--Its
Habits--Man-eating--Occasional resort to Vegetable
Diet--Love-making--The Lion-cubs and their Education--Old
Age--Breeding in Captivity--Lion Hunting 14

CHAPTER III.

THE CAT FAMILY--THE TIGER AND THE LEOPARD.

THE TIGER--Its Colour, Size, &c.--Geographical
Distribution--Mention of the Tiger by Ancient
Writers--Habits of the Tiger--Its Destructiveness--Native
Superstitions--Tiger-hunting--THE LEOPARD--Historical
Account--External Characters--Size--Geographical
Distribution--Varieties--Habits--Love of Dog-meat--Clay-eating
Propensities--Attracted by Small-pox Patients 30

CHAPTER IV.

THE CAT FAMILY--THE JAGUAR--THE SMALLER WILD CATS--THE DOMESTIC CAT.

THE JAGUAR--Its Character, Distribution, and Habits--Fondness
for Negroes--THE PUMA--Its Character, Geographical Range,
and Habits--Mode of Hunting the Puma--THE OUNCE--THE CLOUDED
TIGER--The Character of its Fur, &c.--Its Habits--THE
OCELOT--THE MARBLED TIGER-CAT--THE VIVERRINE CAT--THE
PAMPAS CAT--THE LONG-TAILED TIGER-CAT--THE MARGAY--THE
COLOCOLO--THE JAGUARONDI--THE EYRA--THE SERVAL--THE
RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT--THE LEOPARD CAT--THE BAY CAT--THE SPOTTED
WILD CAT--THE MANUL--THE EGYPTIAN CAT--THE COMMON WILD
CAT--THE DOMESTIC CAT--Historical Sketch--Characters of Skin,
&c.--Connection between Whiteness and Blindness--Habits--Use
of Whiskers--Diet--Poaching Propensities--Fondness for
Offspring--For Foster-children--Madness in Cats--Varieties--The
Angora Cat, Manx Cat, Persian Cat, and Chinese Cat 44

CHAPTER V.

THE CAT FAMILY--THE HYÆNA FAMILY--THE CRYPTOPROCTA FAMILY--THE
AARD-WOLF FAMILY.

THE COMMON JUNGLE CAT--THE COMMON LYNX--Historical
Sketch--Geographical Distribution--Distinctive
Characters--Habits--Uses--THE PARDINE LYNX--THE CANADIAN
LYNX--THE RED LYNX--THE CARACAL--THE CHEETAH--Distinctive
Characters--Geographical Distribution--Employment in
Hunting--THE HYÆNA FAMILY--External Characters--Skull
and Teeth--THE SPOTTED HYÆNA--Geographical
Distribution--Habits--Laughing Propensities--THE
BROWN HYÆNA--THE STRIPED HYÆNA--THE CRYPTOPROCTA
FAMILY--Characteristics of the CRYPTOPROCTA--Its Occurrence
and Habits--THE AARD-WOLF FAMILY--Characters and Habits of the
AARD-WOLF 70

CHAPTER VI.

THE CIVET FAMILY.

General Characteristics of the Civet Family--Their Scent,
Skull, and Teeth--THE AFRICAN CIVET--Its Characters and
Habits--THE ASIATIC CIVET--THE LESSER CIVET--THE GENETTE--THE
MUNGOOS, OR ICHNEUMON--Curious Superstition regarding it--THE
CRAB MUNGOOS--THE PARADOXURE--THE BINTURONG 87