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The Sciences: Carnivora

A natural order comprises those which, like the rat, squirrel, the rabbit, and the guinea-pig, have only two large teeth in front, which they continually employ in gnawing whatever falls in their way; they are, therefore, called Rodentia, or gnawers. These, in the number of their incisor teeth, form the link which connects the Carnivora with the Edentata, which have no front teeth, and therefore live entirely upon vegetables, or upon soft substances which require little mastication, The orders of Carnivora, Rodentia and Edentata, together with the Ruminantia or ruminating animals, and the Cetacea or whale kind, compose the class MAMMALIA, which are divided into unguculated with nails, unguculated with hoofs, and nectopode or web-footed, already described.

The order Feræ, or Carnivora, have sharp and cutting grinders, as contrasted with tuberculated vegetable feeders, and rough pointed ones in insect feeders. They have acute senses of smelling, and short intestines. The order comprehends lions, tigers, panthers, hyenas, wolves, dogs, foxes, cats, stoats, weasels, and otters. Bears, weasels, polecats, raccoons, badgers, gluttons, gennets, and civets, are of one family. The claws of lions and tigers are, at rest, drawn within the toes by ligaments. Modern classification does not rank Cetaceous animals as fishes. They suckle their young, and, therefore, are classed among mammalia. Their heads are large, and they have little or no neck. Their eyes are very small and backward. The tail is horizontal, and they have swimming paws, analogous to the fore feet of seals. A single stroke with the tail will cut a boat in two; and they move in the sea above a mile in a minute. The stomach consists of four or five successive cavities. They live chiefly on other species of fish. The aorta of whales is thirteen inches in diameter. In general they are black, but those of Spitzbergen are white. The marine mammiferæ are whales, dolphins, and porpoises, whose feet are converted into fins. Their tail is horizontal, while that of fishes is vertical. They have warm and red blood, and teats to suckle their young. The dolphins are carnivorous. Years.

Beaver 50 The following is the average length of life of certain species: Wren Years. 2 to 3 Dog 20 Titlark. 5 to 6 Wolf 20 Skylark IO to 30 Fox 14 to 16 Chaffinch 20 to 24 Lion 25 to 60 Goldfinch IO to I6 Domestic Cat. 15 Linnet 14 to 23 Squirrel 7 Starling IO to I2 Hare 8 Ravens, Crows, and Parrots Rabbit. 7 sometimes exceeds 100 Elephant .100 Peacock 20 Pigs 25 Common Fowl IO Rhinoceros 20 Pheasant and Partridge. 15 Horse 30 Pigeon 20 Ass 30 Heron 60 Camel. 50 Crane 24 Llama 15 Swan 100 Rein-deer 16 Pelican 40 to 50 Chamois. 25 Goose 100 Stag under 50 Tortoise 100 to 220 Goat I2 Toad 20 to 30 Sheep. under 10 Viper. 6 to 7 Cows 15 Crocodile 100 Ox.. 30 Carp 70 to 150 Dolphin and Porpoise 30 Bream and Tench IO Hawks 30 to 40 Pike. 30 to 40 Blackbird IO to I2 Salmon IO Thrush 8 to 12 Codfish 14 to 17 Nightingale 15 Eel IO Wheatear 2 Beetle. 3 Blackcap. 15 Mantis IO IO to I2 Redbreast Eagles attain a great age: one is said to have died at Vienna, aged 104 years; and Pennant mentions one 32 years old. Tacitus states the eagle at 500 years. ASTRONOMY.

No person, who has viewed the Vault of the Stars, especially the recent appearance of Mars, can be insensible of the impression which the contemplation imparts. It is, in its vastness and splendor a glance at the infinite Universe, and the highest example of the sublime. It penetrates the soul with indescribable emotions of reverence for the Eternal Creator, and reminds man of his littleness, and his ephemeral character. The visible stars are either the shoal of the Milky Way, of which our Sun is one of a million; or they are separate shoals equal to the Milky Way, seen through and beyond the others, but so distant, that the unaided eye recognizes them only as dull stars. Of the magnitude which the eye thus embraces, we can form an estimate, by considering that the nearest star is not less than 60 millions of miles distant; that each is probably as distant from its nearest; and that our shoal of the Milky Way contains in its diameter at least 1000 stars in line, each at that distance, rendering the whole shoal in breadth equal to 60 thousand billions of miles. The distance then of other shoals, probably of equal size, seen by us almost as points, may be written, but cannot be conceived by an animal of 5 feet 9 inches, who grows old in 60 or 70 whirls of his own planet round one of these stars! The bare spectacle of the Heavens, without any suspicion of its vastness and eternity, has, however, in every age forced the attention of mankind. It was, of course, a ready and speaking instrument of superstition. Its variations, owing to the Earth turning daily from West to East on the solar side of its axis, and moving in mass from East to West in its annual course round the Sun, were seized on as portents and prognostics, which created belief and reverence, just as the source was awful and sublime. This science of Astrology, therefore, became the religion of early nations, and the Priest, the Astrologer, and the Statesman, were united in cunning and mistaken persons. This alliance to self and to vanity, rendered the study of the stars one of the highest antiquity, and that which was pursued with the greatest industry, and fostered by the most lavish patronage.

Nor is this mere matter of history, for throughout Asia and Africa it is now the only science of the great and studious; and even in Europe, Astrology was one of the liberal sciences till within two centuries. So late as our Revolution it was recognized by the governments of the Western nations. In the age of Anne every street and court in London had its thriving astrologer. To-day Zadkiel's recommends itself by its astrological predictions to many annual customers.

In a depth of time not to be penetrated, the course of the Sun in a year was divided into twelve equal parts, with names assigned by popular objects of the season, called the 12 signs of the Zodiac. The heavens were also divided into 12 similar parts, and these were called the 12 Houses. The Planets, then in their erratic courses, were daily changing their positions in the Zodiac, consequently the Horoscope, or picture of the heavens, was constantly varying, Absolute and relative significations were then affixed to each sign, each house, and each planet, with further modifications by aspect, in sextile, quartile, trine, or opposition; and by many prescribed rules and forms, the astrologer was at once bound and deceived. It was not considered that any other varying Key would answer the same purpose, though of any number of probable events, a given number would come true, whatever might be the Key. If the probability was even, then 50 of every hundred would happen as foretold, if 2 to 1, then 33; if 3 to 1, then 25, and so on. In this lay the mistake, for it was the error of inadvertency. What a fertile source, however, of popular error, in which all common and uncommon sense were misled! Hence, half the temples of antiquity, and the millions squandered on them! It was believed that there was a soul of the world which harmonized every thing, and hence the oracles, the dreamers, the auspices from the entrails of birds, animals, etc., etc.