a mercenary band of soldiers which passed from Campania into Sicily at the request of Agathocles. When they were in the service of Agathocles, they claimed the privilege of voting at the election of magistrates at Syracuse, and had recourse to arms to support their unlawful demands. The sedition was appeased by the authority of some leading men, and the Campanians were ordered to leave Sicily. In their way to the coast they were received with great kindness by the people of Messina, and soon returned perdy for hospitality. They conspired against the inhabitants, murdered all the males in the city, married their wives and daughters, and rendered themselves masters of the place. After this violence they assumed the name of Mamertini, and called their city Mamertum, or Mamertinum, from a provincial word which in their language signified martial or warlike. The Mamertines were afterwards defeated by Hiero, and totally disabled to repair their ruined affairs.
MAMMÆ, in Anatomy. See there, No 227.
MAMMALIA
The first class of the animal kingdom in the system of Linnaeus, containing those animals which have breasts or paps, (mammae) at which they suckle their young. In this class are included, not only what are called the viviparous quadrupeds, but the Bat tribe, and several marine animals, as Seals and Whales. In the present article, we are to give an account of all but the whales, or Cetacea, which have been already fully treated of under the article CETOLOGY.
INTRODUCTION.
The relations that subsist between man and many of the animals arranged in this class, either from their utility as domestic servants, or from the warfare that they carry on against him, his property or his dependants, render the study of this part of natural history peculiarly important; while the extraordinary actions and faculties of some of these animals must make the history of them highly interesting to every one who examines nature with a curious or discerning eye.
Quadrupeds have, accordingly, engaged the particular attention of naturalists in every country and in every age, and as our acquaintance with them is less difficult than with most other classes of animated nature, it is not surprising that their form, habits, and manners are most familiar to us. Still, indeed, much remains in doubt respecting some of the foreign and rarer quadrupeds, and of some we know little more than the name. Even with regard to those which have been longest known and described, as the lion, the elephant, the porcupine, &c., the observations of modern naturalists and travellers have corrected several erroneous notions that had been generally received as certain. Long as this part of natural history has occupied the attention of mankind, there yet probably remain many gleanings to repay the industry of future inquirers. It is probable that the unexplored regions of Africa, America, and New Holland, may contain many quadrupeds either entirely unknown to us at present, or known only by the fossil remains that have been discovered in the bowels of the earth. There can, we think, be little doubt that the unicorn exists in Africa not far north of the Cape of Good Hope, and perhaps, at some distant period it may be as well known as the elephant or the hippopotamus is at present.*
To attempt anything like a critical examination of even the most celebrated writers on the natural history of the mammalia would far exceed the limits which we are obliged to prescribe to this article. We shall however, briefly notice some of the more important and more interesting works, to which our readers may refer for information which the nature of this work precludes us from affording them.
Among the ancients, the most celebrated writers on natural history in general, and on quadrupeds in particular, are Aristotle and Pliny, and of these the former has been much more circumstantial, and probably much less credulous than the latter. Aristotle wrote more from observation, and the opportunities of obtaining a knowledge
* See Barrow's Travels in Southern Africa. knowledge of animals that were afforded him by the liberality of his pupil give him a greater claim to our attention and affection, than is perhaps due to Pliny, who drew his accounts almost entirely from preceding writers. Pliny, however, is a more graceful, more animated, and consequently a more pleasing writer, and everywhere displays great marks of taste and erudition.
Between the subversion of literature and the beginning of the 17th century, there is scarcely a writer on quadrupeds that deserves particular mention. Even during the 17th century, the labourers in this department were few; and the names of Gesner, Aldrovandus, and Johnston, alone have been deemed worthy of commemoration in Linnaeus's introduction to the mammalia, and of these it is by no means certain that the writings on quadrupeds attributed to Aldrovandus are genuine.
The 18th century produced a great many valuable works, both systematic and descriptive, on this part of natural history. As systematic writers, Ray and Pennant, and on the continent, Klein, Stort, Briffon, Linné, Daubenton, and Cuvier, are the most celebrated, and we shall presently notice some of these more at large. As a descriptive writer, Pennant is also conspicuous; and the histories of quadrupeds contained in his "British Zoology" and "Arctic Zoology," are at once accurate and interesting, amusing and instructive. But of all those naturalists who have professed to give a detailed account of the history of quadrupeds, none have acquired such celebrity as the Count de Buffon, whose work is in every one's hands, and has been translated into most of the modern languages. For animated and lively descriptions, and acute and brilliant remarks, Buffon is perhaps unrivalled: method he seems to have despised; and it is to be regretted that his judgment is not always equal to his taste, and that his accuracy is sometimes less conspicuous than his genius and fancy. There are also a certain freedom of expression, and luxuriously of description, in treating of certain subjects, which render Buffon's work less proper for young people than for those who are more advanced both in years and in the study of nature. Dr Goldfinch's "History of the Earth and Animated Nature" is chiefly an abridgement of Buffon.
Mr Bewick's "General History of Quadrupeds," with wooden cuts, deserves much praise. In his descriptions, he has selected with much skill and taste, and has added many original and judicious observations, especially reflecting the domestic and indigenous animals of this country. His figures are in general excellent, and his vignettes both useful and entertaining.
Among the latest systematic works written on this Shaw subject is the elegant and splendid "General Zoology" of Dr Shaw. As a museum for acquiring a knowledge of the form and external structure of animals, this work has been surpassed by none, and equalled by very few. Description of the habits or manners of the animals seems to have been a secondary object with Dr Shaw, as of this his work contains very little. It is chiefly valuable as a systematic arrangement and general museum.
We have seen few works more entertaining than Bingley. Mr Bingley's "Animal Biography." It is professedly a compilation, but the extracts are well chosen, and in general highly interesting. We cannot say, however, that they are always happily arranged. As Mr Bingley uniformly quotes his authorities, and has given a list of many valuable works from which he has drawn his information, his work is very useful, and forms an admirable companion to Dr Shaw's Zoology.
In the following account of the mammalia, we shall endeavour to combine amusement with utility; but, as our limits are exceedingly confined, we can give a detailed account of very few species. We shall therefore select the most interesting individuals, referring here generally to Buffon, Pennant, Bewick, Shaw, and Bingley for the rest.
With respect to the general divisions of quadrupeds and the terms employed in describing them, we need say nothing here; the former will be seen from the several classifications to be immediately mentioned, and the latter are explained under their proper heads in the general alphabet of this dictionary. Reflecting the general anatomical structure of the mammalia, we could add little to what has been already given under Comparative Anatomy. When there occurs any striking peculiarity of conformation in particular individuals, it will be noticed in its proper place.
PART I. CLASSIFICATION OF THE MAMMALIA.
QUADRUPEDS have been very differently classified by different naturalists. Our limits will permit us only to give a brief sketch of some of the more important arrangements, and we shall select those of Linnaeus, Pennant and Cuvier.
Linnaeus divides the mammalia into seven orders, the distinctive characters of which are chiefly derived from the number, situation, and structure of the teeth.
ORDER I. PRIMATES.
This order is intended to contain man and those animals which are most nearly allied to him in their structure. They have usually four cutting teeth in the fore part of each jaw, and in the upper jaw these are parallel; and they have one canine tooth on each side of these in each jaw. They have also two breasts or teats, from which this class derives its name. The two fore feet in many of the individuals resemble the hands of the human species, and are employed for the same purposes, having fingers furnished for the most part with oval flattened nails. They chiefly live on vegetable food. Under this order Linnaeus ranks four genera, viz. man, the ape tribe, the lemur tribe, and the bats. ORDER II. BRUTA.
These have no front teeth in either jaw; their feet are armed with strong blunt nails like hoofs; they are generally of a clumsy form, and slow in their movements; they feed chiefly on vegetables. This order contains nine genera, of which the principal are the rhinoceros, the elephant, the sloths, and ant-eaters.
ORDER III. FERÆ.
These have commonly six front teeth in the upper and under jaw, which are somewhat of a conical shape, and next to these strong and sharp canine teeth, with grinders that terminate in conical pointed eminences; their feet are divided into toes which are armed with sharp crooked claws. Almost all the animals of this order are beasts of prey, living chiefly on the flesh of other animals. The order comprehends ten genera, the most remarkable of which are, the leal, dog, cat, weasel, and bear tribes.
ORDER IV. GLIRES.
These have two front teeth in each jaw, and these are remarkably long and large, but they have no canine teeth; their feet are furnished with claws, and appear formed both for running and leaping. Their food consists of vegetables. This order also contains ten genera, the principal of which are the porcupines, beavers, rats, squirrels, and hares.
ORDER V. PECORA.
These have several front teeth that are blunt, and have a wedge-like form, in the lower jaw, but no front teeth in the upper; their feet are armed with cloven hoofs; they have four stomachs, feed entirely on vegetables, and ruminate or chew the cud. There are in this order eight genera, comprehending the camel, the musk animal, the giraffe, and the deer, antelope, goat, sheep, and ox tribes.
ORDER VI. BELLUÆ.
These have front teeth in both jaws that are obtuse; their feet are armed with hoofs that are in some species entire, and in others subdivided. Most of them live entirely on vegetable food. There are four genera, comprising those of the horse, hippopotamus, tapir, and hog.
ORDER VII. The last order is that of the CETÆ, or Whales; for which, see CETOLOGY.
Several objections have been made to the above arrangement of Linnaeus, and some of them appear to be sufficiently valid. It has been objected with great reason, that man, the lord of the creation, is degraded by being placed under the same division with apes, monkeys, macaques and bats, the companions which Linnaeus has thought proper to allot to him. However nearly the apes may resemble man in their general appearance, and the macaques in the use of their fore extremities, they should surely have been considered apart from man; and nothing, it is said, can be more absurd than to arrange the insignificant fly bat with any of the former animals, because it agrees with them in the number and situation of its teeth. To the second order it is objected that the most intelligent of quadrupeds, the half-reasoning elephant, is made to associate with the most discordant and stupid of the creation, with sloths, ant-eaters, and armadillos, or with creatures of a quite different element, walruses and morfs. In the third order again, which from its name should comprehend only the wild beasts, or beasts of prey, it will be impossible (says Mr Pennant) to allow the mole, the shrew, and the harmless hedge-hog, to be the companions of lions, wolves, and bears. We may err in our arrangement
Sed non ut placidis locant immitia, non ut Serpentes avibus gementium, tigribus agni*. * Pennant's Synopsis Quadrupedum.
To the sixth order it has been objected that the naphis, hoofed animals arranged under it are so dissimilar in their nature, that they ought not to be placed together without some intermediate gradations.
To many of the above objections it may be replied, that all artificial arrangements have their disadvantages, and that if we follow nature in placing together only those animals that resemble each other in their external appearance, or in their habits of life, we shall often be obliged to arrange the individuals of what most naturalists consider as the same genus under very different parts of our system. The great object of a systematic arrangement is to facilitate the discovery of objects that are unknown; and for this purpose, in respect to quadrupeds, there is perhaps no method preferable to that which is founded on the diversity of their teeth and feet. We shall in the following article, as we have done in most of the preceding departments of natural history, adopt the arrangements of Linnaeus, modifying according to the latest improvements of Gmelin and Shaw.
Our celebrated British naturalist, Mr Pennant, published the first edition of his Synopsis of Quadrupeds in 1771; and ten years after he published a third edition under the new title of History of Quadrupeds, in 2 vols. 4to. This work has gone through some other editions, and is justly admired for the quantity of information which the author has contrived to give in a very condensed form.
Mr Pennant distributes quadrupeds into four general divisions, containing such as are hoofed, digitated, pinuated, and winged.
The first division is subdivided into two sections: the first containing those animals whose hoofs are entire or of one piece, of which there is only one genus, viz., Horse. The second section those which are cloven-hoofed; of which there are 13 genera, comprising the Ox, Sheep, Goat, Giraffe, Antelope, Musk, Camel, Hog, Rhinoceros, Hippopotame, Tapir, and Elephant.
The second division consists of digitated animals, or those whose feet are divided into toes. It is subdivided into five sections; the first of which consists of those animals that are anthropomorphous, or which, in some measure, resemble man in their external form. Of these there are two genera, viz., Ape and Macaque. The second section consists of rapacious carnivorous animals.