The moles do not _hibernate_; the bats do. Give the reason for the
difference. If bats are aroused out of a trance-like condition in
winter, they may die of starvation. Why? The mother bat carries the
young about with her, since, unlike birds, she has no nest. How are the
young nourished? _Order_ ________. _Why?_ ________. (Key, p. 193.)
[Illustration:
FIG. 371.—POUCHED GOPHER (_Geomys bursarius_) × ¼, a large, burrowing
field rat, with cheek pouches for carrying grain.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 372.—Hind foot _a_, fore foot _b_, tail _c_, of BEAVER.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 373.—BEAVER.
]
=The Gnawing Mammals.=—These animals form the most numerous order of
mammals. They _lack canine_ teeth. Inference? The incisors are four in
number in all species except the rabbits, which have six (see Fig. 345).
They are readily recognized by their _large incisors_. These teeth grow
throughout life, and if they are not constantly worn away by gnawing
upon hard food, they become inconveniently long, and may prevent closing
of the mouth and cause starvation. The hard enamel is all on the front
surface, the dentine in the rear being softer; hence the incisors
sharpen themselves by use to a chisel-like edge. The molars are set
close together and have their upper surfaces level with each other. The
ridges on them run crosswise so as to form a continuous filelike surface
for reducing the food still finer after it has been gnawed off (Fig.
345). The lower jaw fits into grooves in place of sockets. This allows
the jaw to work back and forth instead of sidewise. The rabbits and some
squirrels have a hare lip; _i.e._ the upper lip is split. What advantage
is this in eating? In England the species that burrow are called
rabbits; those that do not are called hares.
[Illustration:
FIG. 374.—POSITION OF LIMBS IN RABBIT.
]
Name six enemies of rabbits. Why does a rabbit usually sit motionless
unless approached very close? Do you usually see one before it dashes
off? A rabbit has from three to five litters of from three to six young
each year. Squirrels have fewer and smaller litters. Why must the rabbit
multiply more rapidly than the squirrel in order to survive? English
rabbits have increased in Australia until they are a plague. Sheep
raising is interfered with by the loss of grass. The Australians now
ship them to England in cold storage for food. Rabbits and most rodents
lead a watchful, timid, and alert life. An exception is the porcupine,
which, because of the defence of its barbed quills, is dull and
sluggish.
The common rodents are:—
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