Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/278

CARNIVAL. 234 several theories have been suggested, none of them entirely satisfactory. There is very lit- "tle doubt that the custom is in a sense a suriival of the old Roman festival of the Luperealia (q.v.), which was held at the same season of the year, and that the Church, as in so many other instances (see Bo.nfire), attempted to regulate and sanctify what it could not entirely suppress. The same spirit of compromise marked the atti- tude of the popes toward it throughout the Mid- dle Ages. As secular rulers they were disinclined altogether to suppress an observance which pro- moted the material prosperity of the city; yet as pastors of souls they could not look with complacency upon the frequently unrestrained license attending its celelnation. Several of the more spiritually minded popes made a practice of spending the season in strict retirement, to avoid witnessing the disorders which they eould not altogether prevent: the time, which original- ly extended from the feast of the Epiphany ("Januarv 6) to Ash Wednesday, was restricted to eight'and finally to three days ; and a number of minute regulations have always reminded the populace of the existence of a superior authori- ty. The celebration was usually suspended in the years of jubilee (q.v.). and the funds gener- ally expended on the carnival diverted to the entertainment of needy pilgrims, the Jews being compelled to contribute to that purpose the tax laid upon them for the purposes of the carnival. In modern times Kome has continued the principal seat of these observances, although other Italian cities, notably Venice, have dis- plaved great splendor, and the Parisians, never averse to an occasion for merrymaking, indulge in elaborate revels. A long-established custom in Paris has been to lead in the procession a fat ox (hoeuf (jras, whence Mtirdi (Inis) followed in a triumphal car bv a child called 'the king of the butchers.' Otherwise few of the traditional fes- tivities are kept alive, except the throwing of confetti or sweetmeats and (lowers, the blowing of horns, the masked balls (see Masquer.vde) , and the parades of allegorical chariots. In Italy after the gavcties of the last day, yiardi Cms, the death, of the carnival is symbolized by the burning of a huge elligy; and the crowds in the streets carry lighted tapers {moccotetti, each endeavoring' to e.xtinguish those of his neighbors and keep his own alight. In tho United States the principal observance of Mnrdi Gras is that which has been carried out in Xew Orleans with great pomp and splendor since 1857. On this day the whole city is turned over to the rule of 'King Rex, who "passes through the streets es- corted by his body-guard, the mystic krewe of Comus,' and various military and visiting or- ganizations. In the evening occurs the great street pageant, in which are displayed elaborate tableaux, placed on moving forms and brilliantly illuminated. These represent noted scenes of history, poetry, or fiction, and are constructed at grt'at expense and with artistic elegance. All the arrangements are under the control of socie- ties composed of the best-known professional and business men of the city. Consult: Rosi&res, nistoire de la soM'tf frnii^aisc nii moiini Af/e (Paris, 1880) ; Story, Rotm d> Roma (London, ISfi'i).' Byron's liepiin, and the second part of Goethe's Italiciiische lleisen, also contain vivid descriptions of the Italian carnival of a century CARNIVORA. Blue JMo.vday; Collop Monday; ago. See Shrovetide. CARNIVORA (Lat. neut. pi., from caro, flesh -f rorai-c, to devour). An order of mam- mals, more or less elliciently adapted for preda- ceous life, and including most of the forms popu- larly known as beasts of prey. Not all animals carnivorous in diet are carnivora in structure, for the dasyure or Tasmanian devil is a mar- supial, and the blood-sucking Desmodus is a bat. Nor are all the members of the order Carnivora in diet purely carnivorous, for the polar bears , eat grass grecdilj-, the ratels are very partial to honey, and many forms eat fruits, berries, in- sects", mollusks, "or crustaceans in a highly om- nivorous manner. The carnivora dwell in all parts of the world except New Zealand and Australia, where their work is done by llesh-eating marsupials. They vary in size from the ermine which one may hide in his pocket to bears that may weigh 2000 pounds; and are fitted for the chase of al- most every variety of living creature, not even the oceanic birds (in their breeding-places) being exempt from their ravages. They thus serve as a check upon the otherwi.se too rapid multiiili- cation of herbivores, rodents, etc., which relieved from them would soon swarm excessively. Their relations with mankind are mainly those of en- mity. He pursues some for sport, others for their fur, and others in order to get rid of neigh- bors dangerous to him or his domestic animals. The carnivora therefore disappear to a great ex- tent in areas of civilization, the etlect of which is felt in the increase of such pests as mice and gophers ; but in some parts of the world wild beasts carry on even warfare, tigers and leop- ards alone" killing many thousands of Imman beings and cattle annually. Trom this class, however, mankind, has derived two of his most valued domestic pets — the dog and eat. Ge.er.l Characters. The dentition of most carnivora is very characteristic. There are in each jaw six pointed cutting teeth, two strong, sharp, recurved canines, and molar teeth often adapted for cutting. The skull is short and dense. The lower jaw moves up and down in a deep, transverse, semi-cylindrical groove, and there are deep hollows on the sides and promi- nent crests on the roof of the skull for the at- tachment of the powerful muscles which work the jaw. As one would expect in animals with vigorous habits of life, the convolutions of the brain and olfactory lobes are well developed. The toes are clawed, with m(U-e or less pointed nails. In contrast to herbivorous animals, the stomach is simple, and the ca'cum is either al)- sent or small. Vagrant, predatory habits, a llcsh diet, fierce disposition, and liigh intelligeiuc are ordinal characteristics. Whih' most of I lie fam- ilies are more abundant in the tropics than else- where, some are more generally inhabitant.'} of temiierate regions, and a few are especially com- mon in the Far North. Classification. Two suborders are distin- guished — Fissiptdia, the typical terrestrial car- nivora, and Finniiicdi<i, the aberrant, aquatic forms. The second sul)order, willi its numerous adajitive characters, has doubtless been derived from the first, and is divided into three families, with about fifty species: (1) Otariid;e. or eared seals, nearest to the typical carnivora, and char-