Carnivore.java

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// Carnivore.java shows (in a somewhat gruesome way) why polymorphism
// is useful.  In the for loop (at the bottom), without polymorphism
// what version of favoritePrey() should get invoked?
//
// Written 1/2009 by Wayne Pollock, Tampa Florida USA

abstract class Carnivore
{
   String name;
   public absract String favoritePrey();
   // ...
}

class Lion extends Carnivore
{
   public String favoritePrey()
   { ... }
   // ...
}

class Tiger extends Carnivore
{
   public String favoritePrey()
   { ... }
   // ...
}

class VisitorInfo
{
   // ...
   public static void main ( String [] args )
   {
      // ...
      List<Carnivore> animals = new List<Carnivore>();
      animals.add( new Lion(...) );
      animals.add( new Tiger(...) );
      // ...
   }

   public showInfo( List<Carnivore> animals )
   {
      for ( Carnivore c : animals )
      {
         System.out.print( "Name: " + c.name );
         System.out.println( ", Eats: " + c.favoritePrey() );
      }
   }
}