CARNARTA. j 7 



Martens. These animals have the tail of middle length, with a fold beneath it in place of a pouch; an 

 their foot is very similar to that of a Badger. 



The most celebrated species is the Glutton of the north, Rossomak of the Russians (Ursui yulo, Lin.) ; size of a 

 Badger, and commonly of a fine deep maroon colour, with a browner disk on the back ; but sometimes it is paler. 

 It inhabits the glacial regions of the north, is reputed to be very sanguinary and ferocious, hunts byaig 

 not become torpid during the winter, and subdues the largest animals by leaping upon them from a tree. Its 

 voracity has been absurdly exaggerated by some authors. The Wolverine of North America {Urtui Uueut, Lin.) 

 does not appear to differ by any constant characters, but is generally of a paler tint. [Excepting in size and 

 massiveness, I cannot perceive that this animal differs from the Martens : assuredly it does not in the structure 

 of its feet.] 



Warm climates produce some species which can only be placed near the Wolverines, from which they differ merely 



- in having one false molar less to each jaw, and by a longer tail. Such are the animals termed by the Spanish 



inhabitants of North America Ferrets (Huront), and which in point in fact have the dentition of our Ferrets and 



Weasels, and lead the same kind of life ; but they are distinguished by their semi-plantigrade carriage, [or rather 



by having their soles uncovered with hair]. Such are 



The Grison (Viverra vittata, Lin.)— Black, the top of the head and neck grey, a white band reaching from the 

 forehead to the shoulders. [This constitutes the Gritonia, Gray, and with an allied species, fa petit fu ret of 

 Azzara (Galictu Allamandi, Hell), the GalieHi* of the last-named naturalist, who places them contiguous to the 

 Weasels. They are small animals, easily rendered very tame, and extremely playful in domestication ; of very 

 carnivorous disposition, and particularly fond of ejrsfs.] 



The Taira ( Musltin barbara, Lin.) [Subdivision Taira of Gray.]— Brown [or brownish-black] ; the bead grey ; 

 [and sometimes] a large white spot under the throat. [The fur remarkably short.] 



These two animals are distributed throughout the warm parts of America, and exhale an odour of musk. Their 

 feet are a little palmated, and it appears that they have been sometimes taken for Otters.f [We conceive that the 

 Wolverine might be advantageously removed to the genus of .Martens; and would restrict the term Guto to the 

 others. The Grisons diffuse when irritated a disgusting stench.l 



The Ratels (Mellivora, F. Cuv.) — 

 Have a false molar to each jaw still less than the Grisons, ami their tipper tuberculous tooth but 

 little developed, so that they approximate the Cats in dentition ; but their whole exterior is that of the 

 Grison, or [rather] of a Badger. The legs are short; feet [semi-] plantigrade, and rive toes to each; 

 the claws very strong, &c. 



Hut one species is known (Viverra mellicora, Sparm., and fit: eapenrit, Schreb. pi. 125), of the size of the 

 European Badger; jjrey above, black below, with a white line that separates the two colours; sometimes it is 

 almost wholly white above. It inhabits the Cape of Good Hope, and burrows into the ground with its long 

 claws, in search of the honey-combs of the wild Bees. 



The Digitigrada — 



Form the second tribe of Carnivora, the members of which walk on the ends of their toes. 

 In the first subdivision of them [all the members of which arc Bemi-plantigrade], there 

 is only one tuberculous grinder behind the upper carnivorous tooth : these animals, on account 

 of the length of their body, and shortness of the limbs, which permit them to pass through 

 very small openings, arc styled vermiform [vermin']. They arc destitute of coecum, like the 

 preceding, but do not pass the winter in a state <d' Lethargy. Although small and feeble, th.\ 

 are very sanguinary and ferocious. Linmeus comprehended them all under one gentu^ that of 



The Wkaskls {Mustela, Lin.), — 

 Which we will divide into four subgenera. 



Tin; Tun: Wbasbls (Putorhtl, Cuv. [Mustela, Ray.] ) — 

 Are the most sanguinary of any : their lower carnivorous tooth has no internal tubercle, and the upper 

 tuberculous one is broader than long; there are only two false molars above and three below. '1 1 

 animals may be recognized by having the extremity id* tin' muzzle somewhat shorter and blunter than 

 in the Martens. They all diffuse [when alarmed] a fetid Stench; [take the water, and dive with 

 facility, having the toes -vini i |ial mat nl j trace their prey by scent, and kill it by inflicting a wound in the 

 neck : the female i> Commonly much smaller than tin- male. 



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