88 



VERTEBRATA ! MAMMALIA. 



the typical members of the Mustelidse, and have a very 

 bushy tail. Our only species is found in the cool and cold 

 portions of our country, and is about three feet long to the 

 root of the tail, and the general color is dark-brown ; the 

 tail, legs, and under parts are black. It is very trouble- 

 some to the sable-hunters, by breaking up their wooden 

 traps and destroying the bait, or game ; it also destroys 

 caqlies of provisions. 



The Skunks have a pointed nose, a bushy tail, and feet 

 fitted for digging. They are well known by the intoler- 

 FIG. 89. able odor which they emit when dis- 



turbed. They are nocturnal, and 

 feed upon beetles and other small 

 animals, and upon eggs. They walk 

 on most of the sole of the foot, w 7 ith 

 the back much curved and tail erect. 

 Five species are found in North 

 America. 



The Badgers have a stout, robust, 

 depressed body, very short tail, much 



Skunk, Mephitis chinga, Tied- 



man. enlarged fore claws adapted for dig- 



ging. Our only species is found in the western and north- 



FlG. 90. 



American Badger, Taxidea untericana, Waterhouse. 



