256 REPORT ON ZOOLOGY, MDCCCXLIV. 



the coasts of the province Jetsigo (between 37 and 38 N. Br.) ; v. Siebold 

 is of opinion that they might have been wafted thither upon ice-blocks. 



Mustelina. The same Zoologist has also described a Japanese Badger and 

 3 species of Marten, viz. Meles anaktima, with Mustela melampus, brachyura, 

 and Itatsi. Meles anakuma is devoid of the streaked markings upon the 

 head, as seen in our own and the North American Badger. The form of 

 the cranium, with the number, form, and disposition of the teeth, is exact ly 

 as in our own species. Mustela melampus has been already described and 

 figured by the Reporter in Schreber's Suppl.; we here learn from Temminck 

 that the winter and summer fur-coat are very differently coloured. If. 

 brachy/ira is only known by skins without head ; M. Itatsi agrees in form 

 and size with our Polecat, but its fur is shorter and of another colour. Our 

 Lutra vulgaris also occurs frequently in Japan, as is shown by a comparison 

 of the skeleton and numerous skins. Enltydris marina is at present remark- 

 ably rare, so that a skin, at the time when Siebold was staying in Jedo, would 

 cost from 800 to 1500 francs. In the catalogue already mentioned of the 

 Fauna des Departemeuts de la Chareute-Inferieure, Lesson also mentions a 

 Mustela vison (that of Buff, xiii, pi. 31 et pi. color. 232), and adds, "tolerably 

 common in the great woods of Schi/e and the tract of land separating Sain- 

 tonge and Poitou ; having been incorrectly taken for an American beast, and 

 omitted in all the French Faunas. In his ' Nouveau Tableau du Regne 

 Animal,' Lesson places this M. vison directly after M. martes and ibina, and 

 juxtaposits as synonymous the Visou of Bufibu (pi. col. 232) ; but in 

 speaking of Putorius lutreola, he once again cites the Visou, Buff. ; so that 

 one can scarcely know what rank this M. visou is to occupy as a species with 

 Lesson. We fortunately know that one must not deal too rigidly with him 

 as regards accuracy. 



Bazin, in the ' Act de la Soc. Linn, de Bord./ xiii, 91, 

 attempts to determine satisfactorily what animals were those 

 designated by the ancients with the names ai\ovpog, yoArj, 

 and ynXwr;c- 



According to his interpretation, al\ovpos signifies the domestic Cat. rX?/ 

 means the Mustela vulgaris : and yet this name appears to have been given 

 also to most animals of the genus Mustela. ra\oac>)e, yaXswfoje, and 

 yrtXa.jrjjc may be regarded as synonyms, and signify mustdiformis ; they 

 were applied to all animals whose form and habits corresponded with those 

 of the small Weazel or yrtXf/. The yaXtwr/jc of Aristophanes is a Lizard, 

 but does not belong to Cuvier's Galeotcs. The yaXtwr^c of Polybius is a 

 Sword-fish. 



Viverrina. The Reporter has moreover called attention to the necessity 

 of our distinguishing among the Mungos two species, or at all events perma- 



