98 MAMMALIA. 



fetid humour. The long claws of their fore-feet enable them to dig 



with great effect. 



M. europseaj Ursus mc7es,L.; Buff. VII, vii. (The Badger.) 

 Greyish above, black beneath, a blackish band on each side of 

 the head. The American Badger (Mel. hicdsonius) is not 

 very different. \^See Mpp. IV. of Am. Ed.'] 



Gi^LO; Storr. 



Linnaeus also placed the Gluttons among the Bears, but they ap- 

 proximate much nearer to the Weasels in their teeth as well as 

 in their habits, the only relation they have to the former consisting 

 in their plantigrade motion. They have three false molars above 

 and four below, immediately antecedent to the carnivorous teeth, 

 which are vifell characterized, and behind them two small tubercu- 

 lous ones, the upper being more broad than long. Their superior 

 carnivorous tooth has only one small tubercle on the inner side, and 

 in fact, the whole dental system is nearly the same as that of the 

 Weasels. The tail is of a middling size, with a plait or fold be- 

 neath in place of a sac, and the port of the animal is very similar to 

 that of the Badger. 



The most celebrated species is the Glutton of the north, the 

 Ursus gulo, L., Buff. Supp. Ill, xlviii. (The Common Glut- 

 ton.) About the size of the Badger; usually of a fine deep 

 maronne colour, with a disk on the back of a darker brown j 

 sometimes, however, the shades are lighter. It inhabits the 

 most glacial regions of the North, is considered very sanguinary 

 and ferocious, hunts during the night, does not become torpid 

 during the winter, and masters the largest animals by leaping 

 upon them from the top of a tree. Its voracity has been ridi- 

 culously exaggerated by some authors. The Wolverene of North 

 America {Ursus luscus, Lin. Edw. 103) does not appear to dif- 

 fer from it in any constant character its colours, however, are 

 generally lighter. 

 Hot climates produce some species which can only be placed near 

 the Gluttons, as they differ from them merely in having one false 

 molar less in each jaw, and in a long tail. Such are the animals, 

 termed by the inhabitants of South America Ferrets, which, having the 

 teeth of our Ferrets and Polecats, have, in fact, similar habits they 

 are distinguished from them, however, by their plantigrade motion. 

 Viverra vittata, L., Buff. Supp. VIII, xxiii and xxv. (The 

 Grison.) Black; top of the head and neck grey ; a white band, 

 reaching from the forehead to the shoulders. 



Mustela barbara, L., Buff. Supp. VII, Ix. (The Taira.) 



