MUSTELIDjE 579 



consequence of which there is no crucial fissure, and the so-called 

 " Ursine lozenge," so characteristic of the Arctoidea, is incomplete 

 behind. The superior gyrus, as in Ictonyx and Mustela, ceases at 

 the superior posterior angle of the hemisphere. 



Ictonyx? — Dentition: i |, c {, p |, m \ ; total 34. In general 

 characters the teeth much resemble those of the Polecats {Mustela), 

 being more delicately cut and sharply cusped than in most of the 

 foregoing. Upper molar smaller than the carnassial, narrow from 

 before backwards. Lower carnassial with a small narrow talon and 

 distinct inner cusp. (General form of body Musteline. Limbs short. 

 Fore feet large and broad, with five stout, nearly straight, blunt, 

 and non-retractile claws, of which the first and fifth are considerably 

 shorter than the others. Tail moderate, with longer hairs towards 

 the end, giving it a bushy appearance. Hairs generally long and 

 loose. The best-known species of this genus, /. zoritta, the Cape 

 Polecat, was placed by Cuvier in the genus Mustela, and by 

 Lichtenstein in Mephitis ; and in many characters it forms a 



transition between these genera. It is about the size of an English 

 Polecat, but conspicuous by its coloration, having broad, longitudinal 

 1 Kinds of dark brown, alternating with white. Its odour is said to 

 be as offensive as that of the American Skunks. From the Cape of 

 Good Hope it ranges as far north as Senegal. Another species, 

 /. frenata, from Sennaar and Egypt, has been described. 



Subfamily Mustelinse. — Toes short, partially webbed ; claws 

 short, compressed, acute, curved, often semiretractile. Tapper molar 

 of moderate size, Avide transversely. Kidneys simple. Terrestrial 

 and arboreal in habits. 



Galictis. 2 — Dentition: i f, c \, p -|, rn \; total 34. Molars small 

 but stout. Upper carnassial with the inner tubercle near the middle 

 of the inner border of the tooth. Lower carnassial with talon small, 

 and inner cusp small or absent. Body long. Limbs short ; claws 

 non-retractile. Palms and soles naked. Head broad and depressed. 

 Tail of moderate length. The best-known species are G. vittata, the 

 Grison (genus Grisonia, Gray), and G. barbara, the Tayra (genus 

 Galera, Cray), both South American ; G. allamandi is an inter- 

 mediate form. 



Remains of Galictis occur in the Pleistocene cavern-deposits of 

 Brazil, and also in the Pleistocene of North America. 



Mustela. 3 — Dentition: i |, c {, p -^, m h; total 34 or 38. 

 Lpper carnassial with inner tubercle close to the anterior edge of 

 the tooth. Molar nearly as large as carnassial. Lower carnassial 

 with small or no inner cusp. Vertebra? : C 7, D 1 4, L 6, S 3, 

 C 18-23. Body long and slender. Limbs short, digitigrade. Feet 



1 Kaup, Thierreich, vol. i. p. 352 (1835). - Bell, Proe. Zool. Hoc. 1837, p. 45. 

 3 Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. vol. i. p. 66 (1766). 



