FAUNA AMERICANA. 69 



as broad as they are long ; inferior molars fur- 

 nished with two tubercles on the internal side. 



Head short ; nose rather projecting ; snout 

 obtuse. 



Tongue smooth. 



Feet j3entadactyle, with their palms and soles 

 hairy ; toes of the anterior feet, armed with ro- 

 bust nails, arched and proper for digging, nails of 

 the hind feet slightly raised when walking. 



Trunk of the tail of moderate length, or very 

 short. 



Hair of the body and of the tail often very long, 

 particularly that of the latter. 



No caecum. 



Anal glands secreting a liquor excessively 

 fetid. No follicules near the organs of genera- 

 tion. 



Habit. Burrowing in the earth ; feeding on 

 small live animals ; diffusing, particularly w hen 

 disturbed, a most nauseous, detestable odour, 

 proceeding from the liquor of the anal glands, 

 w^iich they mix with the urine; with this fluid 

 they wet the tail, and scatter it to a considerable 

 distance. 



Inhabits America, and the Isle of Java; those 

 of the latter country have short tails. 



A great variety of these animals has been de- 

 scribed by M. Cuvier, some of which may here- 

 after prove distinct species. The following is the 

 species common in North America. 



