FAUNA AMERICANA, 59 



I 



Genus. 



Gulo, Retziiis, Storr, Cuv. Illig, 

 Miistela, Linn. 

 Urstis, Linn. Gmel. 

 Meles, Bodd. Desm. 

 Mellivora, Storr. 



CHARACTERS. 



r Incisor 6, 

 r superior 16 or 18. < Canine 2. 



Dental formula.-34 or 38 teeth J >?*°!'^'^ ^^' ^^- 



1 r Incisor 6. 



I. inferior 18 or 20. < Canine 2. 



C Molar 10 or 12. 



Second incisors of the lower jaw receding ; ca- 

 nines strong ; the first two or three superior mo- 

 lars compressed, cutting, unicuspid ; the fourth 

 large and bicuspid ; fifth small and tuberculous. 

 The first four molars of the lower jaw unicuspid ; 

 fifth bicuspid ; the last tuberculous ; all approxi- 

 mate. 



Body low set ; sometimes long ; head slightly 

 elongated; ears very short and round; tongue 

 sometimes smooth, at other times rough : five dis- 

 tinct toes on each foot, armed with hooked nails ; 

 nearly the entire sole of the hind feet resting on 

 the ground ; no pouch near the anus ; two slight 

 cuticular folds replace them. 



Habit. Carnivorous ; analogous to that of the 

 martins. 



Inhabit America, north of Asia, and Africao 



