FAUNA AMERICANA. 75 



ber of six on each side, viz. three small sharp 

 teeth or false molars with cuttinj^ edges, single 

 lobed; a bicuspid molar, and two small teeth with 

 flat crowns; the penultimate with two sharp tu- 

 bercles on the exterior side. 



Inferior molars seven, viz. four small molars, 

 one molar with a blunt point on the posterior part 

 of the crown, and two tuberculous teeth ; jaws 

 elongated; zygomatic processes moderately arch- 

 ed externally. 



Snout pointed, a considerable portion of the 

 extremity naked and rounded ; tongue smooth. 



Ears nearly straight and pointed, (in a state of 

 nature.) 



Fore feet pentadactyle ; hind feet tetradactyle, 

 provided with elongated nails, rather obtuse, not 

 retractile; tail of various lengths, generally straight, 

 (in a state of nature.) 



Mamm« placed upon the breast and abdomen. 



Habit. Omnivorous ; voracious ; very intelli- 

 gent; for the most part uniting in troops in order 

 to hunt down the more peaceable animals on 

 which they prey ; pursuing them by means of 

 their sense of smell, which is very delicate from 

 the great development of the schneiderian mem- 

 brane ; seeing and hearing at a great distance ; 

 the female, in a savage state, bringing forth from 

 three to five at a birth, which they nurse with 

 great affection, and defend with courage; some 

 species burrow in the earth, occasionally occupy- 



