294 Dr, A' Hall on the Mammals and Birds 



toe8, with sharp nails not retractile ; muzzle pointed ; ears small ; 

 teats 6 in number, ventral. 



P. lotor. The racoon. 

 Ursus lotor. Linnasus ! 



vs.p. Length 1^ to 2 feet. Fur greyish brown, composed 



of long white hairs of a dirty hue, ringed with black ; belly paler ; 



cheeks on each side black ; streaks of a similar colour between 



the eyes, extending to the forehead ; tail bushy, of a dirty white 



colour, with six distinctly marked black rings ; extremities short, 



particularly the hind ones; toes five, with strong nails; tail 12 



inches long. 



Genus Meles. 



Gen. char. Incisors |f , canines ||, molars ff = 38. First 

 molar is rudimentary, 2nd and 3rd acuminate, 4th cutting on its 

 outer side, 5th disproportionately large, having on its external 

 edge three tubercles, on its internal edge a serrated crest, and on 

 its middle another crest, separated into two parts by a groove ; on 

 the lower jaw they present nothing remarkable ; body thick ; feet 

 with five toes, and strong nails ; muzzle projecting ; ears short and 

 round ; eyes small ; tail short, with an anal pouch containing a 

 f»tid secretion. 



M, Labradoricus. American badger. 



Ursus Labradoricus. Linnseus ! 



Taxus Labradorica, Desmarets & Geoffrey. 



v.s.p. Length \\ to 2 feet. Fur greyish brown on sides, 

 back and tail, and black on the abdomen and legs ; two narrow 

 white lines from the nose to the nape of the neck, these stripes 

 are bounded by black, which fades to grey, and then to white, as it 

 approaches the ears which are black ; a greyish brown patch en- 

 closes the eyes, extending to the nose ; claws long, strong, and of 

 a dark colour ; tail 5 to 6 inches long and bushy ; extremities 

 though short are strong and muscular. It differs considerably 

 from the European species, which has a darker, coarser fur, more 

 conspicuous demarcations on the head ; larger ears tipped with 

 white, larger head and generally larger figure. The Meles Hud- 

 sonius of Cuvier is probably the animal just described. Cuvier 

 describes it as nearly similar to the European species. The Eu- 

 ropean and American species were for a long time confounded, 

 but a closer examination of specimens, has ascribed to each their 

 distinctive characters. 



