70 
MAMMALIA. 
body thick; face and legs short, black ; tail bushy. About two 
feet two inches long. Inhabits the coasts on the Arctic sea. 
Genus 48.— Ratelus. — F. Cuvier. 
Generic Character. — Incisors canines }-}, molars to_ 
tal 28. Canines very thick and strong, somewhat triangular; in 
the upper jaw two false molars, with pointed and conical crowns ; 
one lanceolate and one tuberculate; lower jaw with three false 
molars, anterior to a broad lacerator; body thick, depressed; legs 
stout and short; five toes on each foot, nails slightly arched and 
retractile; without external ears; snout prolonged; muzzle 
naked; tongue rough. 
Ratelus mellivorus. — The Ratel. 
Plate X- fig. 9. 
Fur dull ash-gray above, under parts of a deep black; hair 
stiff and wiry; a stripe of light gray passes from behind the 
ears along each side, forming a boundary between the colours 
of the back and lower parts; claws on the fore feet extremely 
long and powerful, the middle three being longer than the 
others. Length nearly three feet, including the tail. Inhabits 
Africa. A variety is found in Asia, differing only in wanting 
the lateral light gray stripe. 
Tribe II.— Digitigrades. 
Beasts of prey, which walk on their toes only. 
Division I.—With a tuberculous tooth behind the carnivor¬ 
ous tooth, in the upper jaw. 
Genus 49.—Mu stela. — Linnaeus. 
Generic Character. —Incisory teeth canines J-J, grinders 
t-\ 01 6-g> 34 or 38. Head small and oval; ears short 
and round; body long vermiform ; legs short; toes five, armed 
with sharp crooked claws; no anal pouch, but a small gland, 
containing a strong fetid secretion. 
