32 MELINID^. 



edge of the water, some lying half in and half out of the water, and 

 others rolling about iu the saud : dogs and children playing with them. 

 Hab. — According to Jerdon it is found thi'oughout all India, from 

 the extreme south of Ceylon to the Himalayas, and from the Indus 

 to Burmah and Malayana, affecting both fresh and salt water inlets. 



Family, MELINID^. 



Head moderate, elongate. Nose simple, flat and bald beneath, 

 with a central longitudinal groove. Tubercular grinders, one on each 

 side of the upper and lower jaws. Claws large, spread out. Ears small 

 or rudimentary. Most of the animals comprised in this group have the 

 power of diffusing a foetid stench. 



Sub Family, MELLIVORINA,— Badgees. 



Tubercular grinders transverse, baud-like, palate only slightly pro- 

 duced behind. Flesh tooth with a small internal lobe, with a single 

 tubercle. Fur black below, white above. 



Mellivora, Bl- — Head depressed. Nose blunt. Ears distinct. 

 Body stout. Legs short, plantigrade. Toes 5-5. Claws long and 

 strong. Tail short, subcylindrical. Sole of hind foot bald. 



Mellivora Indica, Bl. Osteogr. MuMela ,- Gray, P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 103 ; 

 Cat. Br. Mus., p. 132; Jerdon, Mam. India, p. 78; Murray, Hdbk., 

 Zool., 8fc., Sind. Bijooand Gorejpatof the Sindees. — The Indian Badger. 



Above tawny white or grey, black on the sides and beneath. 

 Tail short. Skull elongate, ovate. Nose short, concave on the sides, 

 flat above. Orbits incomplete. Four middle cutting teeth equal ; the 

 side ones conical and with a recurved tip. Canines conical. Flesh tooth 

 of lower jaw with thi'ee conical tubercles in a single longitudinal series. 



Lengih. — Head and body 30 inches, tail 6*. 



Hah. — Sind, the Punjab, Deccan, Kutch, Guzerat and thi'oughout 

 India, everywhere having the reputation of being a grave digger. 



Family, HERPESTID^,— Mongooses. 



Body elongate. Tubercular grinders two on each side in the upper 

 and one in the under jaw. Nose flat and bald beneath, with a central 

 longitudinal groove. Hind feet slender, their under side bald or more or 

 less covered with scattered hairs ; toes slender, legs short. Pur harsh 

 grizzled. Orbits of the skull complete. Toes 5-5. Claws short. 



Herpestes, UUger. — Toes 5-5. Tail conical, covered with long 



hairs. Pupil linear, erect. Teeth 40 ; false grinders ^^^^ ; tubercular 

 grinders transverse. 



All the species of this genus are noted for their natural antipathy to 

 serpents, and for committing havoc among poultry. They are however 

 excellent ratters. The question of the mongoose neutralizing the 

 poison of the bite of serpents by eating the root of some plant, still 

 remains unsolved. 



