10 MAMMALIA. FERA. Canis. 



The dressed skin, with the hair on, is used for pistol furniture, and the 

 pendent pouches of the Highland soldiers. The flesh is used as food, and the 

 liind quarters, made into hams, are esteemed little inferior to bacon. 



It is sometimes found of a white colour. An opmion formerly prevailed 

 among naturalists, that there are two species of badgers, which they termed 

 the Sow-badger and the Dog-badger. But, in England, ever since the days of 

 Hay, few have given credit to the existence of the former species. In some 

 districts of Scotland, however, the distinction is still recognised. Thus, in 

 the " Statistical Account," it is said, " There are two species of badger found 

 among the loose rocks of the Campsie Fells, the one somewhat resembling a 

 sow, the other a dog ; the first is more arched in the back, and is not so nimble 

 in turning itself;" vol. xv. p. 322. Campsie, Rev. James Lapslie. Again, 

 " We have also two species of the badger ;" ib. vol. p. 466. Blair-Athol and 

 Strowan, Rev. James Maclagan. 



At the conclusion of the British Plantigrada, two species formerly resident 

 in the country deserve to be noticed, both belonging to the genus Ursus. 



1. Ursus Arctos. Brown Beai\ 



This animal not only prevailed in this country at the period of the Ro- 

 man invasion (for Plutarch relates that they were transported to 

 Rome), but maintained its existence, in spite of the efforts of the 

 huntsman, to the middle of the 11th century at least. In 1057, a 

 Gordon is said to have killed a fierce bear, and as a reward was permit- 

 ted to carry three bears' (boars ?) heads in his banners. It was reckoned 

 in Wales as a beast of the chace, equal to the boar or the hare, and 

 many places in that country still retain the name of Penn-arth, or the 

 bear's head ; Penn. Brit. Zool. i. ^H. " In an ancient Gaelic poem 

 ascribed to Ossian, the liero Dermid is said to have been killed by a bear 

 in Beinn Ghiel-binn in Perthshire ;" Statistical Account, Kirkmichael, 

 Banffshire, Rev. John Grant, vol. xii. p. 449. Though now banished 

 from this island, it is still to be found in France and Germany, 



:2. U. Spelceus. Cave Bear. 



This species, so far as is known, has become extinct, and seems to have been 

 cotemporary with the mammoth. It equalled a horse in size. Its re- 

 mains occur sparingly in some of the large English caves, which have 

 been the graves of so many of the ancient inhabitants of this island. 

 See Bucklarid's Reliquiae Diluvianas, p. 1 "}. 



DIGITIGRADA. 



I. Bruising grinders in each jaw. 



CANINADjE. 



Two bruising grinders in each jaw. Furnished wiih a smaU 



ccBcum. 



Gen. VIII. CANIS. Dog. — Pupil circular, diurnal. Fore 

 feet with five, hind feet with four toes ; nails hollowed ; 

 tongue smooth ; eai's large ; nose moist, smell acute. 



13. Cfamiliaris. — Tail recurved. 



W, Ci,/em. Gast; N, Hund. 

 The dog has long been the companion of man in a domesticated state, and 

 is the only animal which seems to prefer the company of his master to the 

 individuals of hi? own species. He fawns at his approach, will fight in his 



