144 MamMALIA OF INDIA. 
GENUS MUSTELA—-THE WEASELS.” 
These are smaller animals of the true vermiform shape; the legs are 
very short in comparison with the body, and the neck is very thick and 
very long, and the head is small, so that head, neck, and body are almost 
equally cylindrical, and the length of the neck gives a far, set-back 
appearance to the forelegs, so much so that they seem to start from 
behind the chest instead of in front of it. The teeth are 34 in number, 
or four less than in the preceding genus ; upper tubercular grinder trans- 
verse or broader than long; the feet are slightly webbed, covered with 
hair, and the space between the pads is hairy; the tail is short; fur 
dark above, white or yellowish beneath. 
s Mustela. 
Some authors contend that the weasel, though commonly referred to 
the genus Mustela, should be Puforius, which is an instance of the 
disagreement which exists among naturalists. I have however followed 
Gray in his classification, although perhaps Cuvier, who classes the 
weasels and pole-cats under the genus /w/orius, has the claim of 
priority. Ray applied the name of AZwstela to the restricted weasels, 
and Martes to the martens, but Cuvier gives /ustela to the martens, 
and brings the weasels and pole-cats together under Puforius. 
