Mammalia. 83 



Fam. CARNIVORA. Cuvier. 



Six incisors in each jaw, cheek teeth without the sliarp points 

 of the InseclivorcE, but either trenchant or tuberculous or both ; 

 the species more or less carnivorous, canines long and strong. 



• Plantigrada — soles of the feet resting entirely on the ground. 



Genus Ratellus. Cuvier. 

 Incisors 5, canines \ \, molars \ *,t — 32. Upper jaw— the out- 

 ermost incisor of each side longer than the intermediate 07ies, and 

 shaped somewhat like the canines ; the first and second molars 

 each with one point ; the third with three distinct and unequal 

 points; the fourth with two fiat tubercles, one on the outer edge 

 and one on the inner. Under jaw, — Incisors nearly equal, each 

 more or less bilobate ; the first and second molars each with one 

 point, the third with two unequal points, and the fourth with 

 three also unequal. Muzzle short ; nose acute ; eyes small ; 

 no external ears ; feet plantigrade, toes five, claws curved and 

 pointed ; tail short; — skin very thick and loosely attached to the 

 soft parts ; figure robust. 



Ratellus typicus. (The Ratel.) The upper part of the 

 necli, the back, the upper half of the sides and the base of 

 the tail, above dull white, slightly variegated by an intermixture 

 of black hairs ; face, sides of head, throat, breast, belly, and 

 rest of tail, pure black ; top of head and a stripe along the 

 sides immediately over the black, nearly an uniform white. 

 Length from tip of nose to base of tail twenty-nine inches, of 

 tail seven inches. 



Inhabits South Africa. — Central Africa, Denham. 



Viverra mellivora, Gm. Viverra Capensis, Gm. 89. Ratel, 

 Spar. Act. Stock. 1777- The Fizzler Weasel, Penn. Quad. 

 Honey Weasel, Shaw's Zoology, 395. Gulo Capensis, Desra. 

 Mam. p. 176. 



*• Digitigrada, — walking on the toes. 



Genus Putorius. . Cuvier. 

 Incisors f, cajiines \\, cheek teeth § J, 07 i i, — 34 or 38; two 

 false molars above and three belouj; the great carnivorous tooth 

 below without an internal tubercle. Muzzle short j ears short 

 and round; body long and slender; legs short; toes five, armed 

 with sharp crooked claws; no anal pouch, but with a small gland 

 secreting a strong stinking ungent. 



Putorius Furo, Liu. (The Ferret.) Head narrow and elongated ; 

 body slender ; hair light yellowish brown or cream-coloured, 



+ In some works tlie molars are said to be \ \. In the specimens I have 

 cxvuiiiucd there have bccu only lour molars in the lower jaw, 



