660 THE CARNIVORES 



THE SOUTH-AFRICAN WEASEL 

 Genus Pcecilogale 



The pretty, little, South-African weasel {Pcecilogale albimicha) is worthy of a 

 separate heading, not ,only on account of its remarkable coloration, but also as 

 being, with the exception of one species belonging to the typical genus Mustela, the 

 sole representative of the weasels in Africa south of the Sahara. This species is 

 distinguished from all the other weasels by having the ground color of the fur black, 

 with the upper part of the. head and neck white, and four pale brownish-white 

 stripes running along the back ; the tapering tail being white. This peculiar col- 

 oration is almost precisely similar to that of the so-called Cape polecat, to be men- 

 tioned later on ; and it may be that we have here another instance of true mimicry 

 among Mammals. In addition to its coloration, the species is also distinguished by 

 having but two pairs of premolar teeth in each jaw, while very generally there is 

 but a single pair of molar teeth in the lower jaw ; and it is on these differences 

 in the number of teeth that zoologists chiefly rely in referring this weasel to a 

 distinct genus. 



THE GLUTTON, OR WOLVERENE 

 Genus Gulo 



The glutton {Gulo luscus}, which is the only representative of the genus to 

 which it belongs, is a very different looking animal to any of the foregoing, from 

 which it is likewise distinguished by its superior dimensions. In spite, however, of 

 these differences, naturalists are in accord in regarding the glutton (or, as it is 

 called in America, wolverene) as a member of the typical or weasel-like section of 

 the family. 



The glutton, which is an inhabitant of the northern regions of both the West- 

 ern and Eastern Hemispheres, has the same number of teeth as in the martens; but 

 these are unusually large and powerful, and distantly recall those of the hyaenas. 

 The whole animal is heavily and rather clumsily built, and walks with the greater 

 part of the soles of the feet applied to the ground. The limbs are thick and rather 

 short; the feet are provided with long, curved, and compressed claws, and have their 

 soles thickly haired. The back is much arched, and both the head and tail are car- 

 ried low. Dr. Coues compares the whole appearance of the animal to that of a bear 

 cub, with a superadded tail. The head is broad and rounded, with a rather short 

 and pointed muzzle, small and widely-separated eyes, and small rounded ears, pro- 

 jecting but little above the general level of the fur. The tail is comparatively short, 

 thick, and bushy, with hairs varying from six to eight inches in length; and it has 

 somewhat the appearance of having been truncated at the end. The fur of the body 

 and limbs is rather coarse, long, and thick; and there is also a thick, woolly under- 

 fur. The general color is dusky or blackish brown; but there is a distinct band of 

 chestnut, or some lighter tint, commencing behind the shoulders, then running along 



