GROUP OF THE MARTENS. 



219 



rocks, but at irregular hours. It has no 

 winter sleep. During the endless days and 

 nights of the Arctic regions it may be seen 

 ranging about at any hour. Since it is very 

 wily and shrewd it is not easy either to catch 

 it in traps or for the hunter to get near it. 

 Cowering like a cat it lies patiently in wait 

 for the large animals, which it seizes by the 

 throat. Often it climbs on trees, and stretched 



out on a branch remains patiently on the 

 watch for passing victims. It breaks into the 

 uninhabited huts of the Lapps in order to 

 revel on the stores. 



The anal glands are but slightly developed, 

 and only seldom, in case of the utmost danger, 

 does it emit the obnoxious odour of which 

 they are the source. When caught young it 

 may be tamed to a certain degree, and affords 





Fig. 112. The Bush-dog (Icticvon venaticus}. 



amusement by its sports with those of its own 

 kind. Its fur is little esteemed among us. 

 The female brings forth in the month of May 

 from two to four young ones, which it watches 

 over assiduously and defends with courage. 



A very remarkable form which was first 

 discovered in a fossil condition in the caves 

 of Brazil, and was shortly afterwards found 

 living in the thickest parts of the primeval 

 forests, is the Bush-dog (Icticyon venaticus], 

 fig. 1 1 2, described by Lund. This very rare 

 nocturnal animal is about the size of a moder- 

 ately large, strong, thickset clog, which it 

 somewhat resembles in appearance. It is of 

 a brown colour, with a broad back, short 

 strong legs, short tail, and pretty long-haired 

 fur. The head is thick, the muzzle short and 

 broad, the fore-feet with five, the hind ones 



with only four toes, all united at the base by 

 a broad membrane. The animal has only one 

 small tubercled tooth in each jaw, the carnas- 

 sial teeth are short and with a small heel, the 

 premolars pointed; but what mainly distin- 

 guishes this dentition is the great size of the 

 carnassials and canines of the lower jaw. 

 There are in all 36 teeth. 



Not much is known of the habits of this 

 very timid creature. It digs out holes, and 

 appears to feed chiefly on birds and under- 

 ground animals. 



The Hyrares or Grisons (Galictis], which 

 are distributed throughout South America, 

 have altogether the appearance of weasels; 

 a very long short-legged body, a short head 

 thick behind, rounded muzzle, naked soles, 

 sharp curved claws of moderate size, and 



