CARNIVORA: URSID.E. 



49 



American Badger, T. americana, Waterh. 



hair is long, espe- Fi s- 



cially on the hind 

 part of the body, 

 whence it extends 

 so far towards the 

 extremity of the 

 tail as almost to 

 conceal the latter ; 

 and the ears ap- 

 pear as if they had 

 been clipped. The 

 Mexican Badger, 7! Berlandieri, Baird, is a closely related 

 species. Badgers live in burrows, and dig with astonish- 

 ing rapidity. 



URSID.E, OR BEAR FAMILY. This Family comprises 

 the true plantigrade carnivora, those which walk on 

 the whole sole of the foot. They are five-toed, and the 

 toes are distinctly separate. Their teeth are the same 

 in number as those of the Dog Family, but the sectorial 

 teeth and the molars behind them are tuberculated. They 

 have no ccecum. Though carnivorous, they feed more 

 or less upon vegetable food. Many of the species are 

 ready climbers. Those which inhabit cold climates pass 

 the winter in a torpid state. The Ursidae comprise the 

 Raccoons, Pandas, and Bears. 



The Genus Procyon Raccoons is characterized by 

 a stout body, pointed muzzle, and moderately long -tail. 



The Common Rac- Fig 46 



coon, P. lotor, Storr., 

 of the United States, 

 is less than two feet 

 long to the tail, which 

 is about a foot ; the gen- 

 eral color light gray, 



tinged with pale rusty Common Raccoon> ^ lotor , StorT . 



3 D 



