CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



strong and disagreeable odorous exudation from 

 glands under the tail. The Skunks (Mephitis) 

 are an American tribe, and are remarkable for 

 the intensity of their nauseous suffocating stench. 

 The Ermine (M. Erminid) and Sable (M. zibellina} 

 are valued for their splendid fur. Also belonging 



Otter (Lutra vulgaris). 



to the same family are the Otters (Lutrd), dis- 

 tinguished by their webbed feet and horizontally 

 flattened tail. The British Otter (L. vulgaris} 

 frequents the banks .of streams, and lives chiefly 

 upon fish. 



The Viverridte is the second family of Semi- 

 plantigrades. They are small animals, with a 

 pointed muzzle, and are either striped or spotted. 

 In the true Civets (Viverra Civettd) there is a 

 pouch near the tail which yields the 'civet' of 

 commerce, which is valued as a perfume. They 

 are natives of India and Africa, are easily tamed, 

 and feed partly on fruits. Allied to these is the 

 celebrated Ichneumon (Herpestes Ichneumon) 

 of Egypt, which is highly carnivorous, is about 

 the size of a cat, and as slender as a marten. It 

 feeds largely on crocodiles' eggs, by destroying 

 which it prevents the excessive multiplication of 

 these animals. It is easily domesticated, and 

 lives upon small reptiles and mammals. 



Connecting the Viverridae with the Felidas, is 

 the family of the Hyccnida, which alone of all the 



Striped Hyaena (Hyizna striata). 



Carnivora have only four toes on each foot 

 dental formula is : 



1.3=3 >c -t=I, P.3n3 >M .?::?-34 



33 i i 33 i i 



186 



The 



the last upper molar being tuberculate. As the 

 fore-limbs are longer than the hind pair, the body 

 slopes towards the hind quarters. Their claws 

 are non-retractile. Their jaws are short and 

 powerful, and peculiarly adapted for crushing 

 bones. They are nocturnal in their habits, and 

 extremely ferocious. Two species are known r 

 which are confined to the Old World the Striped 

 Hyaena (H. striata), which is found in Asia and 

 Africa, and the Spotted Hyaena (H. crocuta), 

 which is confined to Africa. The bones of an 

 extinct species (H. spelurd), or Cave Hyaena, have 

 been found in the caves of Britain, associated 

 with bones of the Cave Bear. 



The family Canida, or Dog tribe, are digitigrade r 

 and have the muzzle pointed, their claws non- 

 retractile, and the tongue smooth, and two of their 

 molars are tuberculate. The animals of this family 

 agree in their greater or less adaptation to a 

 mixed diet. The fore-feet have five toes, and the 

 hind-feet four. The Wolf (C. lupus], Fox (Vulpes 

 vulgaris), and Jackal (C. aureus) are the animals 

 which most nearly approach the dog ; and the 

 first of these is regarded by some naturalists as 

 being really identical. The Arctic Fox ( V. lagopus) 

 is normally of a blackish-brown colour, but on the 

 approach of winter the fur becomes white and 

 very long, forming an excellent protection against 

 the cold in those high latitudes. The breeds of 

 the Common Dog (Canis familiaris} are all believed 

 to have had the same origin. 



The last family of the Digitigrada is the Felid&y, 

 or Cat tribe, which are characterised by their 

 rounded head and powerful jaws, their retractile 

 claws which, when not in use, are drawn within 

 a sheath so as to prevent them from being blunted 

 and the adaptation of their teeth for cutting. 

 Only the last molar in the upper jaw is tubercu- 

 late. The fore-feet have four toes, and the hind- 

 feet five. Their tongue is roughened by horny 

 papillae, thus rendering it more efficient for rasp- 

 ing the flesh off the bones of their prey. They 

 steal upon their prey unawares, and seize it with 

 a sudden spring, often slinking off when once 

 baffled. Most of them are sufficiently well known 

 to render any peculiar description unnecessary. It 

 may, however, be remarked, that some species 

 are found in almost all tropical and temperate 



Bengal Tiger (Felis tigris). 



countries, and that those of different parts of 

 the globe represent each other in a remarkable 



