141 CARNIVOROUS QUADRUPEDS. 



in the form of the teeth, which are furnished with 

 blunted tubercles. According to characters derived 

 from these instruments of mastication, together 

 with the form of the feet, this family or order may 

 be divided into three groups, named Plantigrada, 

 Digitigrada, and Amphibia. 



I. PLANTIGRADA The Plantigrade Carnivora, 

 so named on account of their applying the entire 

 naked sole of the hind foot to the ground when 

 walking, have five toes on all the feet. Their 

 molares are furnished with blunt tubercles, and 

 their colon is destitute of ccecum. Their motions 

 are generally slow ; they roam abroad chiefly at 

 night, feed on vegetable as well as animal sub- 

 stances ; and when confined to cold countries, pass 

 the winter in a state of torpidity. To this family 

 belong the Bears, Badgers, Racoons, Benturongs, 

 and Coatis. In this country there is now only a 

 single species, of which the genus may be defined 

 as follows : 



1. MELES. BADGER. Second incisor of the lower 

 jaw placed behind the rest ; grinders five above, six 

 below, on each side, in a continuous series ; body 

 large ; head small and rather elongated ; limbs short 

 and robust ; claws of the fore feet long ; tail short, 

 with a glandular pouch beneath its base, whence 

 exudes a fetid humour ; hair long and coarse. 



I. Meles Taxus. Common Badger. 



