308 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 



this portion of the foot is nearly or altogether destitute of 

 hairs, except in the White Bear. The most typical members 

 of the Plantigrada are the Bears ( Ursidce), of which the 

 common Brown Bear and the White or Polar Bear are familiar 

 examples. The Bears are much less purely carnivorous than 

 the majority of the order, and, in accordance with their om- 

 nivorous habits, the teeth do not exhibit the typical carnivo- 

 rous characters. The incisors and canines have their usual car- 

 nivorous form, but the pr^emolars and molars are furnished 

 with broad tubercular crowns. The claws are large, curved, 

 and strong, but are not retractile. The tongue is smooth, the 

 ears small and erect, the tail short, the nose mobile, and the 

 pupil circular. Most of the Bears are only carnivorous, in so 

 far that they eat flesh when they can get it ; but a great part 

 of their food consists of roots, acorns, honey, and even insects. 

 Nearly related to the true Bears are the familiar Raccoons 

 (Procyon) of America, the Coatis (JVasua) of South America, 

 and the Wah (Ailurus) of India. 



The only remaining Plantigrades of importance are the 

 Badgers (Meles) of Europe, Asia, and America, the Gluttons 

 or Wolverines ( Grulo) of the same continents, and the Honey- 

 badgers (Mellivora) of Africa. 



Forming a kind of transition between the Plantigrada and 

 the Digitigrada is a group of Carnivora which comprises nu- 

 merous forms, such as the Weasels, Otters, and Civets, which 

 apply part, but not the whole, of the sole of the foot to the 

 ground. 



The Weasels (Mustelidce) have short legs and elongated, 

 worm-like bodies, with a stealthy, gliding mode of progression. 

 Good examples are the Pole-cat, the Mink, the Ermine, and 

 the Sable. The two latter furnish the beautiful and valuable 

 furs known by their names. Here also belongs the Skunk 

 (Mephitis) , celebrated for its intensely disagreeable odor when 

 alarmed or irritated. The Otters are nearly allied to the 

 Weasels, but have webbed feet adapted for swimming. The 

 great Sea-otter yields a very valuable fur. The Civets and 

 Genettes ( Viverridoe) all belong to the Old World. The true 

 Civet-cat inhabits North Africa, and is furnished with a pouch 

 which secretes the peculiar fatty substance which is used as a 

 perfume under the name of " civet." 



The typical group of the Carnivora is that of the Digiti- 

 (jrada, comprising the three tribes of the Dogs (Canidce), the 

 Hysenas (Hycenidce), and the Cats (Felidce). The family 

 Canidce comprises the true Dogs, the Wolves, the Foxes, and 



