

88 MAMMALIA. FER.E. 



Gen. (>7. POTOS, Geoff. Desm. Viverra, Gmel. Schreb. 

 Lemur, Penn. 



Incisors f canines ^-f, molars f-f = 36. Lower incisors on 

 the same line ; the three posterior molars with tuberculous 

 crowns ; pentadactyle ; toes armed with crooked nails ; muzzle 

 short ; head rounded ; tail long and prehensile. 



P. caudivolvulus, Desm. (Viverra caudivolvula, Schreb.) Yellow 

 Maucoco, Penn. Fur silky, of a brownish very bright fawn-co- 

 lour. About 19 inches long. S. America. Penn. Quad. t. 16. 



Gen. 68. TAXUS, Geoff. Meles, Storr. Cuv. Ursus 9 Lin. 



Incisors, f, canines ^-i, molars |-| = 88. The first molar 

 very small, the second and third pointed, the fourth cutting 

 on the external side, the fifth tuberculous and large ; body 

 low upon the legs ; pentadactyle ; nails robust ; tail short ; 

 an anal pouch, containing a fetid secretion. 



T. vulgaris, Desm. (Ursus meles, Lin.) The Badger. Fur of a 

 gray brown above, black below , a longitudinal black band on 

 each side of the head, passing around the eye and ear. About 

 two feet three inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. Shaw,i. pi. 106. 



T. Labradorica, ( Ursus Labradoricus, Gm.) Pale yellowish-gray ; 

 belly and throat white, with a longitudinal band on the side of 

 the head, passing over the eye and the ear. Inhabits Hudson's 

 Bay Shaw, i. pi. 106. 



Gen. 69. GULO, Cuv. Illig. Mustela, Ursus, Lin. 



Incisors , canines \-\, molars |-f or f-f 36 or 38. Mo- 

 lars, the three first in the upper, and the four in the lower 

 jaw, small, succeeded by a large carnivorous tooth, and a 

 small tuberculous one at the back ; body low, head mode- 

 rately elongated ; ears short and round ; tail short ; penta- 

 dactyle ; toes with crooked nails ; no anal pouch. 



G. arcticus, Desm. (Ursus gulo, Lin. Pall.) The Wolverene, 

 Penn. Body pretty thick ; fur of a fine deep chestnut-colour, 

 with a disc, almost black upon the back. About 2@ inches long. 

 Inhabits northern Europe and America. Shaw, i. pi. 104. 



Var. A. Differs from the preceding in the colours being paler. 

 The voracity of this animal, though excessive, has been greatly exaggerated. It 

 is about the size of the badger, and the body is heavy. When a sufficient supply of 

 small quadrupeds and birds cannot be procured, it is said to conceal itself on the 

 horizontal branch of some tree, where it will drop on deer or other animals passing 

 beneath, holding its situation and sucking their blood till exhaustion renders them 

 an easy prey. According to Dr Richardson, it is extremely annoying to the hunters, 

 by devouring their stores of provision and carrying off the baits of their marten 

 traps. It has been known to visit daily a line of traps extending upwards of two 

 miles, and to rob the whole of them of the baits, and of such animals as had been 

 caught. 



