FAMILY URSID^. 27 



in commerce, being used principally in the fabrication of hats. Its flesh, when young and 

 tender, is savory, tasting not unlike pig; but in adults, is rank and disagreeable. Occa- 

 sionally the raccoon commits great ravages among Indian corn, while it is in a milky state ; 

 and this, together with his occasional descents upon the barn-yard, scarcely compensates the 

 farmer for his zeal in digging up and devouring grubs or larvae of injurious insects. 



The Raccoon is found all over North Aiperica. It has been seen as high as 60° north on 

 the Pacific Ocean. Its southern limits are not so well defined, although it is said to exist as 

 far as Paraguay ; it may possibly be confounded with another species, which, however, has 

 not yet been clearly identified. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



Genus Meles, Brisson. Body robust, low on the legs ; ears short and wide ; anterior nails very large. 

 Tail short, with a glandular pouch beneath. Incisors, | ; canines, f ; molars, |f = 38. Bur- 

 rowing; nocturnal. 

 M. labradoria. American badger. (Godman, 1, 176, fig. Rich. pi. 2.) Hoary; a white stripe 

 down the forehead; a greyish brown or blackish patch includes the eye, and extends to the tip of 

 the nose. Tail 3. Northern regions. Plains of Missouri. 

 Obs. In some parts of this State, the woodchuck {jL'rctomys monax) is called Badger ; but I am not 

 aware that the true Badger exists here. 



GENUS GULO. Storr,' Cuvier. 



Body long, and low on the legs. Soles of the hind feet capable of being applied wholly or in 

 part upon the ground. Tail bushy. A simple fold beneath the tail, instead of a glandular 

 pouch. Feet five-toed, with strong hooked claws. 36 - 38 teeth. Carniverous. Noc- 

 turnal. 



Obs. This genus is arranged by some naturalists among the Mustelidce, to which indeed it 

 bears by its dental system a close relation. The ense?nble of its characters would seem, 

 however, to place it in its present family, making an easy transition to the next. In the 

 latest systematic writers, four species are noted, most of them peculiar to America. The two 

 from North America appear to differ only in color, and are considered by many as mere 

 varieties. 



THE WOLVERENE. 



GULO LUSCUS. 



PLATE Xn. FIG. 2. —(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Carcajou. La Hontan, Voyage, Vol. 1, p. 81. 



Urnu lusau. LlN. 12 ed. p. 71. 



Wolverme. Penn. Arct. Zool. Vol. 1, p. C6. Lawson, Carolina, figure. 



Gvlo arcticus. Harla.v, Faunif, p. GO. 



G. liucua. Godman, Am. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1, p. 185, plate. 



Wolverme. RiCHAEDSON, F. B. A. Vol. 1, p. 41. 



