FAMILY MUSTELID^ ; MAETEN, SKUNK, OTTER. 223 



Ermine ; the latter being the Stoat in its winter dress. In our 

 own climate this change is not complete ; but in more northern 



;^.-,:. 



Fro. 112. MARTEN. 



regions, the whole body becomes white, except the tip of the 

 tail, which remains black. The Pine-Marten of North America, 

 the SaHe of Northern Asia, and the Zorilla of Southern Africa, 

 me ulso typical species, nearly allied to these. The Skunk is 

 remarkable for the intolerable odour of the secretion from its 

 glandular pouches ; which neither man nor dog can endure. This 

 fluid it has the power of ejecting upon its pursuers, when hard 

 pressed ; and it serves as the most complete means of defence, a 

 single drop being enough to produce nausea, and a sense of suf- 

 focation. Of this genus, four or five species are known ; 

 which are all American. 



197. A somewhat aberrant form of the Weasel tribe, is the 

 Otter, an aquatic animal, which conducts us, in its general con- 

 formation and habits, towards the Seals. Many of the true 

 Weasels resort occasionally to the water in quest of food ; and in 

 those species, the form of the body approaches that of the Otter. 

 In their dentition, the Otters differ but little from the Polecats, 

 Martens, and Skunks ; the false molars being -*'-*, the carnivor- 

 ous teeth -['J-, and the tuberculated molars \. The body is 

 elongated and flattened in its form ; the limbs short and stout ; 

 the toes (five on each foot) are webbed and spreading ; the soles 

 arc naked. The tail is long, stout and muscular at its base, 



