FAMILY MELID-; BADGER. 225 



are evidently formed for bruising hard substances ; and the ani- 

 mal probably lives upon Mollusks and Crustacea, as well as upon 

 Fish. 



198. The family of the MELID^E, or Badgers, the first of the 

 Plantigrade section of the Carnivora, includes but few species, 

 some of which, however, are evidently allied to the Weasels, 

 whilst others approach the aberrant members of the family of 

 Bears. The Badger, which is almost completely plantigrade in 



FIG. 107. COBIMON BADGER. 



its walk, presents a strong resemblance to some of the Ursidae m 

 its general aspect ; but is separated from that family by an im- 

 portant distinction. All the Bears and their allies have at least 

 two tuberculated molars; whilst the Badger has but one. 

 This, however, is of very large size in the upper jaw, and is 

 adapted for the mastication of vegetable aliment. Its food 

 consists of roots, earth-nuts, fruits, and eggs, as well as of small 

 mammals ; and it is said also to attack the nests of the wild-bee, 

 plundering the store of honey, and also devouring the larvae, 

 without dread of the stings of the enraged insects, which cannot 

 penetrate its tough skin. Its favourite haunts are obscure and 

 gloomy ; it retires to the deepest recesses of woods, or to thick 

 coppices on the side of hills ; and there, with its long and power- 



