FLESH-EATING MAMMALS. 



Si 



Of the forms with only three pairs of premolars and no inner cusp to the lower 

 carnassial tooth, the largest are the nertz (M. lutreola) of Eastern Europe, 

 and the nearly related North American mink (M. visori). Next come the five 

 species of polecat, as typified by the common European polecat (M. putorius); 

 while the smaller forms include the true weasels and stoats. Of these, the 

 stoat or ermine (M. erminea) and the weasel (M. mdgaris) are common to 

 Europe, North and Central Asia, and North America, while the assogue (M. 

 Mbernica), which is intermediate in size and coloration between the other two, 

 is restricted to Ireland, being the only Mammal peculiar to the British Islands. 

 The South African Poecilogale albinucha, which has a coloration similar to 

 that of the Cape polecat (Ictonyx), has been referred to a distinct genus, on 

 account of there being only two pairs of premolar teeth in each, and by the 

 lower molars being generally reduced to a single pair. The name Lyncodon 

 has been proposed for a Patagonian weasel, in which the dentition is numeri- 

 cally the same as in the preceding. 



The last genus of the mustelines is represented solely by the wolverene or 

 glutton (Gulo luscus) of the northern districts of both hemispheres. In this 

 comparatively large animal, which is an inhabitant of forests, there are 38 

 teeth, all of which are very stout and strong*; the upper molar being much 

 smaller than the carnassial, the lower carnassial large, with no inner cusp, and 

 a small posterior tooth, and the third upper incisor so large as to resemble a 

 second tusk. The form is more like that of a bear than a weasel, the body 

 and limbs being stout, the latter long, with large, partially plantigrade feet, 

 the small ears almost buried in the loose, coarse fur, the eyes, the tail short, 

 thick, and bushy, and the soles of the feet covered with bristly hairs. 

 The dark fur has a light saddle-shaped mark on the back. The wolverene is 

 a good climber, and lives on large birds and mammals, killing animals even as 

 large as the reindeer. It has a curious habit of carrying off and collecting 

 articles for which it can have no possible use. 



The fur-seals, or eared-seals, are the first of three families of the aquatic 

 Carnivora, all the members of which are modified for an aquatic life, and 

 collectively constitute the sub-order Pinnipedia. In all these 

 animals the upper-arm and fore-arm, and the corresponding Eared-Seals. 

 segments of the hind-limb, are abnormallytehortened, and to Family Otariidce. 

 a great extent enclosed in the skin of the body, whereas the 

 feet, and more especially the hinder pair, are elongated and expanded into 

 large flippers, with the toes 

 widely separated and completely 

 united by webs. Five toes are 

 present, of which the first and 

 fifth in the hind -limb are 

 stouter and usually longer than 

 the three middle ones. The 

 incisor teeth are always reduced 

 below the typical number of 

 three pairs in one or both jaws ; 

 and the cheek teeth, which 

 usually consist of four pairs of 

 premolars and a single pair of 

 molars, are nearly alike, and 

 lack the specially modified car- 

 nassiala characteristic of the land Carnivora. The body is of a tapering, 



Fig. 51. SEA-LION. 



