OTTERS. 19 



externally, but closely related to the ordinary Canidse in their more 

 important dental and cranial characters. With these is placed a 

 specimen of the Long-eared Fox of South Africa (Otocyon megalotis), 

 remarkable for its very numerous teeth and its sharp-pointed and 

 long ears ; special interest is attached to it, as it has been considered 

 to represent the original type of canine animal, whence all the wild 

 forms of Dogs and Foxes of the present day have been developed. 



The last great division of the fissiped Carnivora is the ARCTOIDEA, 

 consisting of the. Bears, Weasels, .Raccoons, &c. The most typical 

 members are completely plantigrade, walking flat on their palms 

 and soles ; and all have five toes on each of their feet. 



Thefirst family, Mustelidce (Cases 21 and 22), contains the Weasels, 

 Otters, Badgers, &c., which all agree very closely in their skulls 

 and dentition, but may be readily separated into three Tribes by 

 their general form, and by the structure of their feet and claws. 

 These tribes are: (1) The Mustelince, the Weasel tribe, the mem- 

 bers of which have long, low bodies, with short legs, short and partly 

 webbed toes, and small, sharp, and often semi-retractile claws. The 

 fur of some of the species forms an important article of trade, as of the 

 Martens and Sables (Mustela) of Northern Europe, Asia, and America. 

 Of these one species is British, namely the Pine-Marten (M. martes), 

 now nearly exterminated in England, but still holding its own in 

 the wilder parts of Scotland. The true Weasels (Putorius) consist 

 of about 20 or 30 comparatively short-haired species, inhabiting 

 nearly all parts of the world. Among them may be mentioned 

 the common English Stoat or Ermine (Putorius ermineus), three 

 specimens of which have been mounted to show the seasonal change 

 of fur ; the Weasel (P. vulgaris) ; the Polecat (P. putorius}, of 

 which the Ferret is a domesticated form. Poecilogale albinucha 

 is the brightest marked of the tribe ; and its largest member, the 

 Glutton (Gulo luscus), a heavily built, powerful animal, much 

 resembling a small bear, and very destructive to the larger game. 

 (2) The Melince, or Badger tribe, have comparatively stout, 

 thick- set bodies, covered with fur generally marked with more or 

 less sharply contrasted black and white bands or patches, and long 

 toes provided with large straight claws, more powerful on the fore 

 than on the hind feet. They include the Badgers (Meles), Ratels 



c2 



