60 MAMMALIA. 



ICTIDES, Valen. 



The Benturong is somewhat related to the Raccoon by its teeth, but the three 

 upper back molars are much smaller and less tuberculous, the last one in each 

 jaw particularly, which is very small and nearly simple. It is covered with 

 long hair, and has a tuft at each ear. The tail is long, hairy, and has a 

 propensity to curl, as if prehensile. From India, our species is 



let. a/bifrons, FT. Cuv. Grey ; tail and sides of the muzzle black ; size 

 that of a large cat. From Bootan. 



NASUA, Storr. 



The Coatis, to the teeth, tail, nocturnal habit, and slow dragging gait of the 

 Raccoon, add a singularly elongated and flexible snout. The feet are semi- 

 palmate, notwithstanding which they climb trees. Their long claws are used 

 for digging. They inhabit the warm climates of America, and their diet is 

 nearly the same as that of the Marten of Europe. 



Viverra nasua, L. (The Red CoatiJ Reddish fawn colour ; muzzle 

 brown ; tail with brown rings. 



This is perhaps the only proper place for the singular genus of the KIN- 

 KAJOUS or POTTO, Cuv. which, to a plantigrade walk, adds a long prehensile 

 tail like that of the Sapajous, a short muzzle, a slender and extensible tongue, 

 two pointed grinders before, and three tuberculous ones behind. 



Only one species is known, the Viverra caudivolvula, Gm. From the 

 warm parts of America and from the great Antilles, where it is called Potto ; 

 size of a polecat ; hair woolly, and of a grey or yellowish brown ; habits 

 nocturnal ; of a mild disposition, and lives on fruit, milk, honey, blood, &c. 



MELES, Storr. 



The Badgers, which Linnseus placed with the Raccoons in the genus Ursus, 

 have a very small tooth behind the canine, then two pointed molars followed 

 in the upper jaw by one that we begin to recognise as carnivorous from the 

 trenchant vestige it exhibits on its outer side ; behind this is a square tuber- 

 culous one, the largest of all. Below, the penultimate begins to show a 

 resemblance to the inferior carnivorous teeth, but as there are two tubercles on 

 its internal border as elevated as its trenchant edge, it acts as a tuberculous 

 one ; the last below is very small. 



The slow movements of the badgers and their nocturnal habits are like 

 those of the preceding animals ; their tail is short, the toes are much enve- 

 loped in the skin, and they are otherwise peculiarly distinguished by a sac 

 under the tail, from which oozes a fat, foetid humour. The long claws of 

 their fore-feet enable them to dig with great effect. 



M. Europtea. (The European Badger.) Greyish above, black beneath, a 

 blackish band on each side of the head*. 



The American Badger. Mel. IIudonius is a different species M. Labradoria ; 



American badger, as will be seen from the description. Above grey, beneath paler ; head 

 brown, with a narrow white line on the top under jaw and throat white." ED. 



