3l6 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



been well observed until now, and was classed 

 among the sloths. After the bears are the ra- 

 coons, which only differ from the bear in size 

 and length of tail (i). 



On the first shelves of the second case are the 

 long-nosed coatis, the badgers, whose bristles are 

 employed in making soft brushes, and the civet 

 of the Cape (viverra mellivora], which has only 

 been well known since M. Delalande brought it 

 from that country. On the fourth shelf is the 

 northern glutton, or the rossomaque of the Rus- 

 sians, which hunts at night, and whose fur is 

 much esteemed. The lower shelves are occu- 

 pied by weazels and martins, of which there are 

 nineteen species. The most celebrated for its 

 rich fur is the sable, which inhabits the frozen 

 mountains of the north of Europe and Asia. Long 

 and hazardous journeys are performed in the 

 winter to hunt these animals ; and it was in 

 searching for their fur that the eastern countries 

 of Siberia were discovered. The individual in 

 the Museum was presented to Buffon by the 

 Empress of Ptussia (2). 



At the top of the third case are the European 



(1) These animals inhabit America, where they are commonly called 

 washers, from their habit of steeping their food in water. 



(2) All the animals of this class have a more or less offensive smell ; 

 whence the names of polecat and scamcw given 10 both genera. 



