MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 17 



upper ; upper carnivorous tooth three lobed, 

 with a broad heel inside, lower two lobed, no 

 heel ; tongue roughened by horny, recurved 

 papillae ; body compressed ; anterior limbs 

 massive; digitigrade. Habits chiefly noc- 

 turnal. 



4. FAMILY. W easels (Mustelidse). Muzzle short, 



obtuse ; body long, slender, flexible ; limbs 

 short; tail lengthened; one true molar on 

 either side of each jaw ; digitigrade ; stature 

 small ; disposition very sanguinary. They 

 diffuse, when alarmed, a fetid stench. False 

 molars in the typical forms |^j*. 



5. FAMILY. Skunks (Mephitidse). Muzzle slightly 



elongate, obtuse ; body heavy ; limbs stout ; 

 tail short and bushy, usually erect ; claws 

 strong; lower carnivorous tooth with two 

 tubercles on inner side ; feet plantigrade ; 

 hair of body generally longitudinally striped. 

 Commonly mephitic. 



6. FAMILY. Bears (Ursidse). Body usually heavy, 



with or without a tail ; limbs long and thick ; 

 plantigrade ; claws strong ; cartilage of nose 

 elongated and moveable ; lips generally mo- 

 bile ; tongue extensible ; molars tubercular. 

 Most have the power of climbing trees. Ha- 

 bits omnivorous. 



7. FAMILY. SWs (Phocidse). Body lengthened, ta- 



pering posteriorly ; feet short, in the form of 

 flippers ; toes connected by a membrane ; 

 teeth variable ; fur short and close. Able 



