452 ORDERS OF MAMMALIA. 



Remains of Badgers have been found in Post-Tertiary de- 

 posits in Europe, and they are probably referable to the exist- 

 ing Meles taxus. The Gluttons (Gulo) are also only known 

 from Post-Tertiary accumulations, and the so-called Gulo 

 spekeus of the cavern-deposits of Europe does not appear to 

 be separable from the common Wolverine (Gulo luscus). 



SECTION III. DIGITIGRADA. In this section of the Carni- 

 vora the heel is raised above the ground, with the whole or 

 the greater part of the metacarpus, so that the animals walk 

 more or less completely on the tips of the toes (fig. 366, C). 

 No absolute line, however, of demarcation can be drawn 

 between the Plantigrade and Digitigrade sections of the Car- 

 nivora, since many forms (e.g., Mustelida and Viverrida) ex- 

 hibit transitional characters, and it has even been proposed 

 to place these in a separate section, under the name of Semi- 

 plantigrada. 



The first family of the Digitigrada is that of the Mustelida 

 or Weasels, including a number of small Carnivores, with short 

 legs, elongated worm-like bodies, and a peculiar gliding mode 

 of progression (hence the name of Vermiformes, sometimes 

 applied to the group). 



The most important fossil forms of the Mustelida belong to 

 the genera Mustela (comprising the Weasels and Stoats), and 

 Lutra (comprising the Otters). The Weasels appear to have 

 come into existence in the Miocene period, being represented 

 by several species in deposits belonging to this age. They 

 occur also in Pliocene and Post-Tertiary deposits. The Otters 

 are likewise known by their remains in strata of Miocene and 

 Pliocene age, and they occur in Post-Tertiary times. 



The second family of the Semi-plantigrade Carnivores is that 

 of the Viverrida, the Civets and Genettes. They are all of 

 moderate size, with sharp muzzles and long tails, and more or 

 less striped, or banded, or spotted. The carnassial molar is 

 trenchant ; the canines are long, sharp, and pointed ; and the 

 tongue is roughened by numerous prickly papillae. The claws 

 are semi-retractile, and the pupils can contract, on exposure to 

 light, till they resemble a mere line. 



The genus Palceonyctu of De Blainville has been founded 

 upon a lower jaw obtained from the Eocene Tertiary of France, 

 and apparently referable to this family. The Miocene rocks 

 of France have yielded the remains of several species which 

 have been placed in the existing genus Viverra. Lastly, the 

 Hyanictis and Ictitherium of the Upper Miocene deposits of 

 Attica, appear to be intermediate in their characters between 

 the ViverridcK and Hycenidce. 



