74 2 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



black inferiorly, with a white face and ears, and the latter is 

 almost completely white in colour. Like the Kinkajous, but 

 unlike the Coatis and Racoons, the sEhinis has retractile 

 claws. 



The only remaining family of the Plantigrada is that of the 

 Melidce. or Badgers, characterised by their elongated bodies 

 and short legs, and forming a transition between the Ursidce 

 and Mustelidce. They agree with the latter group in the pos- 

 session of odoriferous anal glands. The dental formula of the 

 Badger is as follows (Baird) 



''^; = 34(36). 



The first prsemolar in the lower jaw is very minute, and is 

 soon lost; the upper carnassial has a well-marked internal 

 tubercle; and the upper molar is of comparatively large size, 

 nearly equalling the carnassial in its dimensions. 



The common Badger (Meles taxus\ which may be regarded 

 as the type of this group, occurs in Britain, and is one of the 

 most inoffensive of animals. It is nocturnal in its habits, and 

 is a very miscellaneous feeder, not refusing anything edible 

 which may come in its way, though living mainly on roots and 

 fruits. The Badger burrows with great ease, and can bite very 

 severely. The European Badger is represented in the United 

 States and Canada by the " SifHeur " (Taxidea Labradoricd), and 

 in the hilly parts of India by the Indian Badger (Meles or 

 Arctonyx collaris). The Glutton (Gulo luscus), often called the 

 Wolverine, is of common occurrence in the northern parts of 

 Europe, Asia, and America. It is from two to three feet in 

 length, and though doubtless a tolerably voracious animal, it 

 is certainly not so much so as to deserve the name of Glutton. 

 The Grison (Galictis) is a closely-allied form which is found 

 in South America. These two genera are often placed among 

 the Mustelidce. The Ratels or Honey-badgers (Mellivora) are 

 much like the common Badger in their habits and appearance, 

 but they have only one lower molar (the carnassial) on each 

 side. They are natives of southern and eastern Africa, and 

 India. The Skunks (Mephitis) are sometimes placed in this 

 family, to which they are allied through the singular Mydaus 

 of Java and Sumatra. 



SECTION III. DIGITIGRADA. In this section of the Carnivora 

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

 greater part of the metacarpus and metatarsus, so that the 

 animals walk more or less completely on the tips of the toes 

 (fig. 424, C), No absolute line, however, of demarcation can 



