744 



MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



Sable, Ermine, Black Mink, and Pekan, being specially sought 

 after. 



Almost all the Weasels have a very disagreeable odour, produced by the 

 secretion of greatly-developed and modified sebaceous glands, placed in 

 the neighbourhood of the anus, and known as the anal glands. In this 

 respect, however, the nearly-allied genus Mephitis, comprising the Ameri- 

 can Skunk, is facile princeps. The Skunk is a pretty little animal, with a 

 long bushy tail, and when unmolested it is perfectly harmless. If pursued 

 or irritated, however, it has the power of ejecting the secretion of the anal 

 glands to a greater or less distance with considerable force. The odour of 

 this secretion is so powerful and persistent that no amount of washing will 

 remove it from a garment, and its characters are said to be of the most in- 

 tensely disagreeable description. 



Nearly related to the family of the Mustelidce. are the Otters 

 (Lutra\ distinguished by the possession of webbed feet adapted 



Fig. 431. Skull of common Otter (Lntra vnlgaris), viewed from one side. 

 (After Coues.) 



Fig. 432. Under view of the skull of the common Otter. (After Coues. ) 



for swimming. The body is long, the legs short, and the tail 

 long, stout, and horizontally flattened. The common Otter 

 (Lutra vulgaris, figs. 431, 432) is a native of Britain, frequent- 



