CARNIVORA. 537 



variety of one of the Pole-cats. Many of the Mustelidce are of 

 great commercial importance, furnishing beautiful and highly- 

 valued furs. Amongst these are the Ermine (Mustela erminea) 

 and the Sable (Mustela zibellina). 



Almost all the Weasels have a very disagreeable odour, pro- 

 duced 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 American Skunk, 

 is facile princes. 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 intensely disagreeable description. 



Also belonging to the family of the Mtistelidce and very 

 nearly allied to the Weasels, are the Otters (Lutrd), distinguished 

 by the possession of webbed feet adapted for swimming. The 

 common Otter (Lutra vulgaris) is a native of Britain, frequent- 

 ing the banks of streams and lakes. It lives upon fish, and is 

 highly destructive to Salmon. 



The second family of the Semi-plantigrade Carnivores is that 

 of the Viverridcz, 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. In most of their charac- 

 ters, therefore, the Civets are much more highly carnivorous 

 than are any of the preceding families, and they approach in 

 many respects'very close to the typical group of the Digitigrada 

 (viz., the FelidcR] ; having especially very close affinities with 

 the Hyaenas. All the species of the family are furnished with 

 anal glands, which secrete the peculiar fatty substance known 

 as " civet." 



The true Civet-cat is the Viverra civetta, a native of Africa, 

 It is a small nocturnal animal, which climbs trees with facility, 

 and feeds chiefly upon small mammals, reptiles, and birds, but 

 also upon roots and fruits. It furnishes the greater part of the 

 " civet " of commerce, which was formerly in great repute both 

 as a perfume and as a medicinal agent. The Genette ( Viverra 

 genetta) is very closely related to the preceding, and is a native 



