IV. MAMMALIA. 25 



stealthy manner, but rather run it down. They differ from the 

 Cats in having non -retractile claws and the fore part of the skull 

 elongated. They are represented by the following specimens :- 



The 'Dog—{Oanisfamiliaris). The Blood Hound ; the Terrier ; the 

 Poodle. It is uncertain from what wild species the dog has 

 descended. It is only known now in the domestic state, and such 

 wild dogs as exist are evidently offshoots from some domestic 

 dog. The dogs of different countries show a remarkable resem- 

 blance to the wild species found in the same countries. The 

 different varieties of dogs will interbreed, and will do so even 

 with the wolf and the jackal. 



The Wolf— {Oanis lupus) found all over Europe, Asia, and North 

 America, 



The Jackal — fCanis aureus and C. mesomelasj from India and 

 South Africa. 



The Foxes — (Fw((/?^s) differ somewhat from the other Canidce 

 They are found in both the old and new worlds. Specimens 

 exhibited are : — The Common Fox— [Vulpes vulgaris); the Arctic 

 Fox ( V. lagopus) from the Arctic regions of both hemispheres, 

 one variety of which is of a blue colour all the year round, and 

 another is of a brown colour in summer and changes to white 

 in winter ; the Red Fox of Canada ( F. fulvus) ; and others. 



The MUSTELID^, or Weasel family, includes a number of, 

 smal), long-bodied, but short-legged Carnivora. Many of them 

 have the power of ejecting a most disagreeable odour, by means 

 of a secretion from a specially developed gland. The following- 

 species of this family are exhibited : — 



The Marten, [Martes ahietum) from Great Britain. 



The Common W e2iSe\—{Mustela vulgaris). 



The Japanese Weasel— (^^wsie^« itatsi). 



The Polecat — {Mustela putonus). 



The Ferret — {Musteiafwo). 



The Stoat or Ermine — [Mustela erminea) famed for its fur. 



The Minx (Mustela vison) from North America. 



The Chorok — [Mustela siberica). 



The SlLTlIlk.— {Mephitis mephitica) which has the most powerful 

 odour of all Mustelidse. No amount of washing will remove it 

 from one's clothes if it once touches them. 



The Badger — {Meles taxus) of Europe. 



