FAMILY D IGITIGRADA. TOE-TREADERS. 



21 



The Common Raccoon (P. Lotor) is about two feet in length ; the general 

 colour of the fur dusky grey, inclining to black on the upper parts, but 

 becoming lighter on the sides and whitish on the belly ; face whitish, sur- 

 rounded by a black band of unequal width. Is found most frequently in 

 North America. The Raccoon is a very lively, active animal, and in con- 

 finement is capable of slight attachment, which, however, it speedily forgets 

 when set at liberty. It feeds on vegetable substances, especially on fruit, 

 and also upon eggs and the birds themselves, and is said to be very dexterous 

 in extracting oysters from their shells. It feeds itself with its fore paws 

 like hands, not unfrequently sitting up on its rump, and has a remarkable dis- 

 position to plunge everything it eats into water, when it has an opportunity. 

 The Crab-eating Eaccoon (P. Cancrivorus) is of a tawny colour, mingled 

 with black and grey. Its habits are similar to those of the last species, 

 and it feeds on Crustacea. It is found in South America, and especially in 

 French Guiana. 



NASUA C'oati. These animals are remarkable for the elongation of the 

 nose, which is extended into a kind of trunk, pierced at the tip by oval 

 nostrils. In size they nearly equal the Fox ; the body is long and covered 

 with thick hair, the legs are short, and the tail, about equalling the length of 

 the body, is carried either horizontally or elevated. They live in the woods, 

 either alone or in pairs, but do not burrow. They feed on fruit, insects, and 

 reptiles, which they hunt by scent ; and they grub up the earth with their 

 long snout like Hogs. They are easily tamed, and fond of caresses, but 

 never attach themselves, and cannot be allowed to go at liberty, as they pry 

 into every hole and corner where they have the least notion anything is 

 to be obtained. 



The Red Coati, or Brazilian Weasel (N. Rufa), measures in the length 

 of the body about fifteen inches, tail fourteen, general colour bright rufous. 

 It inhabits Brazil and Guiana, and climbs trees with great facility ; it car- 

 ries its tail perpendicular to the body, and puts it between its legs before 

 going to sleep. 



The Brown Coati (N. Fusca), shown in our fifth Plate, is the same in 

 size as the Red Coati ; its general colour is blackish brown, mingled with 

 a little grey on the upper parts of the body ; dingy yellow beneath, espe- 

 cially on the neck and chest between the fore legs ; the head is grey, the 

 sides of the nose black, bordered on the upper edge with two white stripes, 

 which pass from the angle of the eye to the middle of the snout, where 

 they are gradually lost ; above and below each eye is a white spot, and a 

 third behind the outer corner ; the tail is alternately ringed with black and 

 dingy yellow. It is found in Brazil, Paraguay, and Guiana, climbs as well 

 as a cat, and is extremely troublesome from turning over everything which 

 comes in its way. 



GULO Glutton. This genus forms a link between the Plantigrade and 

 Digitigrade tribes. In disposition they are bloodthirsty and cruel, and 

 most of them are northern animals. 



The Ursus Gido (G. Septentrionalis) is about the size of our Badger ; 

 the limbs large, back straight, and marked through its whole length with 

 a tawny line, the rest of the body either black or a deep chestnut ; tail 

 short and very hairy. Native of Lapland, Eastern Siberia, and Kamt- 

 schatka, in which latter country it often varies in colour to white and 

 yellowish ; such skins are more valued by the natives, who have a notion 

 that the heavenly beings are clad with them. Its victims are chiefly Deer. 

 The Woolverine (G. Americanus) is considered by Pallas to be a variety 

 of the last species ; it usually walks with the back arched : white spot on 

 the throat and chest, the latter crescent-shaped ; a yellowish-brown band 

 on the sides passing over the back above the tail. Found at Hudson's 

 Bay and in Canada, where it is called the Beaver-eater, in consequence of 

 preying on those animals. Is very fierce and powerful, but slow-footed, 

 and has a musky smell, which causes its preservation from other preda- 

 ceous animals. 



Besides the Woolverine, the Orison (G. Vittatus), and the Guiana 

 Glutton (G. Barbaras), are natives of America. 



The Eatel Ratel (G. Mellivorus), considered by some as a distinct genus, 

 is about the size of the Badger, with short legs and long' straight claws. 



Found at the Cape of Good Hope, where it inhabits the deserted holes of 

 other predaceous animals : it feeds on Bees, to whose nests it is directed 

 by the Honey-guide Cuckoo, but fails of disturbing them when lodged in 

 the trees, as it cannot climb. It is courageous, and will often not only 

 face, but resist, a pack of Dogs which would destroy a Lion. It emits a 

 most horrible stench. 



MELES Badger. The individuals belonging to this genus were in- 

 cluded by Linnams among the Bears, from which, however, they are espe- 

 cially distinguished by the form of the molar teeth, the three hindmost of 

 which in the Bears are all tubercular. 



The Common Badger (M. Vulgaris) is about two feet six inches in 

 length, and the tail six inches more ; it stands low on the legs ; the body 

 clumsy, thick, and covered with long, coarse hairs like bristles, which have 

 generally a greyish appearance. 



The Badger is a harmless and inoffensive animal, spending the greater 

 part of its time in sleep ; it burrows under ground, and forms several cells, 

 with, however, but a single entrance ; here in the summer the female brings 

 forth her young, depositing them on a bed of grass and moss. It is not 

 decided whether they are carnivorous, or whether, like the Bears, they 

 only feed on animal food, when roots, fruit, and grass, believed to be their 

 common sustenance, is not to be found. In their motions they are slow, 

 but when attacked fight furiously and bite severely. 



The Badger is found principally in Europe, but it is also met with in 

 the northern parts of Asia, though not in hotter climates. The skin of 

 the Badger is commonly used for pistol furniture, and among the High- 

 landers of Scotland for pouches ; the hairs are also employed for making 

 that kind of brash used in painting for softening down, which are called 

 sweetening tools. In China they are commonly used for food. 



Badger-baiting is now scarcely heard of, though formerly it was a very 

 fashionable employment. 



The American Badger (M. Labradorius) is of less size than the pre- 

 ceding and of lighter make, and the head, though as long, is not so sharp 

 at the nose ; its fur is very fine, about three and a half inches long on the 

 back, and of purplish-brown colour. The American Badger frequents the 

 sandy plains skirting the Rocky Mountains as far as the banks of the Peace 

 River and the source of the River of the Mountains, and is very common 

 in the plains of the Missouri, as also near Carlton House, on the banks of 

 the Saskatchewan and Red River flowing into Lake Winnipeg. 



Family TOE-TREADERS ; Digitigrada. 



The animals of this family are characterised by treading on the ends of 

 their toes, on which account they are named as above. Digitigrada is 

 composed of the Latin digitus, " a toe or finger," and gradior, " to walk." 



ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES. 



PLATE 6. 

 Genera. Species. Common Name. 



Mustela Fouina Pine Martin. 



Mephitis Americana - - - - American Skunk. 



Lutra Vulgaris - - - Common Otter. 



Viverra Civita Civet. 



Herpestes Ichneumon ... - Egyptian Ichneumon. 



PLATE 7. 



[Familiaris - - - - Thibet Dog. 



I Lupus Wolf. 



Canis ------ \ Aureus ----- Jackal. 



Vulpes Fox. 



[Fennecns - - - - Fennek. 



PLATE 8. 



Hyama Vulgaris .... Striped Hyena. 



(Leo ------ Lion. 



FelU - - - ' - \Tigris Tiger. 



Othf.r Genera of this Family : Megalotis, Paradoxus, Proteles. 



CHARACTERS OF THE GENERA. 



1. MUSTELA. Incisive teeth six in each jaw; the second lower outer 

 one narrower, and set further in than the others, cuspid, sharp, conical, and 



