184 ORDER V. 



false molars in the typical species are f-, but in 

 some they are reduced to J-J. 



jy'igitigrade mustelidce^ with one tubercular tooth 

 behind the great carnassial of the upper jaw. 



Genus MUSTELA Dent. form. , \-\, f-f =34; 

 muzzle short ; animal fetid. 



Must, putorius. Th^ Fitchet, Foumart, or Pole- 

 cat. A well known animal. For detailed descrip- 

 tion, we refer to Mammalia, Volume VII. of the 

 Naturalist's Library. 



Must. furo. The Ferret is considered to be a 

 mere variety of the polecat, for they certainly breed 

 together, and have prolific offspring ; the first, never- 

 theless, is a native of temperate Europe, and the 

 second was originally introduced from Africa to 

 Spain, in order to counteract the ravages of rabbits, 

 which, in the time of the Romans, desolated the 

 Peninsula. The Ferret is sufficiently well known, 

 both in manners and figure, in its pale yellow fur, 

 grizzled with longer black hairs, and in the dllino 

 variety with pink eyes, which we most commonly 

 keep domesticated, or rather captive, for sporting 

 purposes. 



Must, alpina. The Alpine Foumart. Smaller 

 than the common polecat ; head more elongate, 

 acute ; colour sulphur-yellow ; chin white ; canine 

 teeth without internal tubercle. Resides in the 

 Altaic Mountains, and seems to differ from Must. 

 Altaica only in the length of the tail. 



Must, nudipes. Java Ferret. Fur brilliant 

 golden-yellow ; anterior head and tip of tail white ; 



