202 ORDER V. 



plantigrade, not equally decided in all ; the head is 

 roundish, somewhat Otter like ; eyes diurnal ; the 

 tongue is rough ; the ears small, round ; the tail 

 long ; there are four abdominal mamma3, hut no 

 anal pouch ; the fur of two kinds. We doubt whether 

 Mustela lutreola, M. Canadensis^ M. vison, and 

 M. rufa, do not, in reality, find a more appropriate 

 location in this genus, they having likewise semi- 

 palmate paws, and the rufous mink in particular a 

 plantigrade walk, and in Canadensis the whitish 

 head, which seems to be a distinctive livery of all 

 the true Eiras. 



Eira barbara. Must, barbara. Linn. The Taira 

 of French writers, Yaguape of the Indians, ac- 

 cording to Desmarets not larger than the Marten ; 

 similar lengthened form ; blackish-brown fur, with 

 a yellowish- white spot on the throat ; but there are 

 mixed under this name several species, or at least 

 very distinct varieties. We made sketches and 

 measurements, in the Paris Museum, of a specimen, 

 designated by the name of Taira, which measured 

 from nose to tail, 2' 4", tail V 8", making a total of 

 four feet, or double the size of a Marten ; it was 

 entirely deep black, with a large rhomboidal spot of 

 pure white upon the throat ; the claws strong and 

 crooked ; and the sole of the hind feet bare. This 

 species has a strong musky smell. 



The so called grey headed civette, Viverra paleo- 

 cephala, with a grey head, pale buff throat, the 

 colours separated from the dark ashy grey of the 

 neck and body, by a black line, appears to be no 



