CARNARIA. - CARNIVORA. 57 



Creeping from branch to branch, they silently and 

 stealthily pursue small birds, squirrels, &c., though 

 occasionally they descend to terrestrial game. They 

 frequent the glooms of the dense forests, in which 

 we find our own native species (M. Foina, and M. 

 Abietum) ; several others are from North America, 

 and Siberia produces the Sable, (M. Zibellina,) so 

 famous for its rich fur. 



Mephitis,* the Skunk. 



The Skunks resemble the Polecats in the number 

 and form of their teeth; but they also shew an 

 affinity to the Badgers in the fore claws being 

 formed for digging, in being half-plantigrade, and 

 in the distribution of their colours, being black with 

 more or fewer white stripes on the back. In a 

 family notorious for a fetid odour, the Skunks stand 

 pre-eminent ; a North American species in particular, 

 (M. Americana,} exhales a fetor, the most nauseous 

 and overpowering that can be imagined. 



,^ the Otter. 



This last genus of the Mustelidae exhibits a beau- 

 tiful specimen of the modification of organs to fit 

 them for habits varying from those of the typical 

 form. Destined to pursue and to feed on living 

 fishes, it must be made an aquatic animal, and fur- 

 nished with means of swift progression beneath the 

 water. The body is long, but flattened; the legs 

 are short, and capable of being turned outwards in 



* Lat. a stink. f Its Latin name. 



D 5 



