290 VERTEBRATA. 



young Btriped hyena, bo closely does it resemble thai anima] in the colors and peculiar markings 

 of its fur, and in the mane of long Btiff hair which runs along the neck and hack; indeed, it is 

 only to be distinguished by its more pointed head, and by the additional fifth too of the fore-feet 

 The fur is of a woolly texture on the sides and belly, but a mane of coarse stiff hair, six or seven 



inches in length, passes along the nape of the neck and back, from tin iput to the origin of 



the tail, and is capable of being erected or bristled tip, like that of the hyena, when the animal is 

 irritated or provoked. 'The general hue of the fur is pale ash-color, with aslighl shade of yellow- 

 ish brown; the muzzle is black and almost naked, or covered only with a few long stiff mus- 

 taches. Around the eyes, and on each side of the neck, are dark brown marks; eight or ten 

 bands of the same color pass over the body in a transverse direction, exactly as in the common 

 striped hyena: and the arms and thighs are likewise marked with similar transverse stripes. The 

 and feet are of a uniform dark brown in front, and gray behind. The long hairs of the 

 mane are gray, with two broad rings of black, the second of which occupies the point; those of 

 the tail are similarly marked, and equally long and stiff; whence it appears as if the mane and 

 tail were clouded with an alternate mixture of black and gray. The earsaiv gray on the interior 

 surface, and dark blown on the outer. 



[nits habits and manners the aard-wolf resembles the fox: like that animal, it is nocturnal, 

 and constructs a subterraneous burrow, at the bottom of which it lies concealed during the day- 

 time, and only ventures abroad on the approach of night, to search for food, and satisfy tin 

 other calls of nature. It is fond of the society of its own species, and many individuals have 

 been found residing togeth< r in the same burrow. As they are of a timid and wary characl 

 they have generally three or four different entrances to their holes; so that, if attacked on one 

 Bide, they may secure a retreat in an opposite direction. Notwithstanding the disproportionate 

 length of their fore-legs, they are said to run very fast; and so strong is their propensity to 

 burrow-, that one of M. Ihdalande's specimens, perceiving itself about to be run down and cap- 

 tured, immediately ceased its flight, and began to scratch up the ground, as if with the intention 

 of making a new earth. It generally lives on decayed flesh, but also devours ants. It is said 

 to prefer the flesh of lambs, and M. GeoftVoy suggests that it has also a fondness for the fat of 

 the tails of the big-tailed sheep, common in Southern Africa. The habits of the animal, in 

 respect to its food, are, however, little known. 



THE MUSTELIDES. 



The Mustelides, a term from Mustela, a weasel, embraces three tribes or divisions : the Mclida, 

 of which the badger is the type; the Mustelins, of which the weasel is the representative; and 

 the Loutrins, of which the otter is the type. Among them there is great diversity of size, hab- 

 color, and endowments; but they agree, generally, in being carnivorous or omnivorous — in 

 having a long, thin, pliable body and short legs, qualifying them to pursue their prey in small 

 openings and narrow passages, and in possessing fine furs. Some of them produce the n 

 valuable furs of commerce. Several of the species are endowed with the power of diffua 

 a Btrong odor from a pouch beneath the amis. 



THE MELIDJE. 



The animals of this tribe are all plantigrade, or nearly so, and for the most part omnivorous. 

 18 BADGER: Meles. — Of this, according to the best authors, there are four specie-: thi 

 n Badges oi Ei rope, .1/. vulgaris; the American Badger, M. Labradorica ; the Indian 

 B .'.i.i.. M. collaris; and the Anaxuma Badger, M. Anakuma, of Japan. Some natural 

 however, regard them as constituting each a distinct genus. 



The European Badger, which has some resemblance in form to the bear, like that animal is 

 omnivorous, feeding on flesh or vegetables, according as opportunity may offer. Its dental syrten 

 is indeed better adapted to the chewing and masticating vegetable substances than for tearing 

 and cutting raw flesh. The principal character of the feet consists in its having five toesbotl 

 before and behind, short, Btrong, deeply buried in the flesh, and furnished with powerful com 

 pressed claw-, admirably calculated for burrowing or turning up the earth in search of roots. Th 



