1(12 DIVISION I. VEKTEHRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



The Huron marten (J/. Ilnro) h of :i liglit yellow color ; the White-cared 

 marten (J/. /ruc<>t>'<) i.s of a deep hrowu ; the ]\lhik (J/, hdrcolu), an 

 amiihiliiou.s animal, with feet semi-palmate, is hlaekish-brown. It bears 

 some resemlilance to the otter. The American mink (J/, vison), body 

 deep-brown, feet semi-palmate, tail black ; also amphibious. The Chestnut 

 mink (M. rufh) is of a bright fulvous chestnut. The Pckan (J/. (Jtiud- 

 (Iri^sis) is gray-brown on the head, shoulders, and upper [>art of the back ; 

 the rest of the body is brown-black. It is often marked with a white spot 

 on the throat. The Sable mink (J/, nujni) has the head and sides of the 

 neck fine gray ; the rest of the body is a deep black. 



All the above minks arc hunted for their fur. The American species arc 

 well known and widely diffused. \\ c have seen them playing, diving, and 

 seeking their food in streams and on the banks, through a vast extent 

 of country. 



The remaining species is the fisher weasel of Pennant (ilf. Pennantil). 

 This animal has the fur dark at the base, yellow above, and tipped with 

 black, changing to chestnut on the back ; tail shining black, and throat 

 bi'own. 



(ii'-M's ZoRiLLO. — This name was given to a small Cape species by 

 Iluflbn, believing that it was of the same genus as the American skunk. 

 Zoriliii signifies a little fox, and the skunk was thus designated by the 

 Spaniards. The Cape zorillo (Zur. C<//ir)/si.s) is found at tiie Cape of 

 Ciood Hope, and erptals the polecat in size. It burrows in holes of its own 

 (lio-o-iiio-. ']'l[o head is ratlu'r ri)und, and the tail \'ery bushy. Tlie general 

 ciilnr is lilack, with four white bands, and soiiietimcs a white spot on each 

 elicek. It is conuuon to tlic whole ^VlVicau continent. 



We Iktc terminate our observations on tlie ('arnivorous iJit/i/i^rddvi, 

 and proceed to a consideration of the I'lantiijradefS. 



This division of carnivoraus animals, comprising tliose that place the 

 whole sole of the foot upon the ground in walking, includes a great variety 

 of genera and species, inany of the individuals of which have no common 

 i-csemblance apart from those characters which arbitrarily unite them in 

 groups. Thus, the division conunenees with INIephites, the skunks, and 

 terminates with Ursi, the bears. 



Cknus Mepiiites. The /Sl-uuls. — They have the muzzle obtuse; 

 claws strong for din-n-inn; ; fiu- coarse, and tail very long and bush\-. Iho 

 species are distinguished by a gland which secretes a liquid, the nauseating 

 fetidity of which is indescribable. It is used as a defence, and can be 



