Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 327 



Family MUSTELIDi?:. Otters, Minks, Wea- 

 sels, Skunks, Badgers, etc. 



The MustelidcE comprise a rather large family which is widely dis- 

 tributed, representatives being found throughout the world except in 

 the Australian region and Madagascar. The family is divided into 

 several well marked subfamilies which, while osteologically closely 

 related, differ widely in appearance and habits. All North American 

 MustelidcB are now generally considered to belong to three subfamilies: 

 LutrincB, the Otters; Melince, the Skunks and Badgers; and Mustelince 

 which includes the Minks, Weasels, Marten, Fisher and Wolverine. 

 All are fur-bearing animals having a commercial value, the most highly 

 prized being the Sea Otter, Latax lutris (a species very different from 

 the semi-aquatic Otter which occurs within our limits) . This splendid 

 animal is confined to the north Pacific Ocean but is fast disappearing. 

 Its rarity may be judged by the fact that notwithstanding the great 

 value of its fur, a single fine skin being valued at from 1000 to 2000 

 dollars, during the year 1909 only 37 skins are known to have been 

 secured by fur dealers. 



The members of this family possess anal glands, the secretions of 

 which have a noxious odor. This character reaches a high develop- 

 ment in the Skunks, which are able to eject the fetid fluid to a distance 

 of ten or fifteen feet. These odoriferous glands are more or less modified 

 in different genera. In the Weasels, Wolverine and American Badgers, 

 for example, the secretion is noxious, but can not be forcibly ejected, 

 being allowed to escape from the glands when the animal is enraged or 

 excited. In the various subfamilies there is a noticable difference in the 

 character of the feet and claws but all members of the family have 

 five toes on both fore and hind feet. 



With rare exceptions all species of Mustelidce have but a single molar 

 in the upper jaw and occasionally only one in the lower. The audital 

 bullae are depressed and but slightly inflated ; alisphenoid canal absent ; 

 OSS penis present and large; caecum absent; placenta zonary and 

 deciduate. Except in the Otters the kidneys are of simple structure. 



In the Skunks the secretion is an acid liquid golden yellow in 

 color, having an exceedingly strong, sickening odor. Clothing, which 

 has been tainted by it, gives evidence of the fact for a surprising 

 length of time, especially in hot weather or when left near a fire. 

 The fluid is extremely irritating to the eye, and cases have been re- 



