CARNARIA. 8/ 



Martens. These animals have the tail of middle length, with a fold beneath it in place of a pouch ; and 

 their foot is veiy similar to that of a Badger. 



The most celebrated species is the Glutton of the north, Rossomak of the Russians {Ursus gulo, Lin.) ; size of a 

 Badger, and commonly of a fine deep maroon colour, with a browner disk on the back ; but sometimes it is paler. 

 It inhabits the q:lacial regions of the north, is reputed to be very sanguinary and ferocious, hunts by night, does 

 not become torpid during the winter, and subdues the largest animals by leaping upon them from a tree. Its 

 voracity has been absurdly exaggerated by some authors. The Wolverine of North America (Ursus hiscus, Lin.) 

 does not appear to differ by any constant characters, but is generally of a paler tint. [Excepting in size and 

 massiveness, I cannot perceive that this animal differs from the Martens : assuredly it does not in the structure 

 of its feet.] 



Warm climates produce some species which can only be placed near the Wolverines, from which they differ merely 

 in having one false molar less to each jaw, and by a longer tail. Such are the animals termed by the Spanish 

 inhabitants of North America Ferrets {Hurnns), and which in point in fact have the dentition of our Ferrets and 

 Weasels, and lead the same kind of life ; but they are distinguished by their semi-plantigrade carriage, [or rather 

 by having their soles uncovered with hair]. Such are 



The Grison (V'n-en-a vittata, Lin.)— Black, the top of the head and neck grey, a white band reaching from the 

 forehead to the shoulders. [This constitutes the Grtsonia, Gray, and with an allied species, le petit furet of 

 Azzara (Galictis Al/amandi, Bell), the Galictis* of the last-named naturalist, who places them contiguous to the 

 Weasels. They are small animals, easily rendered very tame, and extremely playful in domestication ; of very 

 carnivorous disposition, and particularly fond of eggs.] 



The Taira (Mustela barbara, Lin.) [Subdivision Taira of Gray.]— Brown [or brownish-black] ; the head grey ; 

 [and sometimes] a large white spot under the throat. [The fur remarkably short.] 



These two animals are distributed throughout the warm parts of America, and exhale an odour of musk. Their 

 feet are a little palmated, and it appears that they have been sometimes taken for Otters. f [We conceive that the 

 Wolverine might be advantageously removed to the genus of Martens ; and would restrict the term Gulo to the 

 others. The Grisons diffuse when irritated a disgusting stench.] 



The Ratels (Mellivora, F. Cuv.) — 

 Have a false molar to each jaw still less than the Grisons, and their upper tuberculous tooth but 

 little developed, so that they approximate the Cats in dentition ; but their whole exterior is that of the 

 Grison, or [rather] of a Badger. The legs are short; feet [semi-] plantigrade, and five toes to each ; 

 the claws very strong, &c. 



But one species is known (Viverra mellivora, Sparm., and Viv. capensis, Schreb. pi. 125;, of the size of the 

 European Badger ; grey above, black below, with a wliite line that separates the two colours ; sometimes it is 

 almost wholly white above. It inhabits the Cape of Good Hope, and burrows into the ground with its long 

 claws, in search of the honey-combs of the wild Bees. 



The DiGlTIGRADA — 



Form the second tribe of Carnivora, the members of which walk on the ends of their toes. 

 In the first subdivision of them [all the members of which are semi-plantigrade], there 

 is only one tuberculous grinder behind the upper carnivorous tooth : these animals, on account 

 of the length of their body, and shortness of the limbs, which jiermit them to pass through 

 very small openings, are styled vermiform [vermin]. They are destitute of coecum, like the 

 preceding, but do not pass the winter in a state of lethargy. Although small and feeble, they 

 are very sanguinary and ferocious. Linnccus comprehended them all under one genus, that of 



The Weasels {Mustela, Lin.), — 

 Which we will divide into four subgenera. 



The True Weasels {Putorim, Cuv. [Mustela, Ray.] ) — 

 Are the most sanguinary of any : their lower carnivorous tooth has no internal tubercle, and the upper 

 tiil)erculous one is broader than long ; there are only two false molars above and three below. These 

 animals may be recognized by having the extremity of the muzzle somewhat shorter and blunter than 

 in the Martens. They all diti'use [when alarmed] a fetid stench ; [take the water, and dive with 

 facility, having the toes seraipalmated ; trace their prey by scent, and kill it by inflicting a wound in the 

 neck : the female is commonly much smaller than the male. 



♦ This must not be coiif.mnded with the Gulicth of Is. CcofTroy , + It is supposed from the deseription given by Marcifrtave of his 

 {Couiplerrmlit,Oi:l.iH-S7),\v\nch refers to the Mustehi or Plitoriiis \ C.iru/«e;4<-iiJ, which name UulTnn has applied to his S;irii(/Ki<-nK<-, vol. 

 iirinliis of Cuvier.— Ed. • xiii. p. 319, that he meant to speak of the Tair.^. 



