88 



MAMMALIA. 





Fig. 27.— The ilirtcii. 



There are very many species, tliree of which inhabit Britain :— The Fitchet Weasel, or Polecat, of which the 

 Ferret appears to be a domesticated variety* ; the Stoat, or Ermine, which in cold countries (and occasionally even 

 in South Britain) becomes pure white in winter, except Uie end of its tail, which always continues black ; and the 

 Common Weasel, of diminutive size, which preys chiefly on Mice and other small animals injurious to the agricul- 

 turist. It is a curious fact that in several instances the female Polecat has been known to stow away many Frogs 

 and Toads in an apartment of its burrow, disabling each without killing it, by puncturing the skull. The Common 

 Weasel traverses the boughs of trees, tops of palings, &c., with facility, and will spring from the ground upon a 

 Partridge flying near the surface. Put. striatus, Cuv., a small Madagascar species, reddish-brown, with five longi- 

 tudinal white stripes, composes the division Galictis of Isidore Geoffroy (not of Bell) ; and Put. Zorilla, Cuv., a 

 species marked with broken stripes of white, and possessing a more snout-like muzzle, the tail of which also is 

 longer and more bushy, is the Zorilla capensis of some recent authors : there would appear, indeed, to be several 

 species of these Zorilles.] 



The Martens {Mustela, Cuv. \_Martes, Kay] ) — 



Differ from tlie true Weasels by having [commonly] an additional false molar above and below, and a 



small tubercle on the inner side of their car- 

 nivorous tooth ; two characters which some- 

 what tliminish the ferocity of their nature. 

 [They are handsome, and remarkably lithe 

 active animals, with larger ears than the 

 Weasels, and fine bushy tails ; are also 

 more arboreal in their habits. The scent 

 they ditFuse when irritated is not disagree- 

 able, f] 



There are two species in Europe, very closely 

 allied together. The Yellow-breasted or Pine 

 Marten {Mustela martes, Lin.), inhabiting wild 

 districts, and the White-breasted or Beech 

 Marten (M. foina, Lin.), which free^uents woods 

 near human habitations. [.Many consider these to 

 be varieties merely of the same; but on examining several ciania, I have noticed that the former are constantly 

 smaller, with the zygomatic arch fully twice as strong as in the other. The American species usually deemed 

 identical with M. foina, is intermediate. There are numerous others, as the Pekan or Fishing Marten of Canada, 

 &c. ; and the Sable of commerce (M. zibellina, Auct.), celebrated for its beautiful fur, is a member of this 

 division. In the Sable and several others, the soles are completely covered with close fur; but in M. flavigula of 

 the Himmalayas, the under surface of the foot is naked, and the toes joined to their extremities, as in the 

 Badgers, &c.] 



The Skunks {Mephitis, Cnv.) — 



Possess, like the Weasels, two false molars above and three below ; but their superior tuberculous 

 grinder is very large, and as long as broad, and their inferior carnivorous tooth has two tubercles on 

 its inner side, thus approximating these animals to the Badgers, in the same way as the Weasels are 

 related to the Orisons and Wolverine. In addition to this, the Skunks accord with the Badgers in 

 having their anterior claws long, and adapted for burrowing, and they are even semiplantigrade, [and 

 equally slow in their movements]. This resemblance extends even to the distribution of their colours. 

 [The truth is, they scarcely differ from the Badgers, except in having a remarkably fine and large 

 busby tail, which is borne elevated, like the small short tail of the Badgers.] In the present family, 

 notorious for diffusing a fetid stench, the Skunks are pre-eminently distinguished by emitting a most 

 intolerable odour. 



These animals are mostly striped longitudinally with white on a black ground, but the number of stripes appears to 

 vary even in the same species ; [not, however, I think, to the extent that has been supposed ; for there are several 

 species, distinguishable by their osteology, which agree sufficiently in their general style of colouring, allowing for 

 some variation on the part of each, to induce the supposition, judging only from external characters, that they 

 might all be referred to one. The intensity of their most nauseous suftbcating stench, which has been described 

 to resemble that of the Fitchet mingled with assafoetida, is scarcely credible : it appears, however, to be emitted 

 only in self-defence. The geographic range of this genus is confined to America]. 



We may make an additional subgenus of 



The Teledu {Mydaus, F. Cuv.), — 

 Which, together with the dentition, [the teeth, however, being smaller (from which results a more 



* I have soii[;ht in vain fur any osteological distinction between [ + Hence our native species are designated Sweet-mnrt, in opposi- 

 tlicse anii;.ala.— En. | on to Fun-mart, or /ok/ mart, a common name for the Polecat. — Ed. 



