86 MAMMALIA. 
they approach the Cat, while their whole exterior is that of the Grison or 
Badger. The legs are short; feet plantigrade, and five toes to each; 
nails very strong, &c. &c. 
One species only is known, the Viverra mellivora, Sparm. ; and 
Viv. capensis, Schreb. pl. 125. (The Ratel or Honey Weasel). 
Size of the European Badger; grey above; black beneath, with a 
white line between these two colours; sometimes it is nearly all white 
above. It inhabits the Cape of Good Hope, and digs up the earth 
with its long fore-claws, in search of the honey-combs of the wild 
bees. The 
DIGITIGRADA 
form the second tribe of the Carnivora—that which walks on the ends 
of the toes. 
In the first subdivision there is only one tuberculous tooth behind the 
upper carnivorous one; these animals, on account of the length of their 
body, and the shortness of their feet, which permit them to pass through 
the smallest openings, have been styled vermiform. Like the preceding 
ones, they have no cecum, but do not fall into a lethargy during the 
winter. Linneus placed them all in one genus, that of 
Musreta, Lin. 
Or the Weasels, which we will divide into four sub-genera. 
Purorivus, Cuv. 
The Polecats are the most sanguinary of all; the lower carnivorous 
tooth has no inner tubercle, and the superior tuberculous one is more 
broad than long; there are only two false molars above and three below. 
These animals are externally recognised by their muzzle, which is shorter 
and thicker than that of the Weasel. They all diffuse an infectious 
odour. 
Mustela putorius, L.; Buff. VII. xxiii. (The Common Polecat). 
Brown; flanks yellowish; white spots on the head; the terror of 
poultry-yards and warrens. 
M. furo, L.; Buff. VIL. xxv. and xxvi. (The Ferret). Yellow- 
ish, with rose-coloured eyes, and is perhaps a mere variety of the 
Polecat. It is only found in France in a domesticated state, and is 
employed to ferret out the rabbits from their holes. It comes from 
Spain and Barbary. 
M. sarmatica; The Perouasca; Pall. Spic. Zool. XIV. iv. 1; 
Schreb. CXXXIT. (The Sarmatian Weasel). Brown; everywhere 
spotted with yellow and white. So beautifully is the skin mottled, 
that it is in high request among furriers. It is found throughout 
all southern Russia, Asia Minor, and the coast of the northern rivers 
of the Caspian sea. 
M. sibirica, Pall. Spic. Zool. XIV. iv. 2. (The Siberian Pole- 
cat). A uniform light fawn colour; nose and circumference of the 
eyes brown; end of the muzzle and the under part of the lower jaw 
white. 
