HELICTIS. 



173 



the outer margin slightly iudeuted, the crown with several small 

 cusps. The lower sectorial has a heel about one third the length 

 of the tooth. 



Fig. 43. — Palate of Heliotis personata. 



Skull with the nasal portion narrower than in other genera of 

 the subfamily, and with the palate extending backwards to about 

 halfway between the hindmost molars and the glenoid fossa. 

 Infraorbital foramen large. Vertebrae : C. 7, D. 14, L. 6, S. 4, 

 C? 



The species of Helictis have longer bodies and shorter limbs than 

 badgers, but are allied to the latter and not to Gido or any other 

 genus of the Mustelincr, so that it is incorrect to call them 

 wolverines, as Jerdon and others have done. Blyth's term Brock- 

 weasel is better, but the animal is not a weasel. All the species 

 are very similar externally, but there are differences in the dentition. 



An account of the anatomv of a Chinese species has been given 

 by Garrod (P. Z. S. 1879, p. 305). 



Syno])sis of Indian and Burmese Species. 



A. Colour brown or yellowish brown, not grey. . . . H. orientalis, p. 173. 



B. Colour brownish grey .... H. personata, p. 174. 



87. Helictis orientalis. Tlie hrown Ferret-badger. 



Gulo orientalis, Horsfield, Java, pi. 



Gulo nipalensis, Hodfjs. J. A. 8. B. v, p. 237, vi, p. 560. 



Helictis nipalensis, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1853, p. 191 ; Jet-don, Mam. p. 80. 



Oker, Nepalese ; Nyentek, MalaJ^ 



Tail, without the hair, exceeding half the length of the head and 

 body. Fur consisting of soft woolly underfur and longer coarse 

 piles. Teeth of moderate size ; outer lobe of the upper sectorial 

 projecting beyond the extremity of the inner lobe in front and 

 behind; anterior cusp of the inner lobe much larger than the 

 posterior. 



