100 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE MUSTELID4. [Jan. 24, 
5, Revision oF THE GENERA AND Species oF MUSTELID & 
CONTAINED IN THE British Museum. By Dr. Joun Ep- 
wARD Gray, F.R.S., F.L.S8. 
(Plate VII.) 
The Mustelide are carnivorous Mammalia, with normal dentition, 
having a single tubercular grinder on each side of each jaw. 
In my paper describing some little-known Mammalia, in the first 
volume of Charlesworth’s ‘Magazine of Natural History,’ p. 579, 
published in 1837, I used the forms and number of the pads on the 
feet of Mephitis to divide it into three genera, and also showed the 
importance of observing the size of the bald parts of the soles of the 
feet in distinguishing the species of Otters; and in the ‘ Proceedings 
of the Zoological Society’ for 1864 I have used the excellent character 
which the form of the bald part of the sole affords for the separation 
of the genera of Viverride. 
The only naturalist who seems to have followed up the subject is 
Mr. Hodgson, who, in his paper ‘‘ On the Tibetan Badger ”’ in the 
‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal’ for 1847, has given, in 
t. 31, figures of the under part of the feet, showing the form and 
disposition of the pads, of eight species of Indian Viverride, Muste- 
lide, and Urside. 
Synopsis of the Genera. 
Section I. AcanrHopopa. The feet rounded; the toes short, 
curved, more or less united by a web, the last joint bent up ; 
the claws short, compressed, acute, retractile. 
Tribe 1. Musreztina. Head oblong. Toes slightly webbed. Tail 
cylindrical. Terrestrial. 
A, Digitigrade. Soles of the hind feet hairy, with four bald pads 
in front. Body elongate ; anal glands developed. Tail slender ; 
tubercular grinder short, transverse. 
* Teeth 38. 
1. Marres. False grinders 3/4. Head elongate. Feet very hairy ; 
space between the pads hairy, often covering them from sight. 
** Teeth 34. 
2. Purorius. False grinders 2/3.. Head short, ovate. Feet and 
space between the pads very hairy. Body stout; underside 
blackish. 
3. Musreta. False grinders 2/3. Head elongate, narrow. Feet 
and space between the pads very hairy. Body slender; under- 
side yellow or white. 
