98 MAMMALIA. 
fetid humour. The long claws of their fore-feet enable them to dig 
with great effect. ‘ 
M. europea ; Ursus meles,L.; Buff. VII, vii. (The Badger.) 
Greyish above, black beneath, a blackish band on each side of 
the head. The American Badger (Mel. hudsonius) is not 
very different. {See App. 1V. of Am. Ed.) 
GuLo, Storr. 
Linnzus also placed the Gluttons among the Bears, but they ap- 
proximate much nearer to the Weasels in their teeth as well as 
in their habits, the only relation they have to the former consisting 
in their plantigrade motion. They have three false molars above 
and four below, immediately antecedent to the carnivorous teeth, 
which are well characterized, and behind them two small tubercu- 
lous ones, the upper being more broad than long. Their superior 
carnivorous tooth has only one small tubercle on the inner side, and 
in fact, the whole dental system is nearly the same as that of the 
Weasels. The tail is of a middling size, with a plait or fold be- 
neath in place of a sac, and the port of the animal is very similar to 
that of the Badger. 
The most celebrated species is the Glutton of the north, the 
Ursus gulo, L., Buff. Supp. ILI, xlviii.s (The Common Glut- 
ton.) About the size of the Badger; usually of a fine deep 
maronne colour, with a disk on the back of a darker brown ; 
sometimes, however, the shades are lighter. It inhabits the 
most glacial regions of the North, is considered very sanguinary 
and ferocious, hunts during the night, does not become torpid. 
during the winter, and masters the largest animals by leaping 
upon them from the top of a tree. Its voracity has been ridi- 
culously exaggerated by some authors. The Wolverene of North 
America (Ursus luscus, Lin. Edw. 103) does not appear to dif- 
fer from it in any constant character—its colours, however, are 
generally lighter. | 
Hot climates produce some species which can only be placed near 
the Gluttons, as they differ from them merely in having one false 
molar less in each jaw, and ina long tail. Such are the animals, 
termed by the inhabitants of South America Ferrets, which, having the 
teeth of our Ferrets and Polecats, have, in fact, similar habits—they 
are distinguished from them, however, by their plantigrade motion. 
Viverra vittata, L., Buff. Supp. VIII, xxiii and xxv. (The 
Grison.) Black; top of the head and neck grey; a white band, 
reaching from the forehead to the shoulders. 
Mustela barbara, L., Buff. Supp. VII, Ix. (The Taira.) 
