72 THE TOWER MENAGERIE. 
completely digitigrade;~that is to say, they walk only 
on the extremities of their toes: but these toes are only 
four in number on each of their feet, and are armed 
with short, thick, strong, and truncated claws, which are 
not in the least retractile, and are evidently formed for 
digging in the earth, a practice to which they are im- 
pelled by a horrid and hateful propensity, which we 
shall have further occasion to notice in describing their 
habits and mode of life. Their body, in shape much 
resembling that of the wolf, to which they also approach 
very nearly in size, is considerably more elevated in 
front than behind, owing partly to their constant custom 
of keeping the posterior legs bent in a crouching and 
half recumbent posture. Beneath the tail, which is short 
and dependent, they are furnished with a pouch, in the 
interior of which is secreted a peculiar matter of a very 
strong and disagreeable smell. Their head is large and 
broad, flattened in front, and terminating in a short, 
thick, and obtuse muzzle. Like most carnivorous ani- 
mals, they are armed in each jaw with six cutting teeth, 
and two canine, the latter of which are of considerable 
size and strength. The outermost pair-of incisors in the 
upper jaw are much larger and stronger than the rest, 
and closely resemble the canine in form. The number 
of the molar or cheek teeth is five on each side in the 
upper jaw, and four in the lower; and all of them are 
remarkable for their extreme thickness and strength in 
comparison with those of the dogs and cats. Their 
tongue is similar to that of the latter animals in the 
roughness which it derives from the sharp and. elevated 
papillz with which it is covered. 
Of the genus thus characterized there exist two well 
