832 MR. R. I. POCOCK ON THE 



h'. Cavity of bulla, wheu divided, separated into an antevioi- larger and a 

 posterior smaller chamber by a transverse partition running from the 

 stylomastoid to the foramen lacerum posticum. 



c. Walls of bulla everywhere thick and permeated with air-cells continuous 



with those of the mastoid, the cells of which may communicate with 

 the cavity of the bulla. 



Subfamily Musteline, s. s. 



Sknll with long cranial and short facial portions. Teeth 

 sectorial, talon of upper carnassial small, anterior ; molar much 

 wider than long ; lower carnassial with cuspidate heel, meta- 

 conid retained or absent ; j!?9)i. 1 lost above and below. Tympanic 

 annulus in contact with roof of bulla. Palatine foramina 

 maxillary. Rhinarium small. Bursa of ear marginal, large or 

 moderately so. Feet cursorial, usually hairy below, no metatarsal 

 pads; other pads moderate or small, coarsely striate, claws short 

 and curved ; digits webbed to proximal end of pads, the 2nd, 3i'd, 

 and 4th widely separable. Baculum with a narrow, long, deep 

 groove in its distal third beneath, ending in a median i-ounded 

 apex. 



Genera Mustela^ Gale, Plesiogale, Putorius (with such subgenei-a 

 of one or the other as Lutreola and Kolonokus). Vormela. 



The restriction of the term Mustelinpe to the )Stoats, Weasels, 

 and Polecats is justified by the number of characters by which 

 they differ from other members of the Mustelidse. The group 

 contains a larger number of species than any other subfamily, 

 and, apai-t from the Lutrinse, is more widely distributed. When 

 the tropical forms are better known, other genera may be added; 

 but perhaps characters negativing some statements in the 

 description of the subfamily may come to light. 



c'. Walls of bulla thin, its cavity either closed behind or opening into 

 a spacious periotic hollow. 



d. Cavity of bulla closed behind. 



e. Teeth sectorial, approximately as in Mustelinie, the upper carnassial 



being longer than wide, with the talon anterior and narrow-necked, 

 and the molar wider than long, etc., and the line of the upper incisors 

 nearljf straight. Feet scansorial and cursorial, with short sharp claws. 



Subfamily Martina, s. s. 



Two carpal pads separated by hairy space from narrow plantar 

 pad, digital webs hairy below ; no metatarsal pads. A well- 

 developed marginal bursa on ear. No trace of pouch above anus. 

 Fm. 1 retained above and below. Baculum with two or four 

 branches. 



Genera Martes and Chcm'onia. 



Although usually associated with the Stoats, Weasels, and 



