1908.] IN THE MUSTELINE CARNIVORA, 951 



paper have small external ears is in keeping with the theory that 

 they have no enemies to fear. 



Caged Ratels do not always make use of their scent-glands. 

 For example, two specimens of J/, capensis in the Society's 

 Gardens never did so ; and the keeper in charge, noticing this 

 difference in behaviour between them and the specimen of 

 M. indica above mentioned, asked me if it was a specific feature. 

 The explanation no doubt is that when once tamed these animals 

 soon learn that they are safe from enemies, and therefore do not 

 resort to this special mode of defence. 



The coloration of the Grison {Gfisoii ft(,rax=:GcdiGtis vittata), 

 a South-American musteline, is very similar to that of the 

 Ratel {MelUvora). The whole of the upper side of the head and 

 body is greyish, the under side of the body and head and the 

 limbs being blaiik. Across the forehead and along each side of 

 the head towards the shoulder at the junction of the grey and 

 black, there runs a whitish band which is very conspicuous as the 

 animal advances. 



I have the independent testimony of two of the Society's 

 keepers, Dixon and Heffer, that when Grisons fight or are 

 disturbed they stink like Skunks and Cape Polecats (Ictonyx) ;. 

 and J. G. Wood *, writing apparently of his own knowledge, 

 says : " The odour which proceeds from the scent-glands of the 

 Grison is peculiarly disgusting, and offends human nostrils even 

 more than that of the stoat and polecat." The Grison also has 

 the reputation of being extremely savage and a most dangerous 

 foe to any animal it ventures to attack. It was of this species, 

 and pr-obably the next, that Mr. W. H. Hudson wrote " . . . . 

 there are [on the pampas of La Plata] two quaint-looking weasels,, 

 intensely black in colour, and grey on the back and flat crown. 

 One, the Grison fu.rax, is a large bold animal that hunts in com- 

 panies ; and when these long-bodied creatures sit up erect, glaring 

 with beady ej^es, grinning and chattering at the passer by, they 

 look like little friars in black robes and grey cowls ; but the 

 expression on their round fa,ces is malignant and bloodthirsty 

 beyond anything in nature, and it would perhaps be more decent to 

 liken them to devils rather than to humans" ; and again : "After 

 watching the weasels dance for some minutes, I stepped up to the 

 mound, whereupon the animals became alarmed and rushed pell- 

 mell into the burrows, but only to reappear in a few seconds, 

 thrusting up their long ebony- black necks and flat grey- capped 

 heads, snarling and chattering at me, glaring with fierce beady 

 eyes." The same author bears testimony to the absence of the 

 hiding instinct in the young of this species. He says : " I once 

 surprised a weasel [Grison furax~] in the act of i-emoving her 

 young, or conducting them, rather ; and when she was forced to 

 (juit them, although still keeping close by, and uttering the most 

 piercing cries of anger and solicitude, the young continued 



* Illustrated Nat. History, i. p. 372. 



