292 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



animals ; though it possesses, in common with them, claws 

 calculated for digging, which consequently indicate, to a 

 certain degree, its mode of life, and distinguish it from the 

 other Polecats ; whence it is separated into a distinct genus 

 by Iliger : it is also assimilated to the American Mephitic 

 Weasels in appearance. Its colour is black, with three 

 dorsal white stripes, extending from the occiput to the tail, 

 which is spread, and generally carried erect. Notwith- 

 standing these similarities, it must not now be confounded 

 with the transatlantic Mephitic race, from which it differs 

 in the teeth in approaching the Putorii of the old world. 



Major Smith suspects, that the Zorillo of the Cape forms 

 a family of several species ; at least the stripes indicate 

 great diversity of disposition in the colours of the several 

 individuals, which have come under his observation. The 

 opposite figure is from one of his drawings. 



However interesting the habits and manners of animals 

 may be, it would soon, perhaps, be deemed an unnecessary 

 prolixity, to say much on the subject in relation to every 

 species. The accordance of their characters and pursuits 

 with their physical description may be said to be mathema- 

 tically correct ; and if a group be once formed, corresponding 

 in material conformation, more especially as it regards the 

 leading characters of the teeth, whatever be their relative 

 disproportion of size and strength, and wherever they may 

 be found, either at the pole, or under a vertical sun, their 

 characters will be similar, and their pursuits the same. 



The differences in the teeth which distinguish the Martens 

 properly speaking, from the Polecat family, have been al- 

 ready noticed in the text ; we shall merely add that they 

 have four carnivorous teeth, instead of three, in addition to 

 the molar tooth, in the upper jaw, and four below. The 

 last lower carnivorous tooth has a rounded lobe on the inner 

 side, which fits them something less perfectly for a carni- 



