THE WEASEL. 



275 



The Fennec is identical with the fox-like animal that is named "Zerda" by Ruppell, and 

 "Cerdo" by Illiger. 



Just as the Aard-Wolf appears to form the link between the civets and the hyenas, being 

 with some difficulty referred to either group of animals, so the Hunting-Dog seems to be the 

 connecting link between the dogs and the hyenas. Its position, however, in the scale of 

 anim-ited nature is so very obscure that it has been placed by some zoologists among the dogs 



HYENA-DOG, OR HITNTING-DOG.— Lycaon pictus. 



and by others among the hyenas. As, however, the leading characteristic of its formation 

 appears to tend rather towards the canine than the hyenine type, the Hunting-Dog has been 

 provisionally placed at the end of the dogs rather than at the end of the hyenas. 



There are many names by which this animal has been called ; in the writings of some 

 authors it is mentioned under the title of the Painted Hyena, while by others it is termed the 

 Hyena-Dog. The Dutch colonists of the Cape of Good Hope, where this creature is generally 

 found, speak of it by the name of Wilde Hund, or Wild Dog ; and it is also known under the 

 names of Simir and Melbia. 



WEASELS, SKUNKS, BADGERS, ETC. 



WEASELS. 



Next in order to the dogs, is placed the large and important family of the Weasels, 

 representatives of which are found in almost every portion of the earth. There is something 

 marvellously serpentine in the aspect and structure of the members of this family — the Mus- 

 telidse, as they are called, from the Latin word mustela, which signifies a Weasel. Their 

 extremely long bodies and very short legs, together with the astonishing perfection of the 



