SYNOPSIS OF THE 



357. 9. M. Leucotis (White-esLvedW easel.) Sepia brown 

 colour ; inside of ears white. Twenty inches long. 



Mu stela Leucotis, Temminck and Hamilton Smith, MSS. 



Icon. nobis. 



Inhabits. 



The Mustela Cuja and the Mustela Quiqui have also been 

 named by Molina (Chili, 272 and 258), but their specific 

 distinctness seems uncertain, as is also that of the white 

 cheek Weasel of Penn. (M. Flavigula, Bod. and M. Qua- 

 dricolor of Shaw*.) 



III. Mephitis. Cuvier. Cheek teeth ^, two false or small 

 anterior cheek teeth above, and three below ; the great carni- 

 vorous tooth provided with two tubercles on the inner side, 

 the posterior tooth tuberculous and very long and large. An- 

 terior toes furnished with long digging nails ; heel very little 

 raised in walking ; the palm and heel hairy. 



Obs. Following the nomenclature and description of many 

 travellers, zoologists, and systematic describers, there would 

 be nineteen species of the Mephitis proper to America to 

 be described, differing principally in colour. The Baron 

 Cuvier (Ossemens Fossiles, IV.) inclines, however, to the 

 opinion that all these are but varieties of one species, which 

 varieties, however, are very local, and seem to present a 

 character of permanency. 



The following nomenclature, therefore, taken from the 

 Baron's researches and from the Encyclopedic Methodique 

 of Desmarest, treats all the American Mephites merely as 

 varieties. The insertion of them, however, here as such, 



* The following species of Shaw are referred to other g-enera : 

 The Gray-headed TVeasel, the Guiana Weasel, and the Galera; all 

 appear to be varieties of Gulo Barbatus; the South American Weasel is 

 the Gulo Vittatus ; the V/oolly Weasel (the M. Guyanensis of Lacep.) is 

 said by Desmarest to be a young Coafi. The Musky Weasel and the 

 Slender-toed Weasel, described from drawings, are very obscure. 

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