CARNARIA. 71 



inner side, and in fact, the whole dental system is nearly the same as that 

 of the Weasels. The tail is of a middling size, with a plait or fold beneatli 

 in place of a sac, and the port of the animal is very similar to that of the 

 Badger. 



The most celebrated species is the Glutton of the north, the Ursus guh, 

 Li. (The Common Glutton.) About the size of the Badger; usually of a 

 fine deep maronne colour, with a disk on the back of a darker brown; 

 sometimes, however, the shades are lighter. It inhabits the most glacial 

 regions of the North, is considered very sanguinary and ferocious, hunts 

 during the night, does not become torpid during the winter, and masters 

 the largest animals by leaping upon them from the top of a tree. Its vora- 

 city has been ridiculously exaggerated by some authors. The Wolverene 

 of North America (Ursus luscus, Lin.) does not appear to differ from it in 

 any constant character — its colours, however, are generally lighter. 



Hot climates produce some species which can only be placed near the 

 Gluttons, as they differ from them merely in having one false molar less in 

 each jaw, and in a long tail. Such are the animals, termed by the inhabit- 

 ants of South America Ferrety which, having the teeth of our Ferrets and 

 Polecats, have, in fact, similar habits — they are distinguished from them 

 however, by their plantigrade motion. 



Viverra vittata, Li. (The Grison. ) Black; top of the head and neck 

 g^ey; a white band, reaching from the forehead to the shoulders. 



Rateius, F. C. 



The Ratek have a false molar in each jaw less than the Grison, and their 

 upper tuberculous tooth is but slightly developed, so that in the teeth they 

 approach the Cat, while their whole exterior is that of the Grison or Bad- 

 ger. The legs are short; feet plantigrade, and five toes to each; nails very 

 strong, &c. &c. 



One species only is known, the Viverra mellivora, Sparm. Size of the 

 European Badger; grey above; black beneath, with a white line that sepa- 

 rates the two colours; sometimes it is nearly all white above. It inhabits 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and digs up the earth with its long claws, in 

 search of the honey-combs of the wild bees. The 



DIGITIGRADA 



Form the second tribe of the Carnivora. The animals which 

 compose it walk on the ends of their toes. 



In the first subdivision there is only one tuberculous tooth behind 

 the upper carnivorus; these animals, on account of the length of 

 their body, and the shortness of their legs, which permit them to 

 pass through the smallest openings, have been styled vermiform. 

 They are not torpid during the winter. Linnaius placed them all 

 in one genus, that of 



