MAEXE3 ELATiaUIA. 81 



exclusively on small animals and birds. It does not diffuse the fetid ex- 

 halation so characteristic of Mydaus. Near here should be placed the 

 Skunks, Mephitis. They have the upper tuberculous molar very large, 

 and two tubercles on the inner side of the lower flesh-tooth. They have 

 also long claws adapted for burrowing, and in fact approximate the 

 badgers, but have a fine large bushy tail which. they ordinarily erect. 

 They and the Zorillas might be referred either to the badgers or the 



Fam. MusTELiD^, Weasels and Martens. 



Pour or five molar teeth on each side in the upper jaw ; five, rarely six, 

 in the lower : one tuberculate tooth on each side in both jaws ; canines 

 slender and curved ; flesh-tooth broad and sharp. Feet pentadactylous, 

 slightly sub-plantigrade; claws sharp, but not retractile; snout short, 

 rounded. 



This family is here restricted to the weasels and martens, animals of 

 small size, elongated vermiform make, and with very short limbs. The 

 head is rounded in front like that of the cats, but the distance from the 

 orbit to the occipital foreamen is very great, so that the skull has an elon- 

 gated form posteriorly. They are very active and agile in their move- 

 ments, and highly carnivorous and blood-thirsty in their habits, destroying 

 vast numbers of small animals and birds, which they generally seize by the 

 back of the head. The fur of many is soft and fine, and is very highly 

 prized. They are most abundant in cold climates, in the northern portion 

 of the old continent ; and there is only one species, in our province, south 

 of the Himalayas ; but several appear peculiar to this lofty mountain chain. 



Gen. Martes. 



Five molars on each side above, and six below. Muzzle more length- 

 ened than in weasels and less rounded ; tail rather long, bushy. 



The martens are a more or less arboreal group of rather small animals, 

 chiefly found in the northern portion of the world, and many of them are 

 highly prized for their fine fur. Though of larger size, they are less fierce 

 and sanguivorous than their smaller relatives, the weasels. Besides the 

 additional false molar, they have a small tubercle on the inner side of the 

 flesh-tooth, which is not present in the weasels ; and what scent they have 

 is not disagreeable. There is only one species in India, which extends into 



