OHDEUS OF MAMMALIA. 347 



the typical carnivorous characters. The incisors and canines have 

 their usual carnivorous form, but the hinder pruomolars and the 

 molars are furnished with broad tubercular crowns. The claws are 

 large, curved, and strong, but are not retractile. The tongue is 

 smooth, the ears small and erect, the tail short, the nose mobile, and 

 the pupil circular. Most of the Bears are only carnivorous in so far 

 that they eat flesh when they can get it ; but a great part of their 

 food consists of roots, acorns, honey, and even insects. 



Nearly i-elated to the true Bears are the familiar Racoons {Pro- 

 cyon) of America, the Coatis (Fasua) of South America, and the 

 Wah (^Elurus) of India. 



The only remaining Plantigrades of importance are the Badgers 

 (Meles) of Europe, Asia, and America, the Gluttons or Wolverines 

 (Gulo) of the same continents, and the Honey-badgers (MeUivora) of 

 Africa. 



Forming a kind of transition between the Plantigrada and the 

 Digitigrada is « group of Carnivora which comprises numerous 

 forms, such as the "Weasels, Otters, and Civets, which apply part, 

 but not the whole, of the sole of the foot to the ground. 



The Weasels {Mustelidee) have short legs, and elongated worm-like 

 bodies, with a stealthy, gliding mode of progression. Good examples 

 are the Polecat, the Mink, the Ermine, and the Sable. The three 

 last named furnish the beautiful and valuable furs known by tlieir 

 names. Here also belongs the Skunk {Mephitis), celebrated for its 

 intensely disagreeable odour when alarmed or iri'itated. The Otters 

 are nearly allied to the Weasels, but have webbed feet adapted for 

 swimming. The great Sea-otter yields a very valuable fur. The 

 Civets and Genettes ( Viverridm) all belong to the Old World. The 

 true Civet-cat inhabits North Africa, and is furnished with a pouch 

 which secretes the peculiar fatty substance which is used as a per- 

 fume under the name of " civet." 



The typical group of the Carnivora is that of the Digitigrada, 

 comprising the three tribes of the Dogs (Canida:), the Hyaenas 

 {Hycemidce), and the Cats {Felida). The family Canidce comprises 

 the true Dogs, the Wolves, the Foxes, and the Jackals, all char- 

 acterised by their pointed muzzles, smooth tongues, and non- 

 retractile claws, and by the fact that the fore-feet have five toes, 

 whilst the hind-feet have only four. In the Rycenidce, comprising 

 the Hyaenas, there are only four toes to all the feet, the muzzle is 

 rounded, the tongue is rough, and the hind-legs are shorter than the 

 fore-legs. The Hyaenas are ill-conditioned, ferocious animals, which 

 occur in Africa, Asia Minor, Arabia, and Persia. 



The most highly carnivorous, and therefore the most typical, group 

 of the Carnivora is that of the Cats or Felidce, comprising the Lions, 



