120 MBLIHID^. 



Section II. DOG-FOOTED CARNIVORA {CYNOPODA). 



Head elongate. Feet elongate. Toes straight ; the last phalange 

 and the claws extended. The claws blunt and worn at the end ; 

 the front ones are often more or less elongated, for digging. 



Fam. 7. MELINIDtE. 



Head moderate, elongate. Nose simple, flat and bald beneath, 

 with a central longitudinal groove. Tubercular grinders one on 

 each side of the upper and lower jaws. Feet elongate. Toes 

 stright, exserted. Claws spread out, blunt. 



MustelidsB, § Platypoda, Ch-ay, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 102. 



The flesh-tooth of this group is peculiar. In some genera it is 

 of the usual normal shape, with a small internal lobe crowned with 

 a single conical tubercle, as in Mephitis, Zorilla, and Mellivora ; in 

 Conepatus the inner lobe is broader, and has an elongated arched 

 ridge on its inner edge. In some other genera, where the inner 

 lobe is broad, it is crowned with two tubercles ; they are distinct 

 and well developed in Taxidea and Helictis, confluent, forming an 

 oblique ridge, in Mydaus, and rudimentary and marginal in Arctonyx. 

 The genus Bassaris has, like these genera, two conical tubercles 

 on the inner process of the flesh-tooth. 



The form of the hinder part, and the position of the hinder open- 

 ing, of the palate vary in the different genera. 



In Conepatus and MepMtis it is wide and scarcely produced, and 

 nearly in a line with the hinder edge of the grinders. 



In Mellivora it is wide, but rather further back, in a line with 

 the hinder edge of the orbit. 



In Meles and Taxidea and Mydaus it is rather contracted, and 

 placed stUl further back, being in a line with the middle of the 

 zygomatic arch. 



In Arctonyx it is produced stiU further back, the opening being 

 rather behind, in a line even with the condyles ; the hinder part of 

 the palate behind the tooth-line is concave below, keeled on the 

 sides above, and swoUen on the sides in front. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



A. Plantigrade. Hind feet broad, depressed; soles bald, callous nearly to 

 the heel; toes short, thick; claws thick. Body heavy. Tail short. 

 Ears short, rounded. 



Tribe 1. Melina. Tubercular grinder large, oblong, elongate. 

 Palate produced behind. Flesh-tooth with two more or 

 less distinct tubercles on inner lobe. 



