MELES TAXUS. 51 



not much curved; behind each canine tooth is a small 

 conical one, which is wanting in the Brown Bear. 



The entire length of a full-grown male is from 7 to 8 

 feet, its weight from 1000 to 1200 pounds. It feeds almost 

 exclusively on animal substances, seals and fish, alive or 

 dead. 



The Polar Bear inhabits the North Polar regions and 

 Spitzbergen. Is often carried on detached masses of ice to 

 Iceland and Norway. Pallas says that it is frequently met 

 with on the whole coast of the Arctic Sea. 



Genus MELES. 



Second incisor on each side in the lower jaw placed be- 

 hind the others ; grinders 4^4, the first very small, the 

 last tubercular ; body low on the legs ; a glandular pouch 

 under the tail. 



Meles taxus. 



Meles vulgaris, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 266. 

 Meles taxus, Bell, Brit. Quad. 

 The Badger. 



Description. — Body thick; hair rigid and long, grey on 

 the upper parts, black on the throat, breast, belly, and legs ; 

 head above white, with a longitudinal black spot on each 

 side, beginning between the end of the nose and the eye, 

 and ending behind the ears ; toes five on each foot ; claws 

 long and bent ; eyes very small ; ears short and rounded, 

 almost concealed in the hair. 



Length of head and body, 2 feet 6 inches ; head, 6 inches 

 8 lines ; ears, 1 inch 4 lines ; tail, 7 inches. 



Burrows in the ground ; feeds on vegetables, roots, nuts, 

 as well as on mice, frogs, and insects. 



The Badger is found throughout the British Islands, but 



d2 



