So MAMMALIA— ORDER IV.—CARNIVORA. 



ternally, the ratels have a stout body, a flattened head, rather pointed nose, 

 rudimental ears, stout and short limbs, and a very short tail. They subsist 

 chiefly on honey-comb, which they dig out with their powerful claws. The 

 so-called ferret-badgers (Helktii), from the Oriental countries, some of which 

 are remarkable for their brilliant coloration, form a very distinct genus. 

 They have 38 teeth, a long head, with a sharp naked muzzle, obliquely 

 truncated at the tip, small ears, elongated body, short limbs, and a rather 

 short or moderate bushy tail. All are small animals, climbing well, and sub- 

 sisting on a mixed diet. The last genus of the sub-family is typified by the 

 Cape polecat {Ictonyx zorilla) ; another species occurring in Egypt, and, it is 

 said, Asia Minor. These animals have a dentition and bodily form very 

 similar to those of the true polecats, from which they may at once be 

 distinguished by their coloration, which is very similar to that of the 

 skunks. 



The last sub-family of the Mn.ttelidcB comprises the true weasels and their 



allies, and is characterised by the toes being short and partially webbed, the 



claws also short, sharp, compressed, curved, and frequently 



Weasels, etc. partially retractile ; while the upper molar is of moderate 



size, and wide transversely. The first genus is Galictis, of 



which there are two well-defined South American species, locally known as 



the grison and the tayra. Both these have 34 teeth, among which the molars 



are small but stout, while the upper camassial has 



its inner tubercle near the middle of its length, 



and the lower carnassial has a minute posterior 



heel, and either a very small or no inner cusp. 



The head is broad and flattened, the body 



elongate, the limbs short, with plantigrade feet, 



in which the claws are non-retractile and the soles 



naked, while the tail is long or moderate. Both 



rf cA '■'''^'"^ species are found as far south as the Argentine 



ra. 50.— The Common ^ , ^ i j j_i - t -i- 



Weasel. pampas, and are noted lor their savage disposition. 



In the typical genus ]\lHstela may be included not 

 only the martens, but likewise the smaller polecats and weasels. In the two 

 latter the dentition is numerically the same as in Galictis, but in the former 

 the number of teeth is increased to 38, owing to the presence of the first pair of 

 premolars in each jaw, on which account these animals are frequently referred 

 to a genus by themselves, under the name of Puiorivs. From Oalidis they 

 are all readily distinguished by the inner tubercle of the upper carnassial 

 tooth being situated close to its front edge, instead of in the middle. All 

 these animals have the characteristic long and slender weasel-body, short, 

 digitigrade limbs, rounded feet, short toes, with sharp, compressed, and parti- 

 ally retractile claws, and the long or moderate tail more or less bushy. The 

 larger forms, or martens, are restricted to the Northern Hemisphere, one 

 species occurring as far south as Sumatra. They are all mainly carnivorous 

 and arboreal, and generally produce frfim four to six young at a birth. The 

 best-known species are the pine-marten {l\[uMcIa mcirtes), ranging from Britain 

 across Northern Europe and Asia; the beech-marten (3/. /oiiia), extending 

 from Central and Southern Europe to the Himalaya and Turkestan ; the 

 sable {M. zibellina) of Siberia and Kamschatka; the closely-allied North 

 American marten (M. americana) ; the very distinct Indian or yellow- 

 throated marten (M. flaviynla), ranging from India to Sumatra, China, and 

 Amurland ; and the large Pennant's marten {M. pcnnanti)oi North America. 



