516 Vertebrata. 



pupil ; in Europe, North Asia and North America, exterminated in England : 

 the Jackal (C. awreits), nearly allied to the Wolf ; in Asia, North Africa, and 

 the Balkan Peninsula: the Domestic Dog (0. familiaris) probably a 

 descendant of the Jackal or its naer relations. An isolated canine form, the 

 genus Icticyon of Brazil, is distinguished by the possession of m 4 only, in other 

 respects, near to the rest of the CanidsD. Another, the South African Otocyon 

 caffer has very large pinnae ; and is vulpine, with a pointed nose, and with more 

 than the typical number of molars, viz. p ^, m *. 



2. The Bear family {TJrsidm). p^:,m^-; tubercular region of the molar 

 series principally developed, sectorial portion degenerate (usually some of the 

 premolars are absent fi-om the adult). Elongate head, very short tail; each 

 foot has five toes armed with very strong claws ; plantigrade ,• animals of con- 

 siderable size, feeding chiefly upon plants. Here belong : the Common 

 Bear (Ursus arctos), which occurs on the continent, e.g., in Switzerland, 

 Hungary, Russia, Scandinavia; it hibernates: the American Black Bear 

 (Z7. americanus) in North America, where is also the Grizzly Bear 

 (Z7. cinereus) : the Sloth Bear (Z7. lahiatus) of India, with very projecting 

 lips, and unusually long claws ; the incisors are generally lost early : the Polar 

 Bear (U. mariUmus), white, with hairy soles, belongs to the Ai-ctic regions. 

 The Quaternary Gave Bear(Z7. spelseus) was larger than living forms; its 

 remains are frequently met with in the bone caves of Europe. 



3. E/accoons (Proeyonidse). p %, m f ; tubercular portion of the molar 

 series not so pronounced as in the Bears ; head longish, tail long, five toes on 

 each foot; plantigrade; small forms ; omnivorous. Here belong the Washing 

 Racoon (Procj/om.) and the Coatimondi [NaBua); both in America. 



4. The Marten family (JfwsieKa!«). ^i-^Ll, m i; in some, thecamassial 

 region of the molar series (i.e., the interdigitating teeth, the sectorial of the 

 upper jaw, the anterior portion of the lower sectorial) ; in others, the tubercular 

 portion, is most pronounced. The tail is usually well- developed ; legs short, 

 five toes, digitigrade or plantigrade. 



(a) Martens (Mustela). Small, very elongate, thin forms, prey chiefly 

 upon warm-blooded Vertebrates ; digitigrade ; tubercular region rather small. 

 The following occur in Europe : the Pine-marten [M. foina), a large species 

 with white throat : the Polecat [M. putorius), brown ; the Ferret 

 (M. furo) is a paler, degenerate, domesticated breed of the Polecat: the 

 Ermine {M. erminea), becomes white in winter; the short-tailed Weazel 

 (M. vulgaris), the smallest species, occurs in the British Isles : the European 

 Mink (Jkf. lutreola), of the size of the Polecat, is uniformly brown, and has 

 webbed toes ; it is aquatic, and common in Russia ; it recalls the Otter. The 

 Sable {M. zibellina) of Siberia, stands near the Pine-mai-ten. Allied to the 

 Martens, but larger and clumsier, is the Glutton {Gvlo fiorectZis), with a very 

 short, bushy tail, plantigrade ; in Scandinavia, Russia, Siberia, North America. 



(b) The Otters (Lutra) are larger, and characterised by the long, powerful 

 tail, webbed toes, blunt nose, and very short pinnss. They are extremely good 

 swimmers, and feed upon fish. The Common Otter (£. vulgaris) of Britain 

 and other parts of Europe, inhabits fresh water as well as the sea. Allied to it 

 is the Sea Otter (Enhydra marina), with i J ; the hind limbs resemble those of 

 Seals : on the coasts of the North Pacific. 



(c) Badgers (Meles taxus), characterised by the great development of the 

 molars, and of the hinder portion of the lower sectorial ; plantigrade forms, with 

 strong digging claws on the fore limbs ; omnivorous. The Skunks (Mephitis) 

 axe allied to the Badgers, and occm- in North and South America, Africa, and 

 Asia Minor, 



