484 



MAMMALIA. 



tubercukte molar on each side of the upper and lower jaws.. 

 All the Mutstelidd' have curious anal glands which emit a strong-^ 

 smelling odour; these are greatly developed sebaceous glands.' 

 Some animals, such as the skunk, have the power of ejecting- 



A, Plantigrade foot (Bear); 

 (Nicholson.) 



251, — Feet of CAIl^avoEA. 

 1, Pinnigrade foot (Seal) ; c 



Digitigrade foot (Liion). 



the secretion, which is most foul-smelling, some distance over 

 their enemy. 



The Mustelidae are of considerable economic importance, as 

 many of them are most injuricras. We may here mention the 

 Polecat (Putorius fcatidus), the Stoat (P. ei-miiiea), the Weasel 

 {P. vulgarity) the Marten {Martes si/lvatifo), and the Otter 

 (Luf.ra vulgaris), as being generally abundant in Britain, 

 and also the Ferret (P. furo), which is said by some to be a 

 native of Africa, but which may have been derived from the 

 polecat. 



The Wecmd (P. vulgaris) is a small elongate animal about 

 eight inches long with a tail about two inches long. It is broM-n 

 above and with a white belly. The body is very slender and 

 almost snake-like, the legs very short, and the head somewhat 

 larger than the diameter of the trunk. It has a similar fur 



