Fes., 1912. Mammats oF Ittinors AND WISCONSIN—CoRy. 327 
Family MUSTELID/A. Otters, Minks, Wea- 
sels, Skunks, Badgers, etc. 
The Mustelide comprise a rather large family which is widely dis- 
tributed, representatives being found throughout the world except in 
the Australian region and Madagascar. The family is divided into 
several well marked subfamilies which, while osteologically closely 
related, differ widely in appearance and habits. All North American 
Mustelide are now generally considered to belong to three subfamilies: 
Lutrine, the Otters; Meline, the Skunks and Badgers; and Musteline 
which includes the Minks, Weasels, Marten, Fisher and Wolverine. 
All are fur-bearing animals having a commercial value, the most highly 
prized beirig the Sea Otter, Latax lutris (a species very different from 
the semi-aquatic Otter which occurs within our limits). This splendid 
animal is confined to the north Pacific Ocean but is fast disappearing. 
Its rarity may be judged by the fact that notwithstanding the great 
value of its fur, a single fine skin being valued at from 1000 to 2000 
dollars, during the year 1909 only 37 skins are known to have been 
secured by fur dealers. 
The members of this family possess anal glands, the secretions of 
which have a noxious odor. This character reaches a high develop- 
ment in the Skunks, which are able to eject the fetid fluid to a distance 
of ten or fifteen feet. These odoriferous glands are more or less modified 
in different genera. In the Weasels, Wolverine and American Badgers, 
for example, the secretion is noxious, but can not be forcibly ejected, 
being allowed to escape from the glands when the animal is enraged or 
excited. In the various subfamilies there is a noticable difference in the 
character of the feet and claws but all members of the family have 
five toes on both fore and hind feet. 
With rare exceptions all species of Mustelide have but a single molar 
in the upper jaw and occasionally only one in the lower. The audital 
bullz are depressed and but slightly inflated; alisphenoid canal absent; 
oss penis present and large; cecum absent; placenta zonary and 
deciduate. Except in the Otters the kidneys are of simple structure. 
In the Skunks the secretion is an acid liquid golden yellow in 
color, having an exceedingly strong, sickening odor. Clothing, which 
has been tainted by it, gives evidence of the fact for a surprising 
length of time, especially in hot weather or when left near a fire. 
The fluid is extremely irritating to the eye, and cases have been re- 
