MANUAL OF NATUEAL HISTOEY. 17 



upper ; upper carnivorous tooth, three lobed, 

 with a broad heel inside, lower two lobed, no 

 heel ; tongue roughened by horny, recurved 

 papillae ; body compressed ; anterior limbs 

 massive ; digitigrade. Habits chiefly noc- 

 turnal. 

 4. Family. — Weasels (Mustelidae). Muzzle short, 

 obtuse ; body long, slender, flexible ; limbs 

 short ; tail lengthened ; one true molar on 

 either side of each jaw ; digitigrade; stature 

 small; disposition very sanguinary. They 

 diffuse, when alarmed, a fetid stench. False 



molars in the typical forms 



3—3 



4—4- 



5. Family. — Skunks (Mephitidae). Muzzle slightly 



elongate, obtuse ; body heavy ; limbs stout ; 

 tail short and bushy, usually erect ; claws 

 strong ; lower carnivorous tooth with two 

 tubercles on inner side ; feet plantigrade ; 

 hair of body generally longitudinally striped. 

 Commonly mephitic. 



6. Family. — Bears (Ursidae). Body usually heavy, 



with or without a tail ; limbs long and thick ; 

 plantigrade ; claws strong ; cartilage of nose 

 elongated and moveable; lips generally mo- 

 bile ; tongue extensible ; molars tubercular. 

 Most have the power of climbing trees. Ha- 

 bits omnivorous. 



7. Family. — Seals (Phocidae). Body lengthened, ta- 



pering posteriorly ; feet short, in the form of 

 flippers ; toes connected by a membrane ; 

 teeth variable ; fur short and close. Able 



