290 
VERTEBRATA. 
young striped hyena, so closely does it resemble that animal in the colors and peculiar markings 
of its far, and in the mane of long stiff hair which runs along the neck and back; indeed, it is 
only to be distinguished by its more pointed head, and by the additional fifth toe of the fore-feet. 
The fur is of a woolly texture on the sides and belly, but a mane of coarse stiff hair, six or seven 
inches in length, passes along the nape of the neck and back, from the occiput to the origin of 
the tail, and is capable of being erected or bristled up, like that of the hyena, when the animal is 
irritated or provoked. The general hue of the fur is pale ash-color, with a slight shade of yellow- 
ish brown ; the muzzle is black and almost naked, or covered only with a few long stiff mus- 
taches. Around the eyes, and on each side of the neck, are dark brown marks ; eight or ten 
bands of the same color pass over the body in a transverse direction, exactly as in the common 
striped hyena ; and the arms and thighs are likewise marked with similar transverse stripes. The 
legs and feet are of a uniform dark brown in front, and gray behind. The long hairs of the 
mane are gray, with two broad rings of black, the second of which occupies the point; those of 
the tail are similarly marked, and equally long and stiff; whence it appears as if the mane and 
tail were clouded with an alternate mixture of black and gray. The ears are gray on the interior 
surface, and dark brown on the outer. 
In its habits and manners the aard-wolf resembles the fox : like that animal, it is nocturnal, 
and constructs a subterraneous burrow, at the bottom of which it lies concealed during the day- 
time, and only ventures abroad on the approach of night, to search for food, and satisfy the 
other calls of nature. It is fond of the society of its own species, and many individuals have 
been found residing together in the same burrow. A& they are of a timid and wary character, 
they have generally three or four different entrances to their holes ; so that, if attacked on one 
side, they may secure a retreat in an opposite direction. Notwithstanding the disproportionate 
length of their fore-legs, they are said to run very fast ; and so strong is their propensity to 
burrow, that one of M. Delalande's specimens, perceiving itself about to be run down and cap- 
tured, immediately ceased its flight, and began to scratch up the ground, as if with the intention 
of making a new earth. It generally lives on decayed flesh, but also devours ants. It is said 
to prefer the flesh of lambs, and M. Geoffroy suggests that it has also a fondness for the fat of 
the tails of the big-tailed sheep, common in Southern Africa. The habits of the animal, in 
respect to its food, are, however, little known. 
THE MUSTELIDES. 
The Mustelides, a term from Mustela, a weasel, embraces three tribes or divisions : the Melidce, 
of which the badger is the type; the Mtistelins, of which the weasel is the representative; and 
the Loutrins, of which the otter is the type. Among them there is great diversity of size, hab- 
its, color, and endowments; but they agree, generally, in being carnivorous or omnivorous — in 
having a long, thin, pliable body and short legs, qualifying them to pursue their prey in small 
openings and narrow passages, and in possessing fine fars. Some of them produce the most 
valuable furs of commerce. Several of the species are endowed with the power of diffusing 
a strong odor from a pouch beneath the anus. 
THE MELIDJE. 
The animals of this tribe are all plantigrade, or nearly so, and for the most part omnivorous. 
Genus BADGER : Meles. — Of this, according to the best authors, there are four species : the 
Common Badger of Europe, M. viilgaris\ the AnERiCAisr Badger, M. Lahradorica; the Indian 
Badger, M. collaris ; and the Anakuma Badger, M. AnaJcuma, of Japan. Some naturalists, 
however, regard them as constituting each a distinct genus. 
The European Badger^ which has some resemblance in form to the bear, like that animal is 
omnivorous, feeding on flesh or vegetables, according as opportunity may offer. Its dental system 
is indeed better adapted to the chewing and masticating vegetable substances than for tearing 
and cutting raw flesh. The principal character of the feet consists in its having five toes both 
before and behind, short, strong, deeply buried in the flesh, and furnished with powerful com- 
pressed claws, admirably calculated for burrowing or turning up the earth in search of roots. The 
