MAMMALIA. 
86 
commonly held erect]. Their toes are much enveloped in the skin ; and, what eminently distinguishes 
them, is a pouch situate beneath the tad, 
from which exudes a fatty, fetid humour, [as 
in the Skunks, Weasels, &c., to which the 
Badgers are very closely allied]. The long 
claws of their fore-feet enable them to burrow 
with much facility. 
The European Badger {Ursus meles, Lin. ; M. 
taxus, Auct.)— Greyish above, beneath black, with 
a dusky band on each side of the head. That of 
America {Mel. hudsonius [ (?) M. labradoriuS) Sa- 
bine; Ursus taxus, Schreb.] does not appear to 
dilfer essentially. [It is even generically very dis- 
tinct, pertaining to the next division. A second 
species of Badger, however, appears to me to ex- 
ist in the Balysaur of India {Arctonyx collaris, 
F. Cuv. ; Mydaus collaris, Gray,) which M. F. 
Cuvier has represented much too Hog-like in 
his figure ; the snout being scarcely longer than 
that of the European Badger, the fur somewhat 
coarser, and the tail (which almost reaches the ground) not so scantily covered with hair as stated.* A 
cranium figured as that of the Balysaur by Mr. Gray, in his published series of Gen. Hardwicke’s drawinp, 
appears to me to indicate another species, distinguished by the long vacant interspace between the inferior canine | 
and first existing molar. This genus would seem to be peculiar to the eastern continent. 
The Taxels {Taxidea, Waterh.) — 
Are the reputed Badgers of America, but which present a very different cranium, and more carnivorous 
dentition : their cutting molar is increased, and the tubercular reduced, to an equal size ; the latter 
having a triangular crown ; skull widest at 
the occiput, where it is abruptly truncated ; 
the auditory bullae much developed; and 
articulating surface of the lower jaw ex- 
tended, but not locking as in the Badgers. 
Their claws are longer and stouter, enabling 
them to burrow with great rapidity. 
One only is clearly ascertained, the T. lahra- 
doria {Ursus taxus, Schreb.) Remarkable for 
the fine quality of its fur. Dr. Richardson 
has taken a Marmot from the stomach of this 
animal. 
The Bharsiah (Ursotaxus, Hodgson). 
Four cheek-teeth above and below, com- 
prising two superior and three inferior false 
molars ; the tubercular of the upper jaw transverse, and smaller than the carnivorous tooth. General 
conformation similar to that of the Badger, but without external ears. 
But one species is known {N. inauritus, Hodg., Asiat. Res. xix. 60, and Journ. As. Soc. v. 621), from the 
vicinity of Nipal, scantily covered with coarse hair. It is completely plantigrade and fossorial, dwelling in bur- 
rows on the southern slopes of the hills, which it seldom leaves during the day.] 
The Wolverines {Gulo, Storr) — 
Have also been placed in the Bear genus by Linnaeus ; but they rather approximate the Martens in 
their dentition and general character, according only with the Bears in their plantigrade gait. They 
have three false molars above, and four below, anterior to the carnivorous tooth, which is well cha- 
racterized ; and behind this a small tubercular, which is wider than long. Their upper carnivorous 
tooth has but one small internal tubercle, so that they have nearly the same dental system as the 1 
» There is a figure, in Bewick’s Quadrupeds, apparently of this j Tower Menagerie. The description intimates its near resemblance 
species, taken from a seemingly unhealthy individual confined in the | to the common Badger. j 
Fig. 26.— Taxel. 
Fig. 25. — Common Badger. 
