46 
LOWER MAMMAL GALLERY. 
wholly on fruits and other vegetable food. Remains of a larger 
extinct species have been found in the Upper Tertiary formations 
of England. The other Asiatic species is the Great Panda, 
yElvroims melanoleucus ( 587 , fig. 25), a short-tailed black-and- 
white animal, inhabiting Eastern Tibet and Western China, 
long regarded as a Bear, to which group it has probably some 
relationship. 
[Cases 23 The family Mustelidm (cases 23 and 24) contains the Weasels, 
Badgers, &c., which agree closely in the characters of 
their skulls and teeth, but may be separated into three groups 
by their general form and the structure of their feet and claws. 
These tribes are : — (1) The Mustelincc, or Weasel group, the 
members ol which have long low bodies, with short legs, short 
and partly webbed toes, and small, sharp, and often semi- 
retractile claws. The fur of some of the species forms an 
important article of trade, as of the Marten and Sable, AJii stela 
(563 to 568 ), of Northern Europe, Asia, and America. Of these 
one species is British, namely the Pine-Marten, M. martes 
( 565 ), now nearly exterminated in England, but still holding its 
own in the wilder parts of Scotland. The true Weasels, 
Piitorius (550 to 561 ), comprise a number of comparatively 
short-haired species, inhabiting nearly all parts of the world. 
Among them may be mentioned the Stoat or Ermine, Putoidus 
ermineus ( 552 ), three specimens of which have been mounted 
to show the seasonal change of fur ; the Weasel, P. nivalis 
( 553 ) ; and the Polecat, P. fcetidus^ or P. imtorius ( 558 ), of 
which the Ferret is a domesticated form. The African 
Pcecilogale albinuclia ( 569 ) is the most brightly marked of the 
group ; and its largest member is the circumpolar Glutton,, 
Gulo luscus ( 577 ), a heavily built, powerful animal, much 
resembling a small Bear, and very destructive to game. 
(2) The Melince, or Badger group, have comparatively stout 
thick-set bodies, covered with fur generally marked with more 
or less sharply contrasted black and white bands or patches, and 
long toes provided with large straight claws, more powerful on 
the fore than on the hind feet. They include the Badgers, Meles 
[Case 24.] (606 & 607)9 Ratels or Honey-Badgers, Mellivora ( 573 ), and 
Skunks, Mephitis ( 599 , 600 ), Conepatus (596 to 598 ), and Spilo-^ 
