258 
CARNIVORA. 
nevertheless, not fail to evince the sanguinary cruelty 
of its natural character, whenever a less powerful 
animal falls within its reach. 
THE TAIRA. LE GLOUTON TAIRA. 
Mustela Barbara, L. 
This is also given, on the authority of Cuvier, as 
a plantigrade animal, and appears in many respects 
to resemble the last. D’Azara describes this under 
the comparative name of the great weasel ; and the 
former under that of the small weasel. 
This animal is about the size of the common 
marten. Its prevailing colour is a black brown ; 
but a white band, beginning on the upper part of 
the neck, passes down to the throat, and is there 
considerably enlarged. 
D’Azara, who describes it at some length, gives 
us no account of its habits ; but they are said to 
resemble in all things those of the common glutton. 
It is an inhabitant of South America. When irritated, 
or dying, it emits a scent of musk. 
It seems very probable, that the animal figured at 
page 143 as a variety of the pekan is in reality the 
taira. 
