Guide to the galleries of mammalia (mammalian, osteological, cetacean) in the Department of Zoology of the British Museum (Natural History).

  • British Museum (Natural History). Department of Zoology.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Guide to the galleries of mammalia (mammalian, osteological, cetacean) in the Department of Zoology of the British Museum (Natural History). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    externally, but closely related to the ordinary Canidse in their more important dental and cranial characters. With these is placed a specimen of the Long-eared Fox of South Africa [Otocyon megalotis), remarkable for its very numerous teeth and its sharp-pointed and long ears; special interest is attached to it, as it has been considered to represent the original type of canine animal, whence all the wild forms of Dogs and Foxes of the present day have been developed. The last great division of the fissiped Carnivora is the Arctoidea, consisting of the Bears, Weasels, Raccoons, &c. The most typical members are completely plantigrade, walking flat on their palms and soles ; and all have five toes on each of their feet. Thefirst family, MmtelidcR (Cases 21 and 22), containsthe Weasels, [Cases Otters, Badgers, &c., which all agree very closely in their skulls ^l-‘'’'^d22 and dentition, but may be readily separated into three Tribes by their general form, and by the structure of their feet and claws. These tribes are:—(1) The Mustelmce, the Weasel tribe, the mem- bers of 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 Martens and Sables [Mustela] ofNortherriEurope, Asia, and America. Of these one species is British, namely the Pine-AIarten [M. martes), now nearly exterminated in England, but still holding its own in the wilder parts of Scotland. The true Weasels [Putorius) consist of about 20 or 30 comparatively short-haired species, inhabiting nearly all parts of the world. Among them may be mentioned the common English Stoat or Ermine [Putorius ermineus), three specimens of which have been mounted to show the seasonal change of fur; the Weasel (P. vulgaris) ; the Polecat [M. putorius), the domesticated form of which is the Ferret. Poecilogale alhinucha is the brightest marked of the tribe; and its largest member, the Glutton [Gulo luscus), a heavily built, powerful animal, much resembling a small bear, and very destructive to the larger game. (2) The MelincBj or Badger tribe, 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 [Metes)^ Ratels c 2
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