. Natural history. Zoology. So MAMMALIAâORDER IV.âCARNIVORA. ternally, the ratels have a stout body, a flattened head, rather pointed nose, rudimental ears, stout and short limbs, and a very short tail. They subsist chiefly on honey-comb, which they dig out with their powerful claws. The so-called ferret-badgers (Helktii), from the Oriental countries, some of which are remarkable for their brilliant coloration, form a very distinct genus. They have 38 teeth, a long head, with a sharp naked muzzle, obliquely truncated at the tip, small ears, elongated body, short limbs, and a rather short or mo
. Natural history. Zoology. So MAMMALIAâORDER IV.âCARNIVORA. ternally, the ratels have a stout body, a flattened head, rather pointed nose, rudimental ears, stout and short limbs, and a very short tail. They subsist chiefly on honey-comb, which they dig out with their powerful claws. The so-called ferret-badgers (Helktii), from the Oriental countries, some of which are remarkable for their brilliant coloration, form a very distinct genus. They have 38 teeth, a long head, with a sharp naked muzzle, obliquely truncated at the tip, small ears, elongated body, short limbs, and a rather short or moderate bushy tail. All are small animals, climbing well, and sub- sisting on a mixed diet. The last genus of the sub-family is typified by the Cape polecat {Ictonyx zorilla) ; another species occurring in Egypt, and, it is said, Asia Minor. These animals have a dentition and bodily form very similar to those of the true polecats, from which they may at once be distinguished by their coloration, which is very similar to that of the skunks. The last sub-family of the comprises the true weasels and their allies, and is characterised by the toes being short and partially webbed, the claws also short, sharp, compressed, curved, and frequently Weasels, etc. partially retractile ; while the upper molar is of moderate size, and wide transversely. The first genus is Galictis, of which there are two well-defined South American species, locally known as the grison and the tayra. Both these have 34 teeth, among which the molars are small but stout, while the upper camassial has its inner tubercle near the middle of its length, and the lower carnassial has a minute posterior heel, and either a very small or no inner cusp. The head is broad and flattened, the body elongate, the limbs short, with plantigrade feet, in which the claws are non-retractile and the soles naked, while the tail is long or moderate. Both rf cA 'â '''^'"^ species are found as far south as the Argent
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Keywords: ., bookauthorly, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
