. Natural history. Zoology. FLESH-EATING MAMMALS. 79 â would be very pungent. The smell is said to be a good remedio for the ; Although skunks are essentially nocturnal animals, they may occasionally be seen walking about on the open Argentine pampas in broad daylight. The next group of the sub-family includes the badgers, of which there are likewise several genera, none of which are found in South America. Of these the sand-badgers (Arctonyx), of the Oriental countries, form a genus characterised by having 38 teeth, of which the Badgers, lower incisors project forwards, the ante
. Natural history. Zoology. FLESH-EATING MAMMALS. 79 â would be very pungent. The smell is said to be a good remedio for the ; Although skunks are essentially nocturnal animals, they may occasionally be seen walking about on the open Argentine pampas in broad daylight. The next group of the sub-family includes the badgers, of which there are likewise several genera, none of which are found in South America. Of these the sand-badgers (Arctonyx), of the Oriental countries, form a genus characterised by having 38 teeth, of which the Badgers, lower incisors project forwards, the anterior premolars are often rudimental or wanting, and the upper molar is much larger than the carnassial, and longer than broad. The naked mobile snout is pig-like, the ears are minute and rounded, the eyes small, the feet digitigrade when walking, the tail moderately long and tapering, and the fur bristly, with a soft under- fur. The Indian species is rather larger than the ordinary badger. Nearly allied is the Malayan badger (Mydaus mdiceps), from Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, which is a small burrowing animal, distinguished from the last by the nostrils being inferior, instead of terminal m position, and by the extreme shortness of the tail, which is clothed with rather long bushy hair. In the true badgers (Meles) the number of the teeth is also 38, but the first premolar in each jaw is minute, and often shed at an early age, while the very large upper quadrangular, as broad as long, and much surpass- ing the carnassial in size. Moreover, the lower jaw is so firmly articulated to the skull that it cannot be separated without fracture. The skull differs from that of the sand-badgers, and thereby resembles the Malayan badger, iu that its bony palate is only produced a comparatively short distance behind the last pair of teeth. The muzzle is pointed, the body stout and broad, the ears and tail very short, and the limbs short and strong, with partially plantigrade feet. The
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