Chapter XI

THE RACOON FAMILY--THE PANDA FAMILY--THE WEASEL FAMILY--FOSSIL
CARNIVORA.

THE RACOON FAMILY--Characters of their Skull, Teeth,
&c.--Geographical Distribution--THE RACOON--Its Habit of
Washing its Food--Its External Characters and Habits--Racoon
Hunting--The Crab-eating Racoon--THE COATI--THE KINKAJOU--Its
Lemur-like Appearance, Prehensile Tail, &c.--THE
CACOMIXLE--THE PANDA FAMILY--THE PANDA--Its Character
and Habits--The Ailuropus--THE WEASEL FAMILY--Anatomical
Characters--Tail-glands--Division of the Family into Three
Sub-families--Importance of the Mustelidæ as Fur-producing
Animals--THE GLUTTON--Its Characters--Superstitions Regarding
it--Its Cunning--THE MARTEN--THE PEKAN--THE SABLE--THE
WEASEL--THE STOAT, OR ERMINE--The Difference between its Winter
and Summer Dress, and the manner in which the Change takes
place--THE POLECAT--THE FERRET--THE MINK--THE GRISON--THE
TAYRA--THE RATEL--THE COMMON BADGER--Its Habits--Burrowing--THE
AMERICAN BADGER--THE TELEDU--THE CAPE ZORILLA--THE COMMON
SKUNK--Its Noxious Secretion--Hydrophobia produced by Skunk
Bite--The Little Striped Skunk--The White-backed Skunk--THE
COMMON OTTER--The Adaptation of its Structure to Aquatic
Life--Use of Tame Otters for Fishing--The Canadian Otter--The
Margined-tailed Otter--THE SEA OTTER--Its Affinities with
the Seals--How it is Hunted--GENERAL RELATIONS OF THE LAND
CARNIVORA--FOSSIL CARNIVORA--The Tendency of these to
bridge over Existing Groups--Appendix to Chapter VI. (Civet
Family)--THE CYNOGALE--THE CYNICTIS--THE MANGUE--THE SURICATE 177

THE AQUATIC OR MARINE CARNIVORA.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION--THE WALRUS, OR MORSE.

Pinnipedia distinctly Aquatic--The Three Families--Their
Common Characteristics--Skeleton--Mobility of
Figure--Feet--Dentition--Skull--Tongue--Stomach--Intestine--Peculiar
Disposition of Blood-vessels of Liver--Lungs--Sense
of Smell--Larynx--Brain--Sense of Hearing--The Walrus
Family--Characteristics--THE WALRUS, OR MORSE--Geographical
Distribution--Fossil Forms--Weight--Size--Appearance
in Old Age--Mode of Walk--Habits--On Guard--In the
Water--Attacked--Tusks--Dentition of the Young--Uses of the
Tusks--Food--Long Fasts--Story of “Jamie,” a Tame Walrus--The
Young--Maternal Affection--Massacre--Walrus as an Article of
Diet 209