th straight
toes and non-retractile, slightly curved, subcompressed, blunt claws,
especially large on the fore-foot. In all cases the upper molar is
larger than the sectorial, and in the more typical genera is much
longer than broad.

In the North American skunks of the genus _Mephitis_ the dentition is
i. 3/3, c. 1/1, p. 3/3, m. 1/2; total 34. Upper molar larger than the
sectorial, subquadrate, rather broader than long; lower sectorial with
heel less than half the length of the whole tooth. Bony palate
terminating posteriorly opposite the hinder border of the last molar.
Facial portion of skull short and somewhat truncated in front.
Vertebrae: C. 7, D. 16, L. 6, S. 2, Ca. 21. Head small. Body
elongated. Limbs moderate, subplantigrade. Ears short and rounded.
Tail long, abundantly clothed with long fine hair. Anal glands largely
developed; their secretion, which can be discharged at the will of the
animal, has an intolerably offensive odour and has rendered skunks
proverbial. The South American species, which have only two upper
premolars, and differ in some other characters, are generically
separated under the name of _Conepatus_; while the small North
American arboreal skunks are distinguished as _Spilogale_ (see SKUNK).

Badger tribe.

Passing on to the more typical members of the badger group, we have
first the genus _Arctonyx_, with the dentition i. 3/3, c. 1/1, p. 4/4,
m. 1/2; total 38. The incisor line is curved, the outer teeth being
placed posteriorly to the others: lower incisors inclined forwards.
First premolars often rudimentary or absent; upper molar much larger
than the sectorial, longer in the antero-posterior direction than
broad; lower sectorial with a very large, low, tuberculated heel.
Skull elongated and depressed; face long, narrow and concave above;
bony palate extending as far backwards as the level of the glenoid
fossa; and palatal bones dilated. Suborbital foramina very large.
Vertebrae: C. 7, D. 16, L. 4, S. 4, Ca. 20. Snout long, naked, mobile
and truncated, with large terminal nostrils, much like those of a pig.
Eyes small; ears very small and rounded. Body compressed, rather than
depressed. Limbs of moderate length, and partially digitigrade in
walking. Tail moderate, tapering. A full soft under-fur, with longer
bristly hairs interspersed. The longest-known species is _A.
collaris_, the _bhalu-soor_ (bear-pig)