1893.] NATURAL, SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 417 



based on the four adult skulls of the Cuernavaca specimens. The 

 variability in the width of the pterygoids is striking, the two female 

 skulls showing the greatest width in this respect. In one of them it 

 is nearly as great as in the skull of " raptor. " The same variability 

 is seen in flavus, but in two instances the widely separated pterygoids 

 are present in male skulls, showing the peculiarity has no sexual 

 significance. In two of the Cuernavaca specimens the upper termi- 

 nal fourth (127 to 150 mm. ) of the tail is wholly black, the remain- 

 der about ecpially white- and- black- ringed above. In this variation 

 there is an approach to sumichrasti but the color of the under side of 

 the tail in astuhis is in quite the opposite direction, being as broadly 

 white as in any examples of flavus. 



In general terms astutus may be distinguished from flavus by its 

 greater size, light gray colors of uniform distribution, the total lack 

 or slight trace of fulvous admixture, paleness of the fur at base and 

 the scantiness and harshness of the pelage. 



2. Bassariscus astutus flavus, subsp. nov. (Type No. it?:.' Col. Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Phila. : Texas, 1861, col. by Dr. Heeriiiaiin). 



Description. — Size smaller ; fur long, full and soft. Tail verte- 

 bra' somewhat shorter than head and body, tail 14 to 16 ringed 

 exclusive of black tip, the black rings often nearly encircling it, ( in 

 the Oregon series the three terminal black rings completely encircle 

 tail). Upper part of body blackish tawny, blackest medially, 

 yellowest laterally. Top of head and neck like middle of back. 

 Under parts tawny, lightest on throat and neck, underfur and roots 

 of body hairs everywhere sooty. Spots above and below eyes and at 

 entrance of ear, tawny, the blackish markings of face indistinct or 

 obsolete. 



Skull smaller, rounded, the zygoma 1 relatively narrower pos- 

 teriorly, postorbital processes relatively wider apart, closely 

 approached posteriorly by the forward development of the brain case 

 the temporal bone widening, suddenly at or near this point and 

 rarely showing the waist-like configuration of astutus, rostrum short 

 and tapering, the canines lying well within its contour as viewed 

 from above, sagittal crest absent, canines less sulcate, groove disap- 

 pearing in Oregon specimens. 



Measurements. — Total length, 680 to 800; tail, 804 to o*0 ; 

 hind foot, 55 to 60 ; size of ears undeterminable. 



Skull. — Total length, 80, greatest breadth, 50; interorbital con- 

 striction, 20 ; tip to tip of postorbital processes, 30. 



