Zoological Society, 53 



arch, but form together a segment of a larger circle than those of 

 Meles vulgaris ; they are proportionately smaller and shorter. In the 

 canines there is but little difference ; the posterior cutting edge ob- 

 served in the Badger is here almost obliterated. The false molars 

 likewise scarcely differ. In the * carnassiere' and true molar, however, 

 there is much difference, the former being of great size and equal to 

 the last molar. It is nearly in the form of a right-angled triangle, 

 the cutting edge is much raised, and there is a large tubercle on the 

 inner lobe of this tooth, which has no analogue in the Badger. The 

 true molar is also nearly triangular ; the tubercles with which it is 

 furnished are but slightly raised, and are much less developed than 

 in the corresponding grinding molar of the Badger. The principal 

 differences observable in the teeth of the lower jaw, consist in the 

 smaller size of the incisors, the larger size of the last false molar, 

 and its being furnished with two distinct tubercles at its apex ; that 

 of the Common Badger being simply pointed : the smaller size of 

 the ' carnassiere,' which is not distinctly dilated posteriorly, as in the 

 Badger, and the cutting edge being higher ; the true molar is 

 smaller. 



" The ' carnassiere' of thelower iawmRj he divided into two portions, 

 that which is opposed to the ' carnassiere' of the upper jaw, and which 

 is the cutting portion, having high sharp cusps ; and that which is 

 opposed to the true molar, which is the grinding portion. Now in 

 the Common Badger (Meles vulgaris) the latter portion decidedly 

 exceeds the former in bulk, whereas in the American Badger the 

 reverse is the case, arising from the comparatively large size of the 

 * carnassiere' of the upper jaw, and smaller size of the true molar." 



Mr. Waterhouse also pointed out other distinctions between the 

 American Badger and the European species. Independent of the 

 differences observable in the colouring and markings, the former 

 may be distinguished by its muzzle being hairy at the tip, the fore 

 limbs stouter, and the claws larger and stronger. 



The peculiar form of the skull in the present animal, and the mo- 

 difications in the dentition are such, as, in Mr. Waterhouse's opinion, 

 would indicate a subgeneric rather than a specific distinction ; and 

 should his views be borne out by the discovery of other species 

 agreeing essentially with the above animal, he suggested that the 

 name Taxidea might be an appropriate title for the group. 



November 27, 1838.— Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Sykes in the Chair. 

 Dr. Horsfield laid before the Meeting a series of Mammalia and 

 Birds collected in India by John McClelland, Esq., Assistant Sur- 



