758 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ZOOLOGY, VOL. III. 



has a high and broad forehead, but nevertheless it is lower and nar- 

 rower than in the western species; the brain-case, however, is much 

 wider and more swollen, and the zygomatic arches much less spread as 

 the measurements show 173 to 185 ; the basioccipital and basisphenoid 

 are much flatter, and the pterygoid fossa much wider, particularly at 

 the posterior end, with the tips of the pterygoid processes turning 

 inward instead of outward, as in U. altifrontalis; the palate is wider 

 throughout its length, and does not become narrow anteriorly as in 

 the species just named. In comparison with the eastern black bear 

 (Wisconsin and Maine), the forehead is considerably more elevated, 

 and the brain-case much broader; the nasals are longer and elevated 

 posteriorly; the narial opening much broader and flatter on the inferior 

 border; the pterygoid fossa much wider and the tips of the processes 

 turn inward and not outward. The differences are similar to those 

 which characterized the new form when compared with the Pacific 

 Coast black bears, placing U. hylodromus between the two. The east- 

 ern black bear, however, has the forehead nearly on a line with the 

 face, and in this respect differs from both of its relatives, and pos- 

 sesses also a comparatively long and narrow brain-case, in the latter 

 peculiarity not unlike that of U. altifrontalis, while the new form has the 

 brain-case equally long, but bulging outward posterior to the fronto- 

 parietal suture. The shape of the coronoid process of the mandible 

 of the eastern black bear skull is very different from both of these 

 others, the posterior outline being nearly straight from the condyle to 

 the tip, and entirely without the downward curve at the tip so con- 

 spicuous in the other two species. The horizontal portion of the 

 mandible of U. hylodromus is deeper and heavier than either of the 

 others. 



FAM. PROCYONID/E. 

 BASSARISCUS. 



Bassariscus albipes. Sp. nov. 



Type locality: Near Vera Cruz, State of Vera Cruz, Mexico. 



Gen/, char.: Size large, color dark, feet white. Skull long, 

 narrow, nasals pointed posteriorly (rounded in B. astutus and B. a. 

 raptor], and considerably depressed in the middle, causing the outline 

 to be concave, as the posterior portion ascends to the frontals; the 

 brain-case is rather narrow for its length, and does not widen posteri- 

 orly equal to that of B. astutus;' the pterygoid fossa is long and rather 

 broad, and the processes of the pterygoids are thickened and heavy, 



