DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FOX, 137 



meatus. The lower lip is bordered by a narrow margin of 

 blackish hair, which curves upward around the commissure, and 

 extends forward about one-fourth the length of the upper lip. 

 The chin and throat are entirely white. The whiskers are 

 black, and the hair about their bases is darker than on other 

 parts of the face. 



Measurements from the dry Skin. 



{A/l measurements in millimeters). 



Total length, ...... 



Head and body, .... 



Tail to end of vertebrae. 



Tail to end of hairs, .... 



Hind foot, ...... 



Height of ear tVoin crown, 



850. 

 510. 

 290. 



340- 



no. 



68 



Cranial Characters. — The skull is that of a young adult, 

 and probably is not quite full grown ; the zygomatic breadth, 

 therefore, is less than it would be in a more aged specimen. 

 Unfortunately, a considerable portion of the occipital region, 

 including both condyles, is broken away ; hence the basilar 

 length and several important ratios cannot be taken. The facial 

 part of the skull is much produced and attenuated, the muzzle 

 being relatively longer and more slender than in any other North 

 American fox, and the palata, region correspondingly narrowed. 

 The anterior palatal foramen extends posteriorly to a point op- 

 posite the interspace between the canine and first molar. The 

 palatine bones are truncated anteriorly at the post-palatal for- 

 amma. The zygoniit arch upward more strongly than usual in 

 the genus, and the audital bulljE are conspicuously larger, deeper, 

 and more rounded, which condition, doubtless, is correlated with 

 the great development of the external ears. 



