Skull usually under five inches in length, unless with the back cheek 

 teeth provided with cutting, rather than grinding, surfaces; nasals 

 usually making some contact with maxillaries 27. 



26. Profile convex; skull of adult about ten inches long 



Ursus americanus Black Bear 

 Profile slightly concave; skull of adult about fourteen inches long 

 Ursus horrihilis Grizzly Bear 



27. Top profile convex in front of eye region; the large upper teeth with 



grinding surfaces; opening on side of nose (antC'orbital foramen) less 

 than its own diameter from the edge of eye socket Raccoon Family 



28. 



Profile at least slightly concave on nose region; the longest upper cheek 



tooth modified for cutting or shearing; ante-orbital foramen more than 



its own diameter from edge of eye socket 29. 



28. Palate extending far behind level of last cheek teeth; foramen magnum 



definitely wider than high; skull usually about four inches long 

 Procyon Raccoon 

 Palate ending at level of last cheek tooth; foramen magnum almost cir- 

 cular; skull about three inches long 

 Bassanscus Ring'tail Cat 



29. Postorbital process slightly hollowed out on top; incisors without small 



side tubercles at gum level; profile almost straight 30. 



Postorbital process slightly convex on top; incisors with small tubercles 



at gum level; profile concave 31. 



30. Crests coming almost together at fronto-parietal suture and continuing 



posteriorly almost in contact 



Vulpes Red Fox 

 Crests % inch or farther apart at fronto-parietal suture, not joining until 

 parietal-occipital suture 



Urocyon Gray Fox 



31. Skull markedly concave in front of orbits; largest upper cheek tooth with 



a low rounded inner projection 

 Canis familiaris Dog 

 Skull slightly concave in front of orbits; largest upper cheek tooth with 

 a well developed inner cusp 32. 



32. Eight and one-half to eleven and one-half inches long; cranium as high 



as wide 



Canis lupus and relatives Wolves 

 Rarely over seven and one-half inches long; cranium w^ider than high 

 Canis latrans and relatives Coyotes 



33. Widest part of skull at rear; bulla rounded; cheek teeth 4/5; skull about 



five inches long 



Taxidea Badger 

 Not with above combination of characters 34. 



34. Skull three inches or longer; usually with five upper cheek teeth, the first 



very small 35. 



Skull less than three inches; three or four upper cheek teeth 38. 



527 



