48 



BULLETIN" 171, UNITED STATES JSTATIONAL MUSEUM 



processes of the frontals as compared with recent skulls in the same 

 stage of maturity and especially the form and size of the nasals. 

 These are broad in midregion so that the outer sides run nearly 

 parallel for a considerable distance instead of converging V-shaped 



Figure 26.— Taxidea marylandka Qidley and Gazin: Skull and mandible, type specimen (U.S.N.M. no. 

 7990), lateral view. Three-fourths natural size. Cumberland Cave Pleistocene, Maryland. 



Figure 27.— Taxidea marylandka Gidley and Gazin: Skull, type specimen (U.S.N.M. no. 7990), dorsal view. 

 Three-fourths natural size. Cumberland Cave Pleistocene, Maryland. 



backward as is usual in the living species. Thus the points of the 

 anterior extension of the frontals are very definitely farther apart 

 than in any specimen of the living species observed. 



The junior anthor docs not regard this specimen as sufficiently 

 typical of Taxidea taxus iaxus to be placed in the modern species and 

 subspecies, as does Hall (1936, pp. 79-82). 



Badgers today are considered strictly western in habitat, and in 

 this country they are now not found in any numbers east of the 

 Mississippi River. 



