MELINIDJ5. 121 



* Palate much produced behind ; hinder openim/ in a linetvith the condyles. 



1. Akctoijyx. Tubercular grinder elongate. Nose of skull 



rather produced aud contracted. 



** Pcdate ^nuderately produced behind ; hinder operiing in a line with the 

 middle of zygomatic arch. 



2. Meles. Tubercular grinder elongate, oblong. Nose of skuU 



broad. Flesh-tooth moderate, trigonal ; inner lobe with a 

 single ridge. 



li. Taxidea. Tubercular grinder large, triangular, oblong ; inner 

 side broad. Flesli-tooth large, trigonal, with a broad inner 

 lobe with two tubercles. Nose short, broad. 



4. Mydaus. Tubercular grinder oblong, nearly square ; flesh- 

 tooth moderate, trigonal, outer edge compressed, inner with 

 two unequal tubercles on a ridge. Nose of skull produced. 



Tribe 2. Mellivorina. Tubercular grinder transverse, band-like ; 

 palate only slightly produced behind ; flesh-tooth with a 

 small inner lobe and a single tubercle. Fur black below. 



o. Melliyora. SkuU short, broad. 



Tribe 3. MepMtina. Tiibercular grinder oblong, four-sided. Palate 

 scarcely produced behind ; hinder opening in a line with 

 the hinder grinders. Skull short. Nose broad. Fur black, 

 white- striped. 



6. CoNEPAXus. Sole of hind feet only di%-ided across. Tail 



short, bushy. False grinders 8. 



7. Mephitis. Sole of hind feet with three pads in front. Tail 



elongate, flaccid. False grinders 4. 



8. Spilogaee. Sole of hind feet with four pads in front. Tail 



short, bushy, flaccid. False gxinders 4. 



13. Subdigitigrade. Hind feet rather narrate ; soles hairy, ivith a narrow., 

 elonyate, triangular, bald space in front; toes unequal; chnvs elongate, 

 slender. Tubercular grinder transverse. 



Tribe 4. Zorillina. Flesh-tooth elongate, with a small anterior 

 inner lobe with a single tubercle. 



'J. ZoEiLLA. Tail elongate, with flaccid hair. 



Tribe 5. Helictidina. Flesh-tooth triangidar, having a broad in- 

 ternal h)bc with two conical tubercles. 



1(». Helictis. False grinders 3. Tail elongate, subcvlindrical. 



