346 



CARNIVORA 



Mandible heavily built, the ramus nearly straight, the lower 

 border with the usual upward curve posteriorly, its depth at 

 middle about one-third that through coronoid process ; angular 



Fig. 70. 

 Mcles meles. X '}. 



process short, thick, and ill-defined, lying close to base of articular 

 process ; coronoid process squarely truncate above, its height 

 above articular process about equal to width at articular level. 



Teeth. — The teeth are moderately large relatively to size of 

 skull, the incisors and canines rather short, the crown area of the 

 upper molar fully double that of any of the other maxillary teeth, 

 this last peculiarity unique among the European Musfelidse. Upper 

 incisors robust, the crowns somewhat higher than wide when 

 viewed from in front, the teeth closely crowded in a slightly 

 convex row, the longitudinal diameter of crown a little greater 

 than transverse diameter ; i^ and P sub-equal, the latter slightly 

 the larger, their anterior surface convex with two faint longi- 

 tudinal grooves soon disappearing with wear, the cutting edge 

 entire, the posterior surface concave with narrow Ijut distinct 

 heel ; P with crown area about double that of f- and nearly half 



