EXTINCT MLTSTELINyE OF NORTH AMERICA 19 



iiiiH-r and outer, are strongly developed, and with the anterior, 

 ({uite as in Mephitis. 



•'The jaw pertained to an adult individual of smaller size 

 than the common skunk, Mephitis chbuja. The bases of the 

 crowns of the first and second premolars, and to the outer side 

 of the canine are surrounded by a well marked cingulum. The 

 length of tlie crown of the molar is greater in proportion to the 

 length [*^| than in the skunk. The axis of thecoronoid process 

 is as in it, at right angles to that of the ramus. The latter is 

 straighter on the inferior border tlian in tiie skunk, and exiiibits 

 a marked difference in the angle being nearly on the same line, 

 and not raised above it, as in the species of American skunks 

 and others, figured by Haird. 



" MeahnreiMiilH. 



Linos. 



'* Frorij angle to outer- inciHive alveoliiH 15. 



" Depth Jit cororioid 8. 



" From haHe condyle to tubercular inrjjar 5. 



" Length of Hcctorial molar 15. 



" Width of sectorial molar 1.2 



*' Height from hasal .shoiildei- 2. 



" Depth ramus at tubercular 2. 7 



'* Depth ramus at Pm. 2 3. 1 



" Length of crown of canine ?,. 



"Th(^re are two mental foramina in the specimen, one below 

 the third, the other below the first premolar. The crown of the 

 canine is contracted and curved ; slightly flattened on the inner 

 side." {(jHofc/l front the orujinal (IcHcription.) 



I do not know the skull of Oalera, As figured, the jaw of G. 

 perdicida differs from that of Mephitinw and Lutrinw, as usually 

 present(;d, in the strnightness of the inferior border, agreeing in 

 this r(^sp(H;t with MuHtelinw. It closely resembles, among recent 

 forms, the genus Putoriusj from which, however, the character 

 of the sectorial lower molar, with its strong acute inner tubercle 

 of the middle lobe, as in MephifiH (and Lutra), perfectly dis- 

 tinguishes it. I should not be surprised, however, if the relation- 

 ships of this form proved to be actually with Mephitis, especi- 

 ally with Hpilogale. In a specimen of the latter before me from 

 Georgia, the lower border of the jaw is quite as straight as 

 that (igunjd by Professor Coi)e; in size, the specimen agrees 

 better with the figure than it does with some other specimens 

 of S/tilogale hclora me. 'y the general shape is the same j there 

 are two mental foramina exactly as described and figured ; and 



