SKULL AND TEETH OF TAXIDEA AMERICANA. 269 



range of variation in size, thoagh. considerable, is nothing un- 

 usual. To the figures above given may be added : Nose to eye 

 about 2i inches ; to ear about 5 ; fore foot from the posterior 

 callosity, and including claws, 3i ; hind foot from heel, includ- 

 ing claws, 4; Lowest hairs of the back 3 or 4 inches ; of the 

 tail, 2 6r 3. Height of the ear above the bottom of the meatus 



Penis hone 4 inches long, clubbed at one end, compressed, 

 and with shallow sulcus in the continuity; the other end bent 

 nearly at right angle, abruptly and irregularly flattened and 

 grooved. 



It is surprising that this animal should ever have been con- 

 founded with the Meles taxus of Europe, since the decided 

 structural characters upon w^hich the genus Taxidea rests are 

 coordinated with readily appreciable superficial distinctions. 

 In the European Badger, the snout is much larger, more pro- 

 tuberant, more extensively naked, and difterently shaped, be- 

 ing not very dissimilar to that of a hog in miniature. It is def- 

 initely naked on top for some distance, as well as in front for 

 a space below the nostrils ; these occupy but a small part of 

 its subcircular front. The fore claws are much smaller and 

 weaker. There are some differences in the details of the pads 

 upon the palms and soles. The general body-color above is 

 not dissimilar ; but the under parts are black like the limbs, 

 this color extending on the chin, where our species is white. 

 The head is otherwise white^ with a broad black stripe begin- 

 ning on each side opposite the canines, running back, embrac- 

 ing the eye and ear, and losing itself on the side of the nape. 

 The edge of the ear is white in this otherwise uninterrupted 

 black bar. In the dried specimen before me, the naked part 

 of the snout appears to have been flesh-colored, and the claws 

 are dark. 



Description of the sTcull and teeth. 



I have no skull of Meles in hand for direct comparison, but 

 this is less to be regretted in view of the numerous striking 

 differences which any accurate and detailed description will 

 show, even without use of strictly antithetical expressions. 

 (See also antea^ p. 263, note.) 



A striking peculiarity of the adult skull is perceived in a 

 view from above, in the great width behind, the distance across 

 the terminations of the occipital crest being equal to (a little 

 more or less than) the inter-zygomatic width ; the lateral out- 



