290 NORTH AMERICAN MTSTELID.T^.. 



line past the nape to a point opposite the sliaiihlers, its inter- 

 ruption there for about three inches, and its reappearance for 

 about four inches at the middle of the ba(;k. I fail to appre- 

 ciate any other decided peculiarities of this form, though it 

 may average rather smaller, and somewhat more heavily col- 

 ored, owing to its southern habitat. Oertaih cranial charac- 

 ters noted by Prof. Baird, according to the material then in 

 hand, are negatived in tiie later examination I have made of 

 much larger series of specimens. 



This is clearly the animal referred to by Bennett, as above, 

 as a Oalifornian variety, with darker gronnd-color, and a white 

 line showing in several places along the back, or continuous to 

 the tail. In the United States it has only been noticed, to my 

 knowledge, in the localities already indicated; but there is no 

 doubt that this form, more or less decidedly pronounced, ranges 

 Over the intermediate ground. I find it noticed at considerable 

 length, with an unmistakable description, under the name of 

 Meles tlacoijotc, in Dr. Berlandier's manuscripts, whjre it is con- 

 sidered to be the Tiacoyotl of Hernandez. The fore claws are 

 described as "blackish"; otherwise the account agrees exactly 

 with the specimens before me named herlandieri by Baird. Dr. 

 Berlandier was evidently familiar with the animal, which he 

 represents as common in Northeastern Mexico, and gives sev- 

 eral biographical notices — nothing, however, to indicate any 

 dilferences of moment in its habits as compared with those of 

 T. americcina. The following are his measurements of a female 

 in the flesh : — Nose to end of tail 24 inches ; head 5 ; tail 5^ ; 

 whole fore leg G; hind leg oj; stature at shoulders 7. 



ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER IX. 



Description of the perinwaJ glands of the European Badger, Meles vulgaris. 



The American Badger has not, so far as I am aware, been examined ana- 

 tomically with reference to the peculiar organs of the perinteum and neigh- 

 boring parts. These, however, have been studied in the European species 

 by M. Chatin, whoso results may be here reproduced in substance, in default 

 of information respecting our own species, as it is improbable that any mate- 

 rial difference in these respects subsists between the two. It does not appear 

 that the Meles rulgaris itself had been sufficiently studied prior to M. Cha- 

 tin's investigations. The Badger is found to be peculiar* in the presence 

 not only of anal glands of an ordinary character, but also of another, per- 



* But is the anatomy of Mijdaus anCi Arctonyx known ? 



