MAMMALS—MELINAE—TAXIDEA AMERICANA. 203 
the whole space between the eyes and encircling the orbits; behind these it widens so as to be 
almost tangent to the ears. A well defined line of whitish commences about half an inch pos- 
terior to the naked muzzle, (and of about this width,) and passes along the central line of the 
top of the head, tapering gradually until it comes to an acute termination on the upper part of 
the nape. The hairs in this stripe are uniformly colored to their roots. The whole side of the 
head, including the margins and exterior of the ears, are also dull whitish, the inner or pos- 
terior face of the ear, a transversely elongated patch in front of the ear, and the sides of the 
snout, as described, brownish black. There is a small double spot of the same color on the central 
line of the throat, midway between the ante-auricular patches, from which spring a few black 
bristles ; there are also a few bristles in the ante-auricular patches, as well as springing from 
the sides of the muzzle. The tail is of a reddish yellow, tipped with brown. 
A summer specimen from the Upper Missouri, changing its hair, is paler above, and the old 
long hairs are brownish yellow with a dark band near the base, the subterminal band reddish 
brown, the tip hoary. The general color above is more yellowish than as described. A young 
one from the Upper Missouri is similar, but more hoary above. 
As a general rule summer specimens have coarser and stiffer fur, owing to the greater pre- 
dominance of the long hairs over the basal ones. The colors also are more yellow, or less hoary. 
A very fine specimen of badger, (1320,) was collected by Lieut. G. K. Warren, on the Upper 
Missouri, in much better condition than those described. The markings on the face are much 
cleaner, the white purer, and the entire back is strongly hoary, or whitish gray, without any 
tinge of yellow. 
General dimensions. 
217. 
Inches. Lines. 
Norte root of tail oe S222 eae ares oe | 2B» We a= - Ss 
Tail from root to end of vertebrwe...---------- Bt a ee 
Tail from root to end of hairs-----------.---- | 6 Less se=2 
Axm, Jongest Claw 2aso22-sssscencocesasstese | 1 
her longest claw= man 22 - <n Stora sso soon sfaen aces 8 
Skull length*: 222 eens eo sanmomcee oo anim we Fh i Sees 
WRI OH oa Oo minore aaa Jo eee | BNae: Nees coos 
Although the European and American badgers at one time were supposed to be the same, yet 
the differences between them are not merely specific but generic. The most striking distinctions 
are to be seen in the hairs of the upper part of the muzzle, the smaller ears, the stouter feet and 
claws, the more conical or wedge-shaped head, &c., of the American badger. The European 
species has three white lines on the upper part of the head, one central, the others lateral, with 
two black ones between them, which include the ears and eyes, instead of the dark muzzle, 
single light line on the top of the head, and the light cheeks and ears, with dark blotch before 
and behind the latter. The chin and throat of the European species are black, in the American, 
white. Other differences are pointed out by Sabine. 
