134 



process we perceive a similarity between the American Badger and 

 the Otter. 



Dentition. — " In the number of the teeth the present anlmal agrees 

 with the Common Badger, excepting that in the skuUs now before 

 me, and which belong to animals of different ages, I do not find the 

 molar corresponding to the snmall first falše molar of the lower jaw 

 of that animal. In the relative size and form of the teeth there is 

 much difference. The incisors of the upper jaw are arranged in an 

 arch, but form together a segment of a larger circle than those of 

 Meles vvigaris ; they are proportionately smaller and shorter. In the 

 canines there is but little difference ; the posterior cutting edge ob- 

 served in the Badger is here almost obliterated. The falše molara 

 like\^'ise scarcely difFer. In the ' curnassiere' and true molar, however, 

 there is much difference, the former being of great size and eąual to 

 the lašt molar. It is nearly in the form of a right-angled triangle, 

 the cutting edge is much raised, and there is a large tubercle on the 

 inner lobe of this tooth, which has no analogue in the Badger. The 

 true molar is also nearly triangular ; the tubercles w-ith which it is 

 fumished are but slightly raised, and are much less developed than 

 in the corresponding grinding molar of the Badger. The principai 

 difFerences observable in the teeth of the lower jaw, consist in the 

 smaller size of the incisors, the larger size of the lašt falše molar, 

 and its being fumished with two distinct tubercles at its apex ; that 

 of the Common Badger being simply pointed : the smaller size of 

 the ' carnassiire,' which is not distinctly dilated posteriorly, as in the 

 Badger, and the cutting edge being higher ; the true molar is 

 smaller. 



" The 'carnassžere'of thelower jawmaybe dividedintotwoportions, 

 that which is opposed to the ' carnassiere ' of the upper jaw, and which 

 is the cutting portion, ha\nng high sharp cusps ; and that which is 

 opposed to the true molar, \vhich is the grinding portion. Now in 

 the Common Badger (Meles vulgaris) the latter portion decidedly 

 exceeds the former in bulk, \vhereas in the American Badger the 

 reverse is the case, arising from the comparatively large size of the 

 'carnassiere' of the upper ja\v, and smaller size ofthe true molar." 



Mr. Waterhouse also pointed out other distinctions between the 

 American Badger and the European species. Independent of the 

 diiFerences observable in the colouring and markings, the former 

 may be distinguished by its muzzle being hairy at the tip, the fore 

 limbs stouter, and the claws larger and stropger. 



The peculiar form of the skull in the present animal, and the mo- 

 difications in the dentition are such, as, in Mr. Waterhouse's opinion, 

 ■vvould indicate a subgeneric rather than a specific distinction ; and 

 should his views be borne out by the discovery of other species 

 agreeing essentially with the above animal, he suggested that the 

 name Taxidea might be an appropriate title for the group. 



Professor Owen exhibited to the Meeting two škulis of the full- 

 grown Koala (Lipurus cinereus, Goldf., Phascolarctos, BĮ.), and two 

 of immature specimens of the šame species, and demonstrated the 



