346 MR. G. R. WATERHOUSE ON THE SKULL OF THE ~ 
ting portion, having high sharp cusps ; and that which is opposed to the true molar, 
which is the grinding portion. Now in the Common Badger the latter portion de- 
cidedly exceeds the former in bulk, whereas in the American Badger the reverse is the 
case, arising from the comparatively large size of the carnassiére of the upper jaw, and 
smaller size of the true molar. The two false molars of the upper jaw and the three 
of the under, on either side, have each an anterior and posterior fang ; the carnassiere 
of the upper jaw, and the true molar, have each three fangs, two external and one in- 
ternal; the inner fang on the last-mentioned tooth is very broad, as in the Common 
Badger : the carnassiére of the lower jaw has two fangs, and the last molar has also two 
fangs, but they are only partially divided. Such in fact is the normal or more constant 
condition of the teeth in the Mammalia; and however they may depart from this type, 
we may always observe a tendency towards this disposition of the fangs; the number, 
moreover, varies less than might perhaps be supposed. 
The skull from which the foregoing description is drawn, was removed from a skin 
stated to be from Mexico, and is evidently that of an adult animal: the cranium from a 
second specimen which belonged to the same collection exhibits all the sutures tolerably 
distinct, and possesses the milk teeth ; the crowns of the permanent teeth, however, are 
visible. The second false molar of the upper jaw of this young animal is compressed, 
presents a high and sharp central tubercle, a small anterior cusp, and a large posterior 
one, which is joined to the central tubercle by a sharp, cutting edge: within, and oppo- 
site the central cusp, is a small, round lobe, which projects at a right angle from the body 
of the tooth. This tooth has three fangs, and presents the normal form of the car- 
nassiére in the more typical Carnivora, whilst the tooth which is afterwards replaced by 
the carnassiére is tuberculous, like the true molars ; it is in the form of an isosceles tri- 
angle, the apex being placed outwards. The third skull is from a skin sent by Mr. 
Douglas, and the animal in all probability was killed in California: it agrees with that 
from which the description is taken, excepting in being rather smaller, and in having 
the auditory bulle decidedly larger. The animal had at the time of its death just shed 
its milk teeth. j 
The skins here alluded to agree with each other and with a specimen in the Society’s 
museum, which is the one referred to by Dr. Richardson in his ‘ Fauna Borealis Ameri- 
cana’, excepting that in this specimen the fur is longer and softer, and the markings are 
not quite so dark, being brownish-black, instead of black. 
The dimensions of the adult skull are as follows :— 
Total length of skull . 4 
Width atwocrpuliee ree tate) Sara 2) ene eet 3 
— from outer side of zygomatic arches . . . -. + 3 2 
1 
0 
— between orbits bb's 
Height ofiorbit’) 2) G7) 23-8) a. 
