230 Miscellaneous. 
Observations on some Mammalia from the North of China. 
By M. A. Miryx-Epwarps. 
Carnivora.—The author indicates two species of the genus Meles, 
M. leptorhynchus and M. leucolemus. The former resembles the 
common badger in appearance ; but the black bands on the sides of 
the head are much diminished and narrow, so as not to pass the ear 
beneath. The cranium is much more narrowed between the orbits, 
and the whole fronto-nasal region is very narrow. ‘The anterior 
aperture of the nostrils is small, the lower margin of the posterior 
nares is much more produced, and the lateral margins of the adja- 
cent portion of the palatine arch constitute each a trenchant crest 
passing outside the outer face of the ala of the pterygoid. The upper 
tubercular molar is narrower and more elongate than in the European 
badger. 
M. leucolemus differs considerably from the known representatives 
of the genus, and might be regarded as the type of a new generic 
group. It is much smaller than the preceding (which is somewhat 
less than M. tavus); its hairs are much longer, and its throat and 
breast pure white. The skull is much shortened, especially in its 
cranial portion, the crests of which are scarcely salient. The part 
immediately behind the postorbital angles is not narrowed. The 
anterior frontal region is broad and depressed, whilst the muzzle is 
much drawn out, giving the face a conical form. The suborbital 
foramen is enormous, and the zygomatic arches very short. The 
exterior meatus auditorius is remarkably large, and approximated 
to the glenoid cavity. ‘The mastoid apophyses are scarcely promi- 
nent. The tympanic cases, instead of being much inflated, are ex- 
tremely depressed. The aperture of the posterior nares is thrown 
very far back, beyond the level of the articulation of the lower Jaw. 
The third superior incisor is very oblique, and extends nearly to the 
canine; it is deeply worn by the friction of the lower canine. The 
tubercular molar is comparatively little developed. Both these spe- 
cies inhabit the vicinity of Pekin. 
Panthers are common in this part of China; and, according to 
M. Fontanier, two species occur there. Of one of these the fur is 
much longer and thicker than in the Indian leopard, and the tail is 
very thick from base to apex; the skull is much more arched from 
before backwards than in the Indian and African leopards, the cra- 
nium is more developed, and the fronto-nasal region longer; the 
posterior margin of the bony palate is strongly emarginate, and the 
aperture of the posterior nares is short and broad. The skull dif- 
fers considerably from that of Gray’s Leopardus chinensis; and the 
species is named by the author Felis Fontanierit. 
Rodentia.—Two large species of Pteromys inhabit the forests of 
the Tscheli Mountains. The largest, P. melanopterus, is nearly of the 
size of P. momoga from Japan, from which it is distinguished by the 
much greater length of the tail, and by the slightly fulvous-grey 
colour of the upper part of the body, which contrasts with the nearly 
black tint of the upper surface of the parachutes and feet. The 
