MAMMALS MELIXAE 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. 



Nose to root of tail 24 



Tail from root to end of vertebras -- 5 



Tail from root to end of hairs 6 



Arm, longest claw - 1 



Leg, longest claw. 



Skull, length 5. 12 



width - 3.23 



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. 



