Carnivores from Asia Minor. 75 
given by Satunin in his description of this subspecies. But 
it differs from this one in the much smaller size of its skull 
and in having the transverse stripes on the flanks only 
occurring in the anterior region, where three stripes are 
distinguishable, while in the posterior region the stripes tend 
to become broken up and appear as distinct oval or rounded 
spots, presenting also in this respect a distinctive difference 
from both F. s. sylvestris and F. s. caucasica, where the 
markings of the flanks preserve the striped character more or 
less along the whole side of the body. The ears of this cat 
have also a very marked pointed tuft of black hair at the tip, 
which also helps to distinguish it. The curious constriction 
of the nasal bones and the narrow breadth between the 
mastoid processes, together with the smaller size of the skull, 
besides the difference in the body-markings, fully justify 
ranking this cat as a new subspecies. 
The skull of F. s. caucasica in the British Museum has a 
condylo-basal length of 94 mm.,, while the lengths of the three 
complete skulls from Khotz are 86°2, 83:0, and 81 mm. 
respectively. 
Meles meles ponticus, subsp. n. 
Superficially resembles J/e/es meles, but differs from the 
two subspecies as described by Miller in having more inflated 
auditory bulle and in the size and shape of the upper molar. 
Colour.—Generally similar to Meles meles, back and sides 
presenting a coarse grizzle of black and buff or buffy white ; 
the black predominating on dorsal side, flanks showing more 
of the lighter colour. Hairs on back buff or whitish buff at 
bases, with a black band for their distal third part, and 
terminating with a whitish tip of about 5mm. long. Under- 
fur generally of darker buff than long hairs. Face and chin 
white, with a dark black-brown band on either side of face 
beginning behind nostril-pad, and extending backwards 
including eyes and ears to about middle of neck, where it 
fades into colour of back. Ears black-brown, anterior edge 
white. Underparts and all four legs dark brown to black- 
brown. ‘Tail shorter proportionately than in J/. meles, bushy, 
coloured like back at base, but fading into dirty buffy white. 
Skull.—Comparing this with a range of skulls of MZ. meles 
meles and M. meles marianensis (mediterraneus, Barr.-Ham.), 
the salient points of difference are that the auditory bulle 
are slightly larger and very considerably more inflated and 
rounded, the longitudinal inner ridge as described by Miller * 
* ‘Mammals of Western Europe,’ p. 345. 
