330 



Measurements of forty -six skulls of MUSTELA AMJEKICANA. 



TAXIDEA AMERICANA. 



The subjoined measurements of eleven skulls of this species (embrac- 

 ing all at present available) show also a well-marked southward decrease 

 in size. A fuller series would be more satisfactory, but would doubtless 

 only confirm what is here indicated. Six of the specimens are from 

 rather northern localities and five from rather southern localities, the 

 region represented extending from the Upper Missouri southward to the 

 Lower Eio Grande. The specimens composing the two series are of very 

 nearly corresponding ages. The northern series (four from different 

 points on the Upper Missouri, one from Iowa, and one from Oregon) 

 average 5.00 in length and 3.18 in width, the extremes being, in length, 

 5.22* and 4.92 (4.75 if we include one rather young example), the width 

 ranging from 3.50 to 2.97. The southern series (including two or three 

 from the vicinity of Matamoras, Mexico, and one each from New Mexico 

 and California) averages 4.62 in length and 2.92 in width, the extremes 

 being, in length, 4.75 and 4.50, and in width, 3.07 and 2.80. 



The skulls, and especially the molar teeth, in the American Badgers, 

 vary considerably in different individuals, as long since pointed out by 



