European Insectivora and Carnivora. oI"5 



Colour. — The colour so closely resembles that of the 

 common badger as to need no detailed description. It is, 

 however^ somewhat paler than in true Mehs inele.s, agreeing 

 in this respect with the Spanish M. m. mediterraneus. 



Skull. — In general form the skull appears to agree with that 

 of Meles meles (no perfect adult skulls examined), though it 

 is readily distinguishable by its smaller size (upper length 

 in adult 107 instead of 124-137 mm.) and by tlie form of the 

 audital bullae. These are strongly inflated, the highest region 

 near middle of bulla proper (exclusive of meatal tube) and so 

 broadly rounded as to show no longitudinal ridge, the region 

 between highest ])ortion and meatus not noticeably concave. 

 Their form resembles that in the much larger Meles minor 

 (Satunin) as figured in the original description* and as 

 represented by specimens collected by Mr. A. Robert in the 

 neighbourhood of Trebizond. 



Teeth. — The teeth are smaller than those of Meles meles, 

 and the smaller cusps tend to be better developed, but other- 

 wise they show no special peculiarities except that the 

 postero-external border of the upper molar appears to be more 

 strongly concave than usual in M. meles. The material at 

 hand is, however, not sufficient to show whether this character 

 is constant. 



Measurements. — Type: hind foot 80 mm.; ear from 

 crown 17 (both from dry skin) : skull, condylo-basal length 

 100 ; upper length 105 (107) f ; distance from anterior rim 

 of orbit to gnathion 36 (38*6); zygomatic breadth 55'6 ; 

 mastoid breadth 48'6 ; depth of brain-case at front of basi- 

 occipital 36 ; mandible 68 ; maxillary tooth-row, exclusive 

 of incisors, 36 (36"8) ; mandibular tooth-row, exclusive of 

 incisors, 42*6 ; mandibular molars (crowns) 20*4. 



Specimens examined. — Three, all from Crete. 



Putorius erminea ricina; subsp. n. 



1904. Putorius erminea, Barrett - Hamilton, Anuals of Scottish 

 Natural History, p. 203 (October 1904). 



Tyjie.—M\x\t male (.skin and skull). B.M. no. 7. 10. 19. 1. 

 Collected at Islay House, Island of Islay, Scotland, 

 February 6, 1890, by V. Mackenzie. Presented by Hugh 

 Morrison, Esq. 



Diagnosis. — Size less than in Putorius erminea stahilis of 

 Southern England (hind foot in adult females 35 to 40 mm. 



* Mitteilunj;on des Kaukasischen Mu^oiims!, ii. (190.')), pi. i. 190G. 

 t Moasiiroiueiits in parentheses are those of an inipeilect adult skull 

 without ex!U;t locality. 



