1^11] Taylor: Mammals of the 1909 Nevada Expedition. 297 



to the general rule, the bony palate is shorter and the bullae are 

 smaller than in the Nevada animals. 



Measurements of the Two Skulls op Taxidea taxus from Humboldt 

 County, Nevada. 



* Measured from occipital condyle to most anterior point on premaxil- 

 lary. 



t Measured from post-palatal notch to posterior margin alveolus of 

 middle incisor. 



+ Measured outside post-orbital processes. 



Distribution. — Badgers were evidently common all over the 

 plains region of northern Humboldt County. Burrows were 

 seen at Amos, Quinn River Crossing, Big Creek Ranch, and on 

 the flats in the Pine Forest IMountains up to 6500 feet. This level 

 falls within Upper Sonoran. Our specimens were captured as 

 follows: no. 8277, adult male. Big Creek Ranch (4350 feet), and 

 no. 8276, adult male, Lecmard Creek (6500 feet) ; both localities 

 in the Pine Forest Mountains. 



Probably Taxidea taxus is the species of the Great Basin. It 

 is possible that its range adjoins that of neglecta somewhere 

 along the line of the Sierra Nevada in California. However, 

 more badger material is necessary before the status of the Great 

 Basin species can be stated with absolute certainty. 



Habits. — Places where badgers had evidently been digging 

 for small mammals were frequently observed, the k)ng claw 

 marks being very distinct in the soil of the desert. The vaqueros 

 are not friendly to these animals, for they say that it is very 

 seldom that a professional cowboy is found who has not been 

 thrown from his horse by a badger burrow. 



The exact locality of capture of the first of the two specimens 

 of badger secured was a little gulch leading out of the moun- 

 tains near Big Creek Ranch. The other individual was caught 



