432 



MR. R. I. POCOCK OM THE KXTiUlNTAL CHARACTERS 



nearly at a right angle, abruptly and iri'egalaily tiattened and 

 grooved " (torn. cit. p. 269). 



This description is not veiy intKlligible, and it is doubtful if 

 the describer knew either tlie proximal from the distal exti'emity 

 or the dorsal from the ventral surface; but I infer that the bone 

 is compressed, grooved throughout its extent below, thickened at 

 the base and iiooked at the apex, but whether the curvature of 

 the hook is directed upwards or downwards does not appear; 

 and whether the apex is symmetrical or asy in metrical is also 

 unknown. 



fSkiiU and Teeth. 



Tbe skull of Meles meles was fully described and illustrated by 

 Miller ; that of Taxidea was figured and described by Cones. 



Text-fiijure 23. 



A. Upper view of the skull of Taxileci. X | approx. 

 J5. The same of Meles. 



Elliot also i^eproduced photographs of it *, and Baird pointed out 

 some of the differences between the two genera in the crania and 

 teeth. 



« Field Columb. Mus. ii. p. 320 (1901). 



