834 MR,. R. I. POCOCK ON THE 



orifice the two genera appear to be peculiar in tlie family, 

 although this character is foreshadowed in Gtdo. 



d'. Cavity of bulla opening into a large or very large hollow space in the 



mastoid portion of the periotic. 

 /. Palate produced posteriorly, so that the mesopterygoid fossa is far 



behind the molar teeth ; baculum, where known, a stout bone. 

 g. Rhinarium a subcircular flattish disc, continued to the edge of the upper 



lip by a narrow long philtrum resembling it in texture ; nostrils 



anterior, above middle of rhinarium ; the lateral slits almost obliterated. 



Feet fossorial, with pads of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and oth digits united nearly 



to their apices. 



Subfamily Mydain^e Gray. 



Skull with muzzle and dentition much as in the Melinje, but 

 with frontal postoibital processes absent, zygomata and mandible 

 slender, and mastoid not produced below auditory orifice. Cavity 

 of bvilla cea,sing just l^ehind petrous portion of periotic, and 

 opening laterally into hollow of mastoid portion of peiiotic by a 

 single "orifice as in the Mephitinjie. Pinna of ear reduced to 

 a simple rim. No subcaudal pouch. 



Genus Mydaus. 



I have seen no fresh specimen of this genus, and the structure 

 of the baculum, if developed, is apparently vuiknown. The 

 Teledu has well-marked peculiarities, especially in the structure 

 of the rhinarium and feet. The rhinarium is unique; and the 

 only genus which shows an approach to the fusion of the digital 

 pads is Conepatus. The latter also has the pinna of the ear 

 greatly reduced with the orifice exposed, and the bulla of Mydaus 

 seems to resemble tolerably closely that of the Mephitinse ; but 

 in other respects, particularly in the long jaws, the curved upper 

 incisive line, the long posterior palate, the backward position of 

 palatine foramina, the genus more nearly approaches the Melinae. 

 If Ferret-Badger is a good nam.e for Helictis, perhaps Skunk- 

 Badger would be a suitable appellation for Mydaus. 



g' . Rhinarium normal, nostrils much nearer its lower than its upper edge, 



the lateral slits long ; no trace of philtrum and no groove on upper 



lip. Pads of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th digits free. 

 li. Tympanic annulus projecting as a free ridge into bulla, not confluent 



with its roof, the posterior rafter arched high above petrous, leaving a 



large space between the chambers, of which the posterior isnotmulti- 



loculate ; bullsB encroaching on glenoid in front. 

 i. Teeth sectorial, in a general way like those of Martina; ; occipital crest 



inclined backwards and inwards from mastoid, not semicircular from 



back view. 



Subfamily MELLivoRiNiE Gray & Gill. 



Periotic hollow, comparatively small, not extended to tip of 

 mastoid, which, like the paroccipital, stands prominently away 



