15 



A peculiarity of the dentition of Conepatus has been unduly exagger- 



2—2 

 ated by some authors who assign a different dental formula, {ym. -^ 



o — o 



3-3 



as against pm.;^-— in Mepliitis.) But the supposed wanting anterior 

 o — o 



j)remolar is present as a rule ; though it is always minute, probably 



never functionally developed, and deciduous or abortive on one or both 



sides. I see this small tooth plainly in two skulls before me, but do not 



find it in a third ; in which last, there is instead an unusul diastema 



between the canine and the nearest premolar. This point disposed of, 



nothing in the dentition of Conepatus calls for special remark. The 



detailed account given under the head oiMephitis mepMticti is here equally 



applicable. 



Yertebme, C, 1) D,, IG j L., 5 ; S., 3 ; Cd., IS. {Gerrard.) 



