196 CAENIVORA. 



Genus Meles, Gesner. 

 * Meles (Arctonyx) collaeis, P. Cuvier, 



Arctonyx collans,Y. Cuv. Hist. Nat. des Mammif. p. 220, Sept. 1825; Fischer^s Syn. Mamm, 



1829, p. 152 j Horsfield, Cat. Mamm. East Ind. Co. Mus. 1851, p. 114; Blyth, Cat. MamiP. 



As. Soc. Beng. Mus. 1863, p. 71; Jerdon, Mamm. of India, 1867, pp. 77 and 78; Gray (in 



part). Cat. Carniv. Mamm. B. M. 1869, pp. 123 and 124. 

 Mydaus collaris, Gray, Wagner, Schreber, Saugetli. vol. ii. 1841, pp. 186, 187; Gray and Hard- 



wicke^s 111. Ind. Zool. vol. i. tab. vi. ; Cat. Mammif. Brit. Mus. p. 70 ; Schinz, Syn. Mamm, 



1844, i. p. 317. 



This species ranges as far as Teng-yue-chow, where I ohtained a skin. It is 

 distinguished from the nearly allied species A. taxoides, Blyth/ by its shorter 

 and rougher fur, its broader muzzle, larger ears, and longer taU; also by its 

 colour and markings being less intense than in that species.^ It is also larger 

 than A. taxoides, the skull of which in the adult female is only 4-75 inches 

 in length, wliile in the female of M. collaris the skull is 6'38 inches long. 

 There is also much greater breadth, and the palatal region is considerably longer 

 and of greater transverse capacity than in A. taxoides, as has been fully proved 

 by Blyth's^ measurements of the respective skulls. In this species the greatest 

 breadth across the zygomatic arch is 3*64 to 2*38 in A. taxoides, and the leno'th 

 of the palate in the former is 3-88 to 2*75 in the latter. The narrow character 

 of the snout in A. taxoides is borne out by the relative breadth of the palate 

 as compared with the palate of this species, in which the diameter at the last 

 molar is I'O?, whilst in the former it is only 0'81. And in connection with these 

 measurements it is noteworthy that the species M. leucurus, Hodg.,* and M. taxus 

 are distinguished from each other by similar differences in the relative breadth and 

 development of their palatine surfaces, which, of course, influence the character of 

 the muzzle in these different badgers, which are also separated by the differences 

 they present in the breadth of theu^ skulls both across the zygomatic arch and basal 

 portion of the brain-case. As pointed out by Blyth, these two species have a nearly 

 similar distribution, ranging eastwards from Nepal to Assam, Sylhet, and Arracan. 

 M. {A.) collaris, as I have observed, extends to Western Yunnan. 



The badger of Eastern China^ closely resembles Meles taxus in external appear- 

 ance, but is separated from it by the pronouncedly different characters of its skull. 

 It has been fully described by A. M.-Edwards from specimens obtained by the late 

 M. Eontanier in the vicinity of Pekin, and has been satisfactorily identified by 

 him with M. chinemis, Gray. Dr. Gray has stated that he saw no appreciable 



1 Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1853, p. 591. 



^ Proc. Zool. Soc. Lend. 1856, p. 398, pi. L. 



=> L.c. 



"* Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1847, vol. xvi. p. 763, pi. xxix. 



'' Rech. Mammif. 1868-74, pp. 190-195, pis. xxv. to xxviii.; Ann. des Sc. Nat. 1867, 5""' Serie, vol viii p 374- 

 Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, p. 207, fig. of skull, et Cat. Carniv. B. M. 1869, p. 126; Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 187o' 

 p. 622. ' 



