MELINID^. 121 



Palate much produced behind ; hinder opening in a linemth the condyles. 



1. AKCTOlfYx. Tubercular grinder elongate. Nose of skull 



rather produced and contracted. 



** Palate moderately produced behind ; hinder opening in a line with the 

 middle of zygomatic arch. 



2. Meles. Tubercular grinder elongate, oblong. Nose of skull 



broad. Flesh-tooth moderate, trigonal; inner lobe with a 

 single ridge. 



3. Taxibea. Tubercular grinder large, triangular, oblong ; inner 



side broad. Flesh-tooth large, trigonal, -with a broad inner 

 lobe with two tubercles. Nose short, broad. 



4. MyiAtrs. Tubercular grinder oblong, nearly square; flesh- 



tooth moderate, trigonal, outer edge compressed, inner with 

 two unequal tubercles on a ridge. Nose of skull produced. 



Tribe 2. Mellivbruia. Tubercular grinder transverse, band-like ; 

 palate only slightly produced behind; flesh-tooth with a 

 small inner lobe and a single tubercle. Fur black below. 



5. Mellivoea. Skull short, broad. 



Tribe 3. MepMtina. Tubercular grinder oblong, four-sided. Palate 

 scarcely produced behind ; hinder opening in a line with 

 the hinder grinders. SkuU short. Nose broad. Fur black, 

 white-striped. 



6. CoiTEPATTrs. Sole of hind feet only divided across. Tail 



short, bushy. False grinders 8. 



7. Mephitis. Sole of hind feet with three pads in front. Tail 



elongate, flaccid. False grinders 4. 



8. Spiiogaxb. Sole of hind feet with four pads in front. Tail 



short, bushy, flaccid. False grinders 4. 



B. Subdigitigrade. ffind feet rather narrow ; soles hairy, with a narrow, 

 elongate, triangular, bald space in front; toes unequal; claws elcmgate, 

 slender. Tubercular grinder transverse. 



Tribe 4. Zorillina. Flesh-tooth elongate, with a small anterior 

 inner lobe with a single tubercle. 



9. ZoEiLLA. Tail elongate, with flaccid hair. 



Tribe 5. Helictidina. Flesh- tooth triangular, having a broad in- 

 ternal lobe with two conical tubercles. 



10. Heliciis. False grinders f . Tail elongate, subcylindrical. 



