MUSTELID^ 



235 



curved, very large; anal scent glands small; last molars tuber- 

 cuilate; audital bullae large; palate extending half way from last 

 molar to audital bulla; occipital crests very large; brain case 

 triangular, very wide posteriorly. 



Taxidea taxus neglecta Mearns. (Overlooked.) 



WESTERN BADGER. 



Above grizzled gray, the basal half of the hairs pale yellow- 

 ish brown, the tip buffy white or grayish white, the subapical 

 fourth dusky ; a narrow white stripe over the head, usually to 

 the shoulders, often extending to the rump; nose, upper part of 



F 



W^estern Badger. 



the head each side of the white stripe, a patch in front of the ears 

 and feet black ; under side of the head, with a point extending up 

 between the eye and the ear white ; under side of body buff, with 

 an irregular white stripe in the middle; tail yellowish brown 

 grizzled with black and white above, paler beneath; hairs of 

 sides much longer than those of upper and under surfaces. Im- 

 inature; less grizzled with gray. 



