24 



University of California Publications in Geology [Vol. 10 



than differences of proportion. This conclusion is consistent with the 

 evidence of geographical distribution. Meles is an Old World type ; 

 Taxidea, a genus characteristic of the New World, is found living in 

 the region where the fossil form occurs. While the structure of the 

 specimen from the Thousand Creek shows close relationship to Taxidea, 

 the difference existing in the conformation and proportions of the 

 heel of Mi indicate that the fossil form represents a group distinct 

 from the modern American badgers. While it is probable that a new 

 group of at least subgeneric value has been here described, definite 

 classification must await more complete structural representation. 



Measurements 



T. neva- 



densis 



Type 



specimen, T. taxus (a) M. taxus (6) 

 Thousand Recent, Recent, 



Creek California Germany 



Length anterior side P + to posterior side M. 



P 4 , anteroposterior diameter 



M,, anteroposterior diameter 



Mi, transverse diameter at protoconid 



M u anteroposterior diameter of heel 



Mi, transverse diameter of heel 



18.5 mm. 29 29 



6 9 7.1 



9.5 14 16 



5 6 5.5 



5 5 7 



4.5 6.2 7 



(a) 4937 Mus. Vert. Zool. 



(b) 21980 Mus. Vert. Zool. 



Transmitted March 10, 1916. 



