THE AMICRICAN BADGER. 



677 



State, but I believe that the above facts are sufficient to record the 

 species, although I have been wholly unable to secure specimens. 



Th(^ro may be some question as to the specific identity of the 

 aiiinials incnt ioiied. l)ut T think the description, ''curved stripes 

 and spots on the l)()dy" makes it much more probable that the 

 species is putoriiis than that it is interrnpta. The known distribu- 

 tion of the species also makes the former the more probable. There 

 is, of course, a possibility that they may be a form at present un- 

 recognized. 



Habits. — The habits are much like those of the large skunks 

 {Mephitis) . They are more slender and active and climb trees 

 more readily. They also appear to be more strictly flesh eaters, al- 

 though they are known to eat insects at times. 



According to a number of observers, they are easily domesti- 

 cated, and in some localities are welcome residents of the barn or 

 cellar, because they drive away or kill the rats and mice. How- 

 ever, they are equally fond of chickens, and can not be given much 

 freedom where poultry is unprotected. 



Genus Taxidea Storr. 



Taxidea Storr, Prod. IMeth. Mamm., p. 84, 1780. 



Dental Formula.— I, 3-Z-3; C, \e\; Pm, M, 2^2 = 34. 



(In the young animals there is an additional premolar in the 

 lower jaw.) 



Generic characters.- — Body very broad and stout ; legs and tail 

 short; claws of fore feet very long; color grizzled grayish or 

 brownish ; skull very wide posteriorly. 



This genus is confined to North America, the European badgers 

 being generically distinct. It contains but a single species which 

 is separable into four subspecies. Only one of these occurs east of 

 the Mississippi. 



TAXIDEA TAXUS (Schreber). 

 AMERICAN BADGER. 



Ursus taxus Schreber, Saugethiere, III, p. 520, 1778. 



Taxidea americana Evermann and Butler, Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 



for 1893, p. 137, 1894. 

 Diagnostic characters. — Those of the genus; the only animal 

 for which it could possibly be mistaken is the woodchuck. It is 

 easily distinguished from the latter by having six small front teeth 

 above and below instead of two large ones. 

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