xiii SKUNKS 439 



claws of the fore-paws. It is North American, but gets into 

 Mexico. The molar formula is as in the American genera 

 Mephitis and Conepatus, and as in the Old-World Ictonyx, and 

 it thus differs from that of Meles. Besides the great size of the 

 claws upon the hand, which are larger relatively than those of 

 any other Carnivore, the genus Taxidea is to be distinguished 

 from all Arctoids (indeed, from all Carnivora) except Mydaus, by 

 the fact that the pelvic limb is of the same length as the 

 pectoral. The muzzle is furry except at the very extremity ; this 

 is grooved. The animal is carnivorous, subsisting upon the 

 following very varied kinds of food " Spermophiles, Arvicolas, 

 birds' eggs, and snails, also honey-comb, wax, and bees." 



The Skunk, Mephitis, is an American animal with several 

 species, which range from North to Central America. The black- 

 and-white colour distinguishes the genus, which is furthermore 

 marked by the fact that the third digit of the hand is relatively 

 longer than in any other Carnivore except Taxidea. The soles are 

 partly hairy. It is a terrestrial fossorial animal with well-known 

 powers of protecting itself from aggression. But nevertheless the 

 Skunk has its enemies, and is not quite so unmolested as is some- 

 times popularly supposed. The Puma, Harpy Eagle, and the 

 Great Horned Owl will at least occasionally attack and devour 

 it. The molar formula is Pm M ^. There are sixteen dorsal 

 vertebrae. 



Gonepatxs is a more southern form of Skunk, extending down 

 into South America. Its dentition is like that of Mephitis save 

 for the loss of an upper premolar. This genus, which has been 

 further subdivided, differs from Mephitis in the fact that the 

 soles of the feet are wholly naked, whereas in Mephitis those of 

 the hind -limbs are partially hairy. It has no groove on the 

 nose. Its tail is shorter than that of Mephitis. This Skunk 

 has the same habits as the last. In certain parts of South 

 America the animals are so abundant and their odour so powerful 

 that in the evening there is generally a recognisable smell about. 

 This is said to be good for the headache ! 



Sub-Fam. 3. Lutrinae. Of this sub-family there are at least 

 two genera. Enliydris (Latax)? the Sea-Otter, is confined to the 

 shores of the North Pacific. It is more purely aquatic than are 



1 Lydekker, " Note on the Structure and Habits of the Sea-Otter (Latax lutris)," 

 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1895, p. 421 ; and -ibid. 1896, p. 235. 



