MEPHITIS. 509 



Genl. Char. Similar to M. occidentalis , but smaller; mastoids less 

 prominent; rostrum and palate longer; lateral tooth row and width 

 of molars greater. 



Color. Black; stripe on top of head, triangular patch on nape 

 and two narrow stripes to middle of tail, white; rest of hairs on tail 

 black with white bases. 



Measurements. Total length, 665; tail vertebrae, 273; hind foot, 

 72. Skull: basal length, 66.9; Hensel, 64.5; greatest zygomatic width, 

 47.4; mastoid width, 38.7; width at postorbital processes, 22.2; 

 interorbital constriction, 19.1; palatal length, 27.3; postpalatal 

 length, 27.2. 



7)iesoine1as estor (Mephitis), Merr., N. Am. Faun., No. 3, 1890, p. 81 



pi. x, fig. i. Elliot, Syn. N. Am. Mamm., 1901, p. 326. 

 MERRIAM'S SKUNK. 



Type locality. San Francisco Mountain, Coconino County, 

 Arizona. 



Geogr. Distr. States of Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico, into 

 Arizona. 



Genl. Char. Size small; tail short; soles naked. Skull: palate 

 not reaching posterior line of the last molar; distinct pit between the 

 bullae and postglenoid process absent. 



Color. Narrow frontal stripe and nuchal patch white, the latter 

 occupying entire occipital region, and extending narrowly on the 

 shoulders, then expanding over all the lower back and rump (some- 

 times in the center of the back a narrow black stripe appears amid 

 the white), and then continues over the tail extending beyond the 

 tip. Through this thin white "veil" the black beneath shows. 

 Under parts black with white patches on throat. 



Measurements. Total length, 640; tail vertebrae, 256; pencil, 140; 

 hind foot, 67. Skull: occipito-nasal length, 60; Hensel, 53.5; zygo- 

 matic width, 40; width of orbital processes, 21; palatal length, 22; 

 postpalatal length, 32; length of nasals, 10; width of upper molar, 8; 

 length of mandible, 42; height at coronoid process, 19. 



A. Leucomitra. 



Skull: Anterior palatine foramina large, rounded; audital bullae 

 much inflated; zygomata often nearly parallel to the skull; paroc- 

 cipital processes directed outward, pointed; posterior margin of 

 palate even. Size medium, form slender; hairs of nape lengthened, 

 directed laterally, shaping a hood. 



