302 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ZOOLOGY, VOL. i. 



They are found in all the canons and creeks emptying into the 

 Salt Fork near Alva, but seldom go far out on the prairie." 



(T. S.) 

 Lepus telmalemonus. 



Lepus telmalemonus. Elliot, Pub. Field Col. Mus., 1899, 

 p. 285, zoology. 



Two specimens, Dougherty, Indian Territory. 



FAM. MUSTELID.E. 

 Spilogale interrupta. 



Mephitis interrupta. Rafinesque Ann. Nat., 1820, p. 3. 



Five specimens, Alva, Oklahoma Territory. 



" Little striped skunks are very common everywhere about 

 Alva, being perhaps more numerous in the Kangaroo Rat colo- 

 nies along the river. I imagine their main dependence for food 

 is this rat, whose burrow requires but little digging on Spilo- 

 gale's part to effect an entrance, as the skunk's body is very 

 slender. In fact, nearly all the specimens I obtained were taken 

 in what I supposed to be the Kangaroo Rat burrows, and in 

 every case but one they were caught in Schuyler Rat Killers. 

 These traps will not kill a Spilogale, for every one secured was 

 caught fairly around the neck just back of the head, and they 

 were very lively indeed when I went to take them out, and I was 

 compelled to silence their abrupt manner of greeting with a load 

 of dust shot from my auxiliary barrel. Their odor is very bad, 

 being, in my opinion, more disagreeable than that of the common 

 skunk." (T. S.) 



Mephitis mesomelas. 



Mephitis mesomelas, Licht. Darst. N. Saug. , pi. 45, fig. 2. 



Two specimens, six miles east of Alva, Oklahoma Territory. 



" The local name for this species is 'Hydrophobia Cat,' and 

 its bite is believed to give one symptoms of hydrophobia, which 

 I was assured often proved fatal. All the specimens secured 

 were excessively fat." (T. S.) 



Taxidea berlandieri. 



Taxidea berlandieri. Baird Mam. N. Am. 1857, p. 205. 



One specimen, 6 miles east of Alva, Oklahoma Territory. 



This single example was the only one obtained by Mr. Surber, 

 although every effort was made to procure a number. The 

 accompanying photograph, taken while the animal was held by 

 the trap, gives a very good idea of its appearance in life. 



