MAMMALS OF THE REGION 97 



NEW MEXICO BRIDLED WEASEL 



Musiela frenata neomexicana 



The bridled weasels are such pretty animals that if 

 once seen they can not be mistaken for any other 

 weasels. Jim White told me that he had several times 

 seen them and had caught some in traps near the cave, 

 and on a fresh fall of snow about the middle of March 

 I saw the unmistakable track of a weasel in the great 

 pit at the west entrance to the cave. Never abundant 

 anywhere, these interesting animals are evidently not 

 uncommon here, and hunt the cave walls for mice and 

 other small game. 



The bridled weasels may be known by the dark face 

 and white spot on the forehead, the long, slender, light 

 brown body, and black tip to the long tail. 



LONG-TAILED TEXAS SKUNK 



Mephitis mesomelas varians (Fig. 35) 



The common skunk occurs more or less generally in 

 all the canyons and gulches of the cave region, and at 

 times is known to enter the cave openings. One 

 caught in a goat corral, where it had been digging for 

 beetle larvae in the goat manure, was coaxed into a tin 

 can, carried to camp, and given a dose of ether by 

 merely pouring a couple of ounces of the fluid into the 

 tin can. In about two minutes, while limp and help- 

 less so that it could be safely handled, the skunk was 

 placed on the ground out in the sunshine, and when it 

 had recovered from the anaesthetic, was photographed 

 several times before it was allowed to escape. 



