MEPHITIS. 



generally two broad longitudinal white stripes above on a black 

 ground. Sometimes the black and white colors of the tail are irregu- 

 larly mixed. Its under surface is black. (Richardsoni, 1. c.) 



Measurements. Total length, 600; tail vertebrae, 255; hind 

 foot, 83. 



h. — scrutator. {Mephitis), Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc.Wash., 1896, p. 141. 



Type locality. Cartville, Acadia Parish, Louisiana. 



Geogr. Distr. Mississippi Valley to Indian Territory; from 

 Louisiana eastward across Alleghanies to Virginia, merging north- 

 ward into M. mephitica. 



Genl. Char. Small; tail medium penicillated; feet small. Skull: 

 palate ending in medium spine. 



Color. Color and markings as in true M. mephitica, but much 

 more variable. The two lateral white stripes are often so wide as to 

 meet on the back for nearly their whole length, forming the predom- 

 inating color of the upper parts. In other specimens the lateral 

 stripes are reduced to two small points of white projecting backward 

 from the nuchal patch, the rest of the upper parts, except the frontal 

 stripe and nuchal patch being black. 



Measurements. Total length, 580; tail vertebrae, 208; hind foot, 

 64. Skull: basilar length, 60; occipito-nasal length, 63.2; zygo- 

 matic breadth, 44; mastoid breadth, 35; length of mandible, 45.6. 

 (Bangs, 1. c.) 



480. elongata. {Mephitis'), Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 1896, 



p. 142. 



Type locality. Micco, Brevard County, Florida. 



Geogr. Distr. Peninsular Florida, and southern Georgia, west- 

 ern limit unknown. 



Genl. Char. Size large, tail long, penicillated; feet long and 

 slender, markings variable. Skull, median spine at end of palate. 



Color. Color and markings as in M. m. scrutator, and with like 

 variations, some being all black save tip of tail and nuchal patch, 

 while another has most of the tail and the back, except the jnediaa 

 line on the rump white. 



Measurements. Total length, 719; tail vertebrae, 321; hind foot, 

 76. Basilar length of skull, 66.4; occipito-nasal length, 71; zygo- 

 matic breadth, 49.2; mastoid breadth, 40; mandible greatest 

 length, 50.8. 



481. occidentalis. {Mephitis), Baird, Mamm. N. Am., 1857, p. 195 



(fig. cran.). 

 Type locality. Petaluma? California. 

 Geogr. Distr. California, Oregon and Washington. 



