issr.] IMJOCKF-DlXCS OF IIXiTEI) STA'Pl'-S NATiOl^AI. MUSEUM. 185 

 F;niiily MU.STELID.E. Weaskls. 



Lutra canadensis (Tiirtoii). NortJt American Otter. 



The Otter is not uiux)iiimoii on the iiiountuin streams of Xortherii 

 California, especially on rivers abounding- in lisli, like theMcCloud and 

 Upper Sacramento. The evidence of its presence, however, rested upon 

 pelts seen in the possession of trappers, and tracks along the shores, for 

 I never saw it alive. 



Although a piscivorous creature, and abundant in the vicinity of the 

 Government iisli hatcheries on the Lower McCIoud, I never heard of its 

 committing- depredations upon the trout ponds, as the lynxes were 

 accused of doing. Its natural shyness was probal>ly a reason for this, 

 as it is a most difiicult animal to entrap and is accredited with a very 

 suspicious nature. 



Mephitis mephitica (Sliaw). Common ,SknnJc. 



This species was met with on several occasions along McCloud River. 

 A s])ecimen of a female, obtained April 20, was found with foetuses but 

 an inch and a half in length at that date, indicating probably that the 

 young would not have been brought forth until the summer was well 

 advanced. Audubon saw the young of this species in the Eastern States 

 in May, but other authors that I have consulted are silent on that point. 



Mephitis putorius (Liuuc). Little Striped Skuvk. 



This veiy handsome little animal was found to be rather common in 

 the timber belts around Red Bluff, in Tehama County, and in the foot-hills 

 of Shasta, the adjoining county on the north. Several fine specimens 

 of this species, that had been killed during my residence in that region, 

 were lost to science on account of my reluctance about engaging in 

 the by no means delectable occupation of preparing their skins for the 

 cabinet. Although the odor arising from this species is decidedly less 

 obnoxious than that of the larger Skunks, it is still sufficiently pro- 

 nounced as to cause hesitation on the part of the most ardent collector. 

 I doubted whether the befouled skin of a Skunk killed by the ordinary 

 method of shooting could ever be rendered tolerable by any method of 



