138 MELINID^. 



Speaking of the Skunk, Dr. Baird observes, " The species varies 

 considerably in marking, though individuals from the same locality 

 are usually quite similar." He also states, in his specific characters, 

 " The dorsal stripe sometimes broader, sometimes wanting, as also 

 the nuchal patch." Dr. S. Baird has kept the M. mesomelas distinct 

 because Lichtenstein describes the sole of that species as hairy ; but 

 some specimens of M. var'ums are so in the young state. 



2. Mephitis vittata. B.M. 



Black ; sides with a white streak from each shoulder ; tail elon- 

 gate ; base of tail bushy ; hairs flaccid, the greater part of them 

 white at the base. 



Mephitis vittata, Gray, P. Z. S. I860, p. 149. 



Var. a. vittata. Face with a narrow white frontal streak ; streaks 

 on sides veiy broad, arched in front over the shoulder. B.M. 



Mephitis vittata, Liclit. Sliuqeth. t. 47 (var. ?) ; Abh. Ahtd. Berl. 

 1838, p. 278; Baird, Mamm. N. A. p. 200. ' 



Var. h. intermedia. Face-streak none ; streaks on sides moderate, 

 straight, of same width. B.M. 



Var. c. concolor. Face mth a veiy narrow indistinct streak ; fur 

 all black ; streaks on sides none, or reduced to a small white spot on 

 the hinder part of one side, not seen on the other ; hair on underside 

 of tail white at the base. B.M. 



Mephitis concolor, Verreaux, MS. ? B.M. 



Hab. Mexico (M. Sailed). 



Lichtenstein's figures above quoted (t. 47) represent a variety of 

 this species I have not seen, vdth spots on the withers, and the tail 

 very long. 



** Tail longer than the body. 



3. Mephitis mexicana. B.M. 



Fur very soft, silky ; tail elongate, hair flaccid, long, and pendent, 

 black ; a narrow streak on the nose, a broad vertebral streak from 

 crown to tail, and a narrow streak on each side of the back. 



Var. a. With a small white spot on each shoulder. 



Mephitis mexicana, Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. i. p. 581, 1837 : P. Z. S. 



1865, p. 149. 



Mephitis maeroura, Licht. Abh. Akad. Berl. 1838, t. 77 ; Darstell. 



t. 46. f. 1, 2. "j^ 



Hah. Mexico. 



8. SPILOGALE. 



Head conical. Nose short, underside with a distinct central 

 groove; muzzle small, bald, rather notched in front ; nostrils lateral. 

 Tail short, cylindrical, bushy, not so long as the body, ending in a 

 long pencil of hair. Hind feet moderate ; sole bald, flat, the front 

 portion divided into four oblong pads, the central one small and 



