SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. XI 



CHAPTER VII. 



Subfamily MEPHITIN^ : The Skunks. 



General cousideratious — Cranial and dental characters — The anal ar- 

 mature — Division of the subfamily into genera — Note on fossil 

 ■ North American species — The genus Mephitis — Mephitis niejjhiti^ia, 

 the Common Skunk — Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — 

 Description of external characters — Description of the skull and 

 teeth — Variation in the skull with special reference to geographi- 

 cal distribution — Anatomy and physiology of the anal glands and 

 properties of the secretion — Geograi)hical distribution and habits 

 of the Skunk — History of the species — Addendum : On hydropho- 

 bia from Skunk-bite, the so-called " rabies mephitica " 1ST 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 MEPHITIN^— Continued : Skunks. 



The genus Mephitis, continued — Mephitis niacrura, the Long-tailed Mex- 

 ican Skunk — Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — Descrip- 

 tion — The subgenus Spilogale— Mephitis {SpilogaU) piitorius, the 

 Little Striped Skunk — Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — 

 Description of external characters — Description of the skull and 

 teeth— History of the species — The genus Conepatns — Conepatus 

 mapurito, the White-backed Skunk— Synonymy— Habitat— Speci- 

 fic characters — Description of external characters — Description of 

 the skull and teeth — Description of the anal glands — Geographi- 

 cal distribution and habits 236 



CHAPTER IX. 

 Subfamily MELIN^E : The Badgers. 



The genus Taxidea — Generic characters and comparison with Meles— 

 Taxidea amerimna, the American Badger — Synonymy — Habi- 

 tat — Specific characters — Description of external characters — De- 

 scription of the skull and teeth — Geographical variation in the 

 skull — History of the American Badger — Its geographical distri- 

 bution — Habits — Taxidea aniericana herlandieri, the Mexican Bad- 

 ger — Synonymy — Habitat — Subspecific character — General re- 

 marks — Addendum : Description of the perinjeal glands of the 

 European Badger, Meles vulgaris '- - . 261 



