CHAPTER VIII. 



ME PHITIN^E— Continued: Skunks. 



The genus Mej^hitis, contiuued — Mephitis macrtim, the Long-tailed Mexican 

 Skunk — Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — Description — The sub- 

 genus Spilogale— Mephitis {SpHogale) piitoriiis, the Little Striped Skunk — 

 Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — Doscription of external char- 

 acters — Description of the skull and teeth — History of the species — The 

 genus Co-nepatiis — Conepatas mapnrito, the White-backed Skunk — Synon- 

 ymy — Habitat — Specific characters — Description of external characters- 

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

 graphical distribution and habits. 



THE length of the foregoing chapter having rendered a 

 division of the parts of the work relating to Mephitlnce 

 advisable, I continue directly with an account of the otlier 

 species of the genus Mephitis^ and of the genus Conepatas. 



Itoiig^-tailed Mexican ^S^iiiik. 



^^lephitis inacrura. 



Mephitis macroura, iic/if. Darst. SJiug. 1S27-34, pi. 46, "f.1,2"; Abh. Ak. Wiss. Berl. 1836 

 .{1836), 211. — Wagner, Suppl. Schreber, ii. 1841, 196.— Schinz, Syn. i. 1844, 323, no. 12.— 

 Baird, M. N. A.. 1857, 200.— Tomes, P. Z. S. 1861, 280.— Gerr. Cat. Boues Br. Mas. 1862, 97. 

 [Not macroura of Aufl. & Bach., nor of Woodhouse.] 



Mephitis mexicana, 6rap, Mag. N. H. i. 1837, 581; P. Z.S. 18G5, 149; Cat. Carn. Br. Mas. 

 1869, — . 



? MeraphltlS edlllis, Berlandier, MSS. ined.* 



Quid .Mephitis longicaudata, Tomes, P. Z. S. 1861, 280 (Guatemala) ? 



*The animal referred to by Berlandier is probably this species. " Smaller 

 than the Polecat. Length of head and body 13 inches; tail 11; black ; a 

 white frontal liae ; another on the nape, dividing into two lateral ones, after- 

 ward converging near the root of the tail, on which they unite ; tail white- 

 tipped. Inhabits most of Mexico. I have found it about San Fernando de 

 Bexar, and in eastern interior States, where it is improperly called Zorillo. 

 It may be tamed; is rather nocturnal ; hunts various small animals ; is slow 

 and heavy in its movements, and bites forcibly. The Huid is highly phos- 

 phorescent by night. The natives are fond of its flesh; they kill it, taking 

 care not to irritate it, remove the anal glands entire, cut otf the head and 

 feet, singe off the hair, and broil the flesh. I overcame my repugnance on 

 one occasion and tasted the meat, which I fouad not disagreeable; it re- 

 sembled young pork." (Freely translated with abridgment from the original 

 MSS.) 



236 



