DESCRIPTION OF MEPHITIS MACRURA. 237 



Hab. — Mexico. (Not known to occur in the United States.) 



Specific ciiaracteks. — Tail very long, the vertebrsB alone nearly as long 



as the head and body; tail with hairs not shorter than the head and body. 



A broad undivided white dorsal area (as in Conepaius), with lateral stripe 



and frontal streak (in the specimen examined). 



Description.* 



The specimen which I refer without hesitation to this species 

 is considerably smaller than M. mepJiitica, in fact little exceed- 

 ing' Spilogale putorius^ with a tail (including hairs) longer than 

 the head and body, and other characters indicating specific 

 validity. 



I have no doubt that this specimen represents Lichtenstein's 

 animal, described as above cited, from Mexico. The M. vittata 

 of the same author, ojy. cit. pi. 47 (also Abhand. Akad. Wiss. 

 Berlin for 1836,1838, 278 j Wagner, Snppl. Schreb. ii. 1841; 

 Baird, M. N. A. 1857, 200), from Oaxaca, is based upon certain 

 slight peculiarities of color, and does not seem to be specifically 

 distinguishable. But I have seen no specimens corresponding 

 with Lichtenstein-s descriptions, and consequently do not ven- 

 ture to commit myself in the matter. 



The general physiognomy is that of true Mephitis^ the snout 

 very acutely pointed but not produced, and closely furred to 

 the small, rounded, definitely naked nasal pad. The nostrils are 

 antero-lateral. The ears are much as in M. mepMtica — perhaps 

 rather smaller. The fore claws seem to be remarkably long, 

 slender, and curved; the outer reaches more than half-way to 

 the end of the fourth, while the first barely attains the base of 

 the second. There may be some peculiarity in the tubercula- 

 tion of the soles, but this cannot well be made out in the dried 

 specimen. The palms are perfectly naked ; the soles the same, 

 excepting a little space on the side of the heel. The tail-ver- 

 tebrse appear just to about equal in length the head and body, 

 which is not the case in any other species of the family I have 

 seen. The tail is much less bushy than usual in Mephitis proper, 

 but seems to have been in this specimen somewhat worn away. 



In coloration, this species curiously combines the broad white 

 dorsal area of Gonepatus with lateral dorsal stripes and frontal 

 streak of Mephitis mephitica. The white dorsal area begins 

 squarely on the nape and continues uninterrupted to the tail, 

 but is only i)ure white anteriorly, being elsewhere of a grayish 



* From No. 8566, Mus. Smiths., Orizaba, Mexico, Botteri. 



