240 NORTH AMERICAN MUSTELID.E. 



???Mephitis myotis, Fisch. Syn. 1829, 162 (baaed on Bctepuante, Da Pratz, Louis, ii. 97, fljj. 



(not identifiable, but very likely belonging here). 

 little Striped Skunk, Authom. 

 Moufette iuterronipue. Less. I. c. 

 Stinkthier mlt unterbrochenen Binden, Sckinz, I. c. 



Hab. — United States, southerly. Carolina, Georgia, Florida. Iowa, Kan- 

 sas, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado. Washington Territory. Southwestern 

 States and Territories. Cape St. Lucas. (?New York.) 



Spkcific ciiahactp:rs. — Black or blackish, with numerous white stripes 

 and spots, and tail white-tipped. Small; a foot or less long; tail (with 

 Lairs) obviously shorter than the body. 



Description of external characters.* 



Tliis animal is the smallest of the American species, as 

 fully indicated by the measurements given beyond. In form, 

 it agrees closely with the common species, excepting in the 

 shortness of the tail, in which there is a decided approach to 

 Coneimtus. The tail-vertebrae are considerably less than half 

 as long as the head and body, the tail with its hairs being 

 obviously less than the length of the head and body, although 

 this member is full and bushy. The pelage differs from that 

 of M. mephitica in being notably finer, softer, and closer. In 

 other respects of external form, the species agrees closely with 

 M. mephitica — so closely that further details are not required. 



white on the upper pare of each thigh ; one on either sifle of the root of the 

 tail; and a tuft of white hair arises from the tip of the tail; nose covered 

 with short hair which is naked. More or less fur is interspersed with the 

 long hair to the extremity of the tail differing in respect from the common 

 American Skunk (Mephitis Chinga) ; and, also in being less in size and 

 weight and having a finer and denser pelage differently striped and spotted 

 and being of a more slendor form. Its habits, so far as they are known, 

 agree with those of the last named species. 



" Its geographical distribution is not yet determined the specimens which 

 I have examined were obtained in Kansas and vary in their markings as oth- 

 ers of the genus. The above specimen was a mile taken on the 16th of Dec, 

 1858, excessively poor and weighed only one pound three ounces avoirdupois. 



"Another male specimen which I examined weighed two pounds; his meas- 

 urements being rather less than the above ; his markings were similar ex- 

 cepting they were finer. The three white spots about the head and the tuft 

 of white hair in the end of the tail do not appear to be subject to any varia- 

 tion. The female differs from the male in being smaller. — After a careful in- 

 vestigation I now venture to introduce this n ammal as here-to-fore being a 

 nondescript. 



"EDGAR W. WINANS. 



" Williamsporr, Shawnee Co., K. T." 



"From No. 11899, Mus. Smiths. Inst., Fountain, Colorado, C. E. Aiken. 



