HABITS OF THE LITTLE STRIPED SKUNK. 247 



was formally named and described in a Kansas (!) newspaper, as 

 above quoted. It is singular that upward of a century inter- 

 vened between these two curiously concordant accounts. Mr. 

 Winans's description is accurate in the minutest particulars ; 

 it was evidently taken from a si^ecimen exactly like some of 

 those now before me. 



GeograpJiical distribution and habits. 



The geographical distribution of this species is much more 

 extensive than has been generally supposed. Thus, Prof. Baird, 

 inl857, gave its habitat as merely *' Southern Texas and Cali- 

 fornia", and the indications of most authors are of a western 

 and southwestern animal. But there is no doubt now of its 

 inhabiting the greater part of the Southern States, and of the 

 United States west of the Mississippi. I have examined speci- 

 mens from Georgia and Florida, in which last State Mr. Allen 

 considers it common, from various portions of the West, and 

 from Cape St. Lucas. Mr. H. W. Parker, in his notes in the 

 American Naturalist, as above quoted, records the species from 

 Iowa, where at least fifty pelts were obtained one season, near 

 Des Moines, and as probably occurring in the State of New 

 York: — " There is reason to believe that the species may be 

 found even in central New York. Dr. S. J. Parker, of Ithaca, 

 N. Y., has twice seen by the roadside, in that region, a small, 

 many-striped skunk, very different from the common one." 



Eespectiug the habits of the species, I have no information to 

 offer. It is not to be presumed that it differs materially from 

 the common species in this regard. Mr. Maynard has stated 

 that in Florida the animals are domesticated and used like cats, 

 the scent-glands being removed at an early age ; they become 

 quite tame and efficient in destroying the mice (Resperomija) 

 that infest the houses. 



The different species of Skunks, in fiict, seem to be suscep- 

 tible of ready semi-domestication, in which state they are, like 

 the Fitch or Ferret, useful in destroying vermin, if they do not 

 also make agreeable pets. Writers speak of the removal of the 

 anal glands in early life, to the better adaptation of the ani- 

 mals to human society, and such would appear to be an emi- 

 nently judicious procedure. For, though Skunks may habitu- 

 ally spare their favors when accustomed to the presence of man, 

 yet I should think that their companionship would give rise to 



