DESCRIPTION OF CONEPATUS MAPURITO. 253 



In coloration, this animal presents greater variations than 

 those of Mephitis mephitica^ in which the differences are mainly 

 in the extent or restriction of the two normal white stripes. 

 The pattern is essentially a white dorsal area, wliich may in- 

 clnde all or most of the tail. The white, in all the specimens I 

 have seen, begins fairly on the sinciput, in advance of the ears, 

 instead of on the nape, as in M. mepJiitica. This may be the 

 only point of detail that is constant. The white begins squarely 

 in a transverse line, or in a curve, or in a point; it is broad and 

 uninterrupted to the end of the tail, or fails to reach the tail 

 (which then usually only has a white brush at the end), or 

 is divided by a median vertebral stripe of varying width, or, 

 finally, may be interrupted in its continuity. 



Viewing the wholly indeterminate character of this white area, 

 and comparing it with corresponding variations in Mephitis 

 mephitica, it is easy to account for the extraordinary confusion 

 which prevails in the accounts of this group, by authors who 

 sought to establish species upon the character of the markings. 

 These masses of black and white distracted the attention of 

 all the early authors from the essential generic and specific 

 characters; in fact, it is only about forty years since the true 

 points of distinction were perceived at all, and even subse- 

 quently species continued to be made upon a wrong under- 

 standing. Some repugnance to handling and closely exam- 

 ining the noisome beasts may not have been entirely inoper- 

 ative in perpetuating error and confusion ; and certainly the 

 group as a whole is not among those best represented in muse- 

 ums, owing to the obviously disagreeable task it becomes to 

 capture and prepare the animals. Once again, the perfect 

 ease with which a fair description will answer to Conepatus and 

 Mephitis has had its weight in provoking and perpetuating 

 confusion. 



Let me illustrate this last point with the following example 

 of fair diagnosis based upon color : — 



"Black; back with two broad white stripes meeting on the 

 head ; tail end white." 



This is a perfectly applicable and exact description of both 

 Mephitis mephitica and Conepatus inapurito when the latter has 

 the dorsal area divided. Again : — 



" Black ; back with a single broad white stripe ; tail black 

 and white.'^ 



