FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Subfamily Mephitinae. Skunks 



Form robust; legs short; tail long and very bushy; feet sub- 

 plantigrade; anal scent-glands highly developed; pelage quite 

 long; color pattern conspicuous black and white; habit 

 terrestrial. 



Genus Spilogale^ 

 Dentition: Incisors, f ; Canines, {; Premolars, f ; Molars, a= 34. 



Spotted Skunk.— Spilogale putorius 



and related forms 



Names.— Spotted Skunk; Little Spotted Skunk; Polecat- 

 Little Striped Skunk. Plate X. 



General Description.— A small Skunk, much less robust 

 than Mephitis and more nearly weasel-like, about the size of a 



Fig. 29. Spotted Skunk 



half -grown House-cat. Pelage long; color pattern black and 

 white, arranged in conspicuous stripes or connected spots; 

 head small and weasel-like, legs short, tail bushy, both fore- 

 and hind feet with four tubercles at the bases of the toes. 

 Color. — Sexes alike in color. 



^ For a full revision of this genus see A. H. Howell, North American 

 Fauna, No. 26, 1906. 



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