FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Upperparts, — Conspicuously contrasting pattern of alter- 

 nate black and white areas: the ground or base color of body 

 and tail is black, and white markings occur as follows; white 

 spots or irregular areas on forehead between eyes, on each 

 side of rump, and on each side of tail at base; four white 

 stripes, parallel and running from crown or neck, along the 

 upperparts about to middle of body; outer pair of white stripes 

 reaches forward to in front of ear; a lateral white stripe reach- 

 ing from behind foreleg to rump where it curves up onto back 

 to meet or almost meet the dorsal stripe; on rump the white 

 dorsal stripes continue as detached spots which are met by 

 transverse white bands that pass in front of hips; tail black, 

 except for white tip. 



Underparts. — Black. 



Immature marked like adults. 



Measurements. — Males slightly larger than females. Total 

 length, males, 19-22.5 inches; females, 17. 5-2 1.8; tail vertebrae, 

 males 7.8-8.8, females, 6.6-8.2 inches; hind foot, males, 1.8-2 

 inches, females, 1.5- 1.8 inches. 



Geographical Distribution. — Most of the United States. 



Food. — Mainly insects, beetles, and grasshoppers but 

 varied with small mammals, birds, eggs, lizards, salamianders, 

 et cetera, and occasionally fruit. 



Enemies. — Rather free from • molestation by predatory 

 creatures because of its musk defense, but sometimes caught 

 and eaten by great Homed Owl and Bobcat. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Spilogale 



Alleghenian Spotted Skunk. — Spilogale putorius (Linnaeus). 

 The animal of the above description. Found in "Missis- 

 sippi, Alabama, western Georgia, western South Carolina, 

 and northward along the AUeghenies to northern Virginia; 

 western limits of range unknown." (Howell) 



Florida Spotted Skunk. — Spilogale amharvalis Bangs. 



Smaller than putorius, with shorter tail and more white. 

 Total length, males, 14-16 inches; tail vertebras, 4.2-5.4 

 inches; hind foot, 1.5- 1.7 inches. White dorsal stripes 

 about as wide as the black areas they enclose; large, white 

 spot on frontal area, white patch in front of ear which runs 

 back into outer white dorsal stripe, white on terminal third 

 of tail above, and on terminal half below; a strap-shaped 

 white patch on tail near base, above. Found in "Eastern 

 portion of peninsular Florida, from New Smvrna south to 

 Lake Worth." (Howell) 



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