28o 



VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES 



Manitoba to eastern British Columbia; southward into Colorado, 

 Nebraska and Minnesota. 



M. elongata (Bangs). Color similar to M. nigra, but the white 

 stripes are very broad, sometimes entirely covering the back and tail; 



Fig. 159. — Skull of Mephitis nigra (fi-om Elliot). 



length 703 mm.; tail 317 mm.; hind foot 74 mm.: West Virginia and 

 North Carohna to the Gulf; westward along the Gulf coast to the 

 Mississippi. 



M. mesomelas Lichtenstein. Dorsal white stripes narrow and short, 

 usually extending to the middle of the back, but sometimes to the tail 

 which usually lacks the white tip; length 576 mm.; tail 223 mm.; hind 



