340 MAMMALIA: FERA. — LIII. 
rangular, very large, with an outer cutting ridge; claws non-retractile ; 
fore-claws lengthened, fossorial. (Mephitine.) 
c. Teeth 34; tail long and bushy; anal secretion very strong-scented. 
MEPpHITISs, 597. 
bb. Auditory bulla much inflated, not constricted. 
d. Last molar of upper jaw enlarged, sub-triangular; toes straight, with 
long, non-retractile claws. (Meline.) 
e. Body robust; tail very short; teeth 832. . . . TAxIpEA, 598. 
dd. Last molar of upper jaw short, transverse; toes short, arched, the 
claws retractile. (Musteline.) 
J. Feet ae ee body stout; tail a full and bushy; 
teeth 38. . . : - « GULO, 599. 
Sf. Feet digitigrade ; Teas eiedienss 
g. Teeth 38; sectorial tooth with an internal tubercle. 
MustTELA, 600. 
gg. Teeth 34; sectorial tooth without internal tubercle. 
Purortvs, 601. 
596. LUTRA Linneus. (Lat., otter.) 
1125. L. hudsonica (Lacépede). AMERICAN OTTER. Liver- 
brown. L. 45. T. 15. N. Am., aquatic. (Justela canadensis 
Turton, not of Schreber.) 
597. MEPHITIS Cuvier. (Lat., a bad odor.) 
a. Skull not depressed, its upper outline irregularly convex. (Mephitis.) 
1126. M. mephitica (Shaw). Common Skunk. Usually black, 
with tip of tail, dorsal stripes and nuchal patch white; sometimes 
all black or even nearly all white. L. 28. T.9. Hudson’s Bay 
to Mexico, abundant, its odor “ mephitic ” beyond comparison. 
aa. Skull depressed, its upper outline nearly straight. (Spilogale Gray.) 
1127. M. putorius (L.). LirrLe Srrirep Skunk. Black, 
with white patch on forehead; four parallel dorsal stripes, 
broken behind; tail black, with white pencil at tip. Size very 
small. L. 15. T. 4. Wis. (Hoy) to Ga., and 8S. W. (lat, 
ill-scented.) 
598. TAXIDEA Waterhouse. (Taxus, a related genus ; 
eidos, form.) 
1128. T. americana (Boddaert). AMERICAN BapGER. Chiefly 
grayish. L.27. T.5. Wis. to Tex. and W., formerly E. to Ohio. 
599. GULO Storr. (Lat., glutton.) 
1129. G. gulo (L.). Wotverene. Blackish; a pale lateral 
band meeting its fellow above root of tail; forehead pale; fur 
shaggy. L. 30. T. 8. /.N./¥.,40 Col. and Nay thad 
600. MUSTELA Linneus. (Lat., weasel.) 
1130. M. americana Turton. SABLE. Prine MArTEN. Brown, 
not darker below than above, usually a tawny throat-patch. ars 
high, sub-triangular. L. 24. T.8. Me. to Ore., and N. 
