ON NORTH AMERICAN ZOOLOGY. 145 



itidivichial difFerhig in the disti-ibution of its stripes as a distinct 

 species, while Cuvier ranks them all as mere varieties, thus at- 

 tributing to the animal a most extensive range through North 

 and South America. The americana, vphich is the most north- 

 ern species, is very uniform in its markings within the limits of 

 the fur countries. Kalm describes one differently zoned as an 

 inhabitant of Canada; the h4te puante, discovered by Du Pratz 

 in Lomsiana, has been named mephitis ? myotis by Fischer ; 

 Rafinesque distinguishes the inephitis interrupt a of the same 

 country ; and Hernandez points out two Mexican skunks by the 

 names of itsqui-epall and cone-epatl. The m. nasua is an in- 

 habitant of California. There is, perhaps, an error in the 

 statement made by some naturalists, that the South American 

 mephitis chincha extends its range to the southern parts of the 

 United States, for though the Baron finds the osteological cha- 

 racters of all to be the same, the varieties distinguished by the 

 number and distribution of their stripes do not usually occur 

 together in the same districts, nor range through many degrees 

 of latitude. 



According to Baron Cuvier, the Intra canadensis, which ex- 

 tends northwards to the vicinity of the polar sea, is the same 

 species with tlie brasiliensis ; and the lafaxina has an almost 

 equallj'^ extensive range from Great Slave Lake, where it was 

 found by Mr. King, to Carolina, where F. Cuvier's specimens 

 were obtained, and the Brazils, Avhence the Baron received it. 

 The variety of climates inhabited by lataxina will be still more 

 remarkable if, as Cuvier seems to intimate, it be specifically 

 the same with the European otter, for he says they do not 

 differ by any permanent characters. Even the domestic dog 

 does not change his abode to the same extent without imder- 

 going more sensible alterations of form. Were the otter to 

 live entirely in the water, the severity of the seasons would be 

 greatly tempered to it ; but it is wont in the high northern lati- 

 tudes to travel far through the snow in quest of open water 

 when its summer haunts are frozen up. 



With regard to the species of the genus canis nnich difference 

 of opinion will most likely continue to prevail among naturalists, 

 from the general uniformity of their external forms, the great 

 difficulty of characterizing the differences by brief descriptions, 

 and the want of a sufficient number of specimens in any one 

 collection for comparison, 'i'hc physiognomy of the American 

 wolf when contrasted with that of its European namesake is 

 very distinct; but a family likeness prevails throughout the 

 whole group of American wolves, however much they may dif- 

 fer in size, colours, or even in habits. The hipjis oaidentaUs 



VOL, V. 1836. L 



