32 



ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY MANUAL 4 



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35 STRIPED 

 SKUNK 





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36 BADGER 



Figs. 35-36. — Signs of Illinois mammals: a, print of front foot; 

 aa, claw marks of front foot on hard surface ; b, print of hind 

 foot; c, bounding pattern; d, walking pattern. 



Scats of carnivores and opossums are cylindrical objects which 

 contain mats of hair, feathers, sometimes teeth or bone frag- 

 ments of vertebrates, and parts of insects. Those of omniv- 

 orous mammals often contain seeds of fruits mixed w^ith the 

 animal remains. Scats of most herbivores are small pellet-like 

 or oval objects, usually present in considerable numbers. Often 

 the place of deposition of scats is an important distinguishing 

 characteristic; for example, scats of the swamp rabbit are in 

 appearance practically indistinguishable from those of the cot- 

 tontail, but the swamp rabbit has a habit of leaving droppings 

 on logs or mounds, whereas the cottontail leaves droppings on 

 level ground. 



Tooth Marks. — In obtaining food or in constructing run- 

 ways or homes, certain mammals leave distinguishing tooth 

 marks or signs of gnawing. Rabbits and voles commonly, musk- 



