MEPHITIS. 507 
alike in appearance and habits. The skunk is not what may be 
called gregarious, but frequently a family of five or six may be seen 
together; more often, however, only single individuals are met with. 
It is a handsome animal, and the tail is really beautiful, with its long, 
flowing black and white hairs waving like a plume. The litters are 
large, six to eight, possibly occasionally more young are produced at 
a birth, and these generally remain underground until able to take 
care of themselves. 
97. Mephitis. Skunks. 
lige C.—,; Eee a ay Mice = 34. 
A. H. Howell, Revision of the Sie of the genus Chincha, N. Am. 
Faun., No. 20, 1gotr. 
J. A. Allen, The Generic names of the Mephitine, Bull. Am. Mus. 
MeGendist., oor, p. 325. Jd..Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.,. xv, 1902, 
Pp. 59-66. 
Mephitis Cuv., Lecons, d’Anat. Comp., Class Mamm., 1, 1800, Tabl. 
I. Type—? ‘‘Les Moufettes.”’ 
Chincha Less., Nouv. Tabl. Régn. Anim., Mamm., 1842, p. 67. 
Leucomitra Howell, N. Am. Faun., No. 20, p. 39, pls. Iv, vil. 
Upper posterior molar larger than the carnassial, subquadrate; 
palate reaching to hinder border of last molar; body elongate; limbs 
moderate, subplantigrade; head small, nose pointed; tail long, bushy; 
anal glands greatly developed. 
KEY TO SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES. 
A. Audital bullae not greatly inflated; divided 
white stripe on back. PAGE 
amy OLPIPCS MAILOW ei cae eee ee od M. 0. holenert 507 
Perecurv eivipes: very broad... ee cen es M.m. estor 509 
B. Audital bulle greatly inflated; back all black 
or all white. 
a. Bulle small. 
a. rail longer than body.............«.....M.macrura 510 
Peau mot longerthan body...........0.. M.m, millert 511 
PIPE ENG ie. oc Ui oda kc vs eae oa bee M.m. vittata 512 
occidentalis holznert (Mephitis), Mearns, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xx, 
1897, p. 461. 
LOWER CALIFORNIA SKUNK. 
Type locality. San Isidro Ranch, Lower California, Mexico, near 
border of San Diego County, California. 
