344 Field Museum or Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XL 



of hydrophobia from the bite of a Skunk have been reported, however, 

 where persons have been bitten with fatal results.* The flesh of young 

 Skunks is very good, as I can testify from personal experience. Dr. 

 Merriam says it " is delicious eating. It is not unlike chicken, but is 

 more delicate and its taste is particularly agreeable" (/. c, p. 76). 



Enormous numbers of Skunks are annually trapped and their skins 

 sold for furs which in many cases are offered for sale as "Alaska Sable." 



Mephitis mephitis avia (Bangs). 



Illinois Skunk. 



Mephitis avia Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XII, 1898, p. 32. 



Mephitis mesomelas avia Hollister, Bull. Wis. Nat. Hist. Soc, VI, 1908, p. 141 

 (Wisconsin). 



Type locality — San Jose, Mason Co., Illinois. 



Distribution — Illinois to southern Wisconsin, eastern Iowa, eastern 



Missouri and western Indiana; exact limits of range uncertain. 

 Description — Somewhat smaller than hudsonica, pattern of coloration 

 similar, but extent of white marking variable; in some specimens 

 the white stripes end about the middle of the back, in others they 

 continue to the tail; tail usually entirely black, but occasionally 

 with white pencil; zygomata less widely expanded posteriorly than 

 in hudsonica and with less abrupt bend than in hudsonica. May 

 generally be distinguished from hudsonica by somewhat smaller 

 size and shorter tail (tail vertebrae usually less than 9 inches long), 

 shape of zygomata, etc.; and from putida by absence of distinct 

 median spine on the palate, no white pencil at end of tail, etc. 

 Measurements- — Total length (male), 25 to 27 in. (625 to 686 mm.); 

 tail vertebras, 7 to 8.50 in. (175 to 215 mm.); hind foot, about 2.60 

 in. (65 mm.). Total length (female), 23 to 25.50 in. (580 to 650 

 mm.); tail vertebras, 6.25 to 7.25 in. (158 to 184 mm.); hind foot, 

 about 2.50 (62 mm.). 



The Illinois Skunk is the common form which occurs throughout 

 Illinois, and it has been recorded from southern Wisconsin; but the 

 limits of its range in the latter state have not been satisfactorily deter- 

 mined. Hollister records 3 specimens from Delavan, identified by 

 Howell (l. c, p. 141), and I have examined a number of Wisconsin 

 Skunks which might be referred to this form; but, as has already been 

 statedt the variation in markings and size of different individuals often 



* See Dr. J. S. Janeway, N. Y. Med. Rec, March, 1875; also Coues, Fur Bearing 

 Animals, 1877, p. 229. 

 t See ante, p. 339. 



