MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 87 
sides of the extreme muzzle are dark, like the top of the head, 
from about opposite the canines the sides of the head and ears 
are white, continuous with the white of the chin and throat, 
but interrupted by a large dusky patch in front of theear. The 
whole body and tail above are an intimately blended mixture 
of blackish with white, hoary gray, and tawny. Owing to the 
length and coarseness of the pelage, the museum specimens 
present a patchy or streaky appearance. The feet are dark 
brown or blackish; the claws are generally light colored, es- 
pecially those of the fore feet.” 
The badger is preeminently fossorial and extremely shy, 
being almost as difficult to observe above ground as the pouch- 
ed gophers. The true home of the animal is the prairie region 
of the upper Missouri, where its holes are said to honey- 
comb the earth. 
The badger is the determined enemy of the spermophiles 
and field mice and feeds on all animal matter afforded. It pos- 
sesses itself almost perfect immunity from all enemies but man. 
In spite of its retiring habit the badger is no coward, as the 
old amusement of badger baiting testifies. Endurance and 
great strength are combined with marvelous vitality. The 
habits during the breeding season are unknown, there being 
three or four young ata birth. Badgers may be trapped by 
placing a fox trap at the mouth of the burrow, or by flooding 
in early spring. 
The animal is, like its European relative, fond of honey 
which it is adept in securing. The European species breeds in 
October, when the sexes are associated in the same burrow, but 
at other times they live the life of hermits. The young, three 
to five in number, are born in March and are carefully cared 
for by the mother. In northern regions the animal hibernates, 
but further south adapts itself to the warmer climate. 
Sus-Fammty MEPHITIN A. 
THE SKUNKS. 
This is a comparatively small group confined to America, 
where it is represented by two genera, one of which only is 
North American while the other is nearly confined to the south- 
ern division of the new world. Although seemingly so well 
entitled to an exclusive position by the peculiarity through 
which they are notorious, the skunks are in many respects 
