92 BULLETIN NO. VII. 
Mephitis. The first is the widely distributed and variable 
M. mephitica, the second a smaller form made by Coues the 
type of a distinct subgenus (Spilogale) with the following 
additional characters: ‘‘Skull depressed, the dorsal outline 
approaching straightness, particularly over the orbits. Zygo- 
mata strongly arched upward, highest in the middle. Post- 
orbital processes well developed. Mastoid processes slight, 
scarcely produced beyond orifice of meatus. Periotic region 
peculiarly inflated by development of mastoid sinuses, the 
under surface swollen, and giving a quasi appearance of a 
second bulla auditoria behind the real one.” The characters 
of subgenus Mephitis of Coues are the converse of these. 
From the Mustelinw, as represented by Putorius, Mephitis is 
sharply distinguished by the following additional osteological 
characters: The bones of the limbs are short, heavy and straight. 
The scapula is quadrangular, not triangular, and the metacro- 
mium less developed. There are buttwo vertebre in the sacrum. 
The pelvis is broad triangular behind with produced ischiatic 
spines. The sternebre are short. (These are probably family 
characters, but lack of material makes it safer to introduce 
them here.) For a few other points in the osteology: see 
under M. mephitica. 
Mephitis mephitica. 
THE COMMON SKUNK. 
Bibliography. 
Viverra mephitica SHAW. Mus. Lever., 1792; Gen. Zool., 1800. 
Mephitis mephitica BAIRD. Mam. N. A. 1857. 
CooPER and SUCKLEY. N.H. W. T., 1860. 
HAYDEN. Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., xii, 1862. 
SAMUELS. Ninth Ann. Rep. Mass. Agric., 1861, 1862. 
GERRARD. Cat. Bones Brit. Mus., 1862. 
ALLEN. Bull. M. C. Z., 1869, 1871; Proc. Bost. Soc., N. H., xiii, 
1869; Bull. Essex Inst.,vi, 1874; Proc. Bost. Soc., xvii, 1874. 
GILPIN. Proc. and Trans. N. Scotia Inst., 1870. 
(?) Stevens. U.S. Geogr. Surv. Terr., 1870-1871. 
PARKER. American Naturalist, 1871. 
Amgs. Bull. Minn. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1874. 
CovEs. Bull. U.S. Geol. and Geogr. Surv. Terr., 1875. 
CovEs and YARROW. Zool. Expl. W. 100 Merid., 1875. 
Mephitis chinga TIEDMANN. Zool., 1808. 
LICHTENSTEIN. Darstellung Siiugeth., 1827-34; Abhandl. 
Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 18386-1838. 
MAXIMILLIAN. Reise N. A. i, 1889; Archiv. f. Naturge- 
