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 Mustelince, 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 but two vertebrae in the sacrum. 

 The pelvis is broad triangular behind with produced ischiatic 

 spines. The sternebrae 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. 



Vivei-ra 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., 1 869,1 87 l;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. 



AMES. Bull. Minn. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1874. 



COTJES. Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geogr. Surv. Terr., 1875. 



COUES and YARROW. Zooi. Expl. W. lOOMerid., 1875. 

 Mephitis chinga TIEDMANN. Zool., 1808. 



LICHTENSTEIN. Darstellung Saugeth., 1827-34; Abhandl. 

 Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1836-1838. 



MAXIMILLIAN. Reise N. A, i, 1839; Archiv. f. Naturge- 



