94 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



Mephitis mephitica, var. occidentalis MERRIAM. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872. 

 Mephitis varians, var. a, GRAY. Proc. Zool. Soc., 1865. 

 Mephitis varians GRAY. Mag. Nat. Hist., i; List Mammals Brit. Mus., 

 1843; Proc. Zool. Soc., 1865; Cat. Carniv. Brit. Mus., 1869. 



BAIRD. Mam. N. A., 1857; Mexican Boundary Surv., ii, 1859. 



GERRARD. Cat. Bones Brit. Mus., 1862. 

 Mephitis macroura ATJDUBON AND BACHMAN. Q. N. A., iii, 1853. 



WOODHOUSE. Sitgreaves' Rep., 1853. 



Descriptive and Biographical: 



In this case, as well as generally where species of the Mus- 

 telidce are concerned, our account can be little more than an 

 abridgement of the excellent and exhaustive treatment found 

 in Coues' Fur-bearing Animals, in which all the prior accounts 

 are accompanied by the results of the author's studies of all 

 the material collected by the various officers of the national 

 scientific departments. 



As Minnesota is credited with but one (quite sufficient) rep- 

 resentative of the sub-family Mephitince, the reader is referred 

 to the statements under that head for the more general facts 

 relating to this animal. 



This well known animal may be described as the incense- 

 bearer of the sylvan deities, and yet the odor of sanctity 

 which clings to the sable and ermine of its vestures suggests 

 that those deities belong in the theogony of Pluto. The ton- 

 sure is represented by a band of white extending to the fore- 

 head, and the phylacteries are of snowy whiteness and are folded 

 back to decorate the shoulders. The train is usually white and 

 of plumy delicacy. In consonance with his priestly robes the 

 demeanor is sedate and devoid of any impetuousness. What- 

 ever unpleasantness may occur he never betrays alarm or incer- 

 titude, but pursues his way with the same quiet and unostenta- 

 tious dignity. Seriously, but for the unpleasant nature of the 

 secretion of the anal glands (which secretion, however, is char 

 acteristic of mink, weasels and the Mustelidce in general, as 

 well as many rodents), the skunk would be an interesting and 

 even a useful animal, forming a valuable auxiliary to the gar- 

 dener if not to the poultryman. Relying upon his unsavory 

 reputation, this animal is far less wary than most small mam- 

 mals, and being but partially nocturnal, may often be seen, 

 where abundant, in daytime ambling quietly along in search of 

 insects, worms, small mammals, such as mice, etc. , which form 

 the staple articles of his diet. The appearance of man ordinarily 

 causes him to scarcely accelerate his pace or turn from his 



