8 



Experienced trappers and fur dealers at the West repeatedly informed 

 me that these differences are so considerable that they can always 

 readily separate the prairie skins from the forest ones, as those from 

 Illinois, for example, from those taken in Michigan. They also claim 

 that there are two kinds of prairie mink, as of tlwj northern mink, 

 differing in size. This difference probably depends mainly upon sex 

 and age, the males being much larger than the females. 



11. Lutra eanadensis Sabine. (Otter.) 



Said to be common on the Raccoon rivers, and generally more or 

 less so throughout the State. 



12. Mephitis mephitica Baird. (Skunk.) 



Common, and presents the same varieties in point of color as at 

 the East. 



13. Taxidea americana Waterhouse. (American Badger.) 

 This species is probably nearly as numerous as formerly. Though 



rarely seen, it being nocturnal, its burrows are frequently met with. 

 Its thick, heavy body and short legs render it a rather clumsy animal, 

 but with stealthy, cat-like habits it combines considerable cunning. 

 In the night many expert animals become its prey. It is very power- 

 lul, and being armed with strong claws and teeth, is able to offer 

 formidable resistance when attacked by a dog; it is, however, ex- 

 tremely docile to man, allowing itself to be handled, and unless 

 teased, is said to rarely offer to scratch or bite. At Rippey, in 

 Greene county, I saw a half grown one in confinement that had been 

 caught by a boy a few days before, and carried home by him in his 

 arms. When discovered they are said to lie flat and motionless on 

 the ground, and if they think they are not seen will allow a person to 

 pass within a few feet of them without moving. Though generally 

 regarded as a harmless animal by the farmers, the bones and wool of 

 lambs have been found in their burrows. 1 



1 The Mexican Badger (Taxidea Berlandieri Baird, U. S. and Mex. Bound. 

 Sur. Rep., IJ, Mammals, 21, 1859; Taxidea Berlandieri Baird, Mam. N. Amer., 

 2C6). described as "Similar to the T. americana [labradoria], but smaller; above 

 reddish gray, with a narrow white stripe extending from the muzzle to the root 

 of the tail," from skulls of Mexican specimens and the MSS. notes of Dr. Berlan- 

 dier, seems to be merely the smaller southern race of the common T. americana. 

 It differs from it chiefly in being a little smaller, and, according to some reports, 

 lighter in color. The probability seems very great that the slight differences in 

 color pointed out are merely individual differences, although the T. Berlandieri 

 may constitute a more or leas well-marked climatal race. 



