1 90 1 . ] Allen, Generic Names of the Mephitince. 333 



Cuvierian genus Mephitis y the only species of Spilogale known 

 to Cuvier in 1788 was referred by him to his group * Martes ' and 

 excluded from his group ' les Mouffettes ' ; hence Mephitis could 

 not later be transferred to the Spilogale group. 



6. Viverra memphitis Linn, is a compound of the Mexican Coatis 

 and Mexican Skunks, and is not citable as a term entitled to con- 

 sideration in nomenclature ; and it has been generally so treated 

 by authors. 



7. Viverra putorius Linn, is based primarily on Catesby's figure 

 and description of his Putorius americanus striatus, neither of 

 which is entitled to serious consideration ; they must have been 

 based, to take the most charitable view of the case, on a confused 

 recollection of the little spotted skunk and the common skunk, 

 and not on any animal he ever met with in nature. 



8. If Linnaeus's reference to Kalm is to have weight, his 

 Viverra putorius would have to be referred to the common skunk, 

 a proceeding as unwarranted as it would be undesirable. Hence, 

 it would be better to treat the name as uncitable, and as thoroughly 

 unavailable in nomenclature as is Linnaeus's Viverra memphitis. 



9. Mustela putida Cuvier, 1798, based on the Pole-cat of Kalm, 

 antedates Mephitis putida Boitard, 1842, for the same animal. 



10. Viverra mephitis Schreber, 1776, relates primarily to some 

 species of Howell's subgenus Leucomitra, probably Mephitis 

 macroura Licht., and not to the skunk of eastern Canada. It 

 cannot, however, be positively identified. 



SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF THE GENUS Mephitis. 



Accepting Mr. Howell's excellent revision of the skunks of this 

 genus as fairly representing our present knowledge of the group, 

 the species and subspecies will stand as follows, the specific and 

 subspecific names being those employed by Mr. Howell, except in 

 the case of Mephitis mephitica Shaw and Mephitis putida Boitard. 



SUBGENUS Mephitis. 



1. Mephitis mephitica (Shaw).^ 



2. Mephitis hudsonica (,#//.). 



3. Mephitis putida (G. Cuv.}.* 



1 As restricted by Bangs. Not Viverra mephitis Schreber, as supposed by Mr. Howell. 



2 Mustela putida G. Cuvier, 1798, which thus antedates Mephitis putida Boitard, 1842. It 

 seems quite probable that Boitard took his name from Cuvier. 



