Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 337 



It is not improbable that fairly typical examples of Mephitis mephitis 

 may be found in northeastern Wisconsin and M. m. putida in eastern 

 Illinois. In the regions mentioned intergradation is likely to occur 

 and doubtful specimens should be sent to specialists for identification. 

 The characters by which the two forms may be recognized are as 

 follows : 



GROUP 1. Back with two white stripes joining at the shoulder. 



White stripes extending down sides of tail; tail tapering and the end white; 

 zygomata relatively heavier than hudsonica but not so widely expanded; tail 

 vertebrae averaging less than 9.50 inches; palate ending in even curve without 

 median spine; total length generally 23 to 27 inches; tail vertebrae 7.50 to 

 9 inches. Canada Skunk. Mephitis mephitis. 



White stripes of body usually not extending on tail; tail black, ending in a white 

 pencil ; palate with distinct median spine; tail averaging longer than in mephitis; 

 total length 22 to 24.50 inches; tail vertebrae 8.50 to 9.75 inches. 



Eastern Skunk. Mephitis mephitis putida. 



Genus MEPHITIS Cuvier. 



Mephitis Cuvier, Legons d'Anat. Comp., 1, 1800, tab. I (facing page 322). 

 Body thick set; legs rather short; fur thick, color black and white, 

 the white occasionally tinged with tawny or yellow; extent of white 

 marking variable, usually two dorsal white stripes; tail bushy, claws 

 curved; ears short; superior anal glands, containing defensive odorous 

 secretions, highly developed. Skull somewhat arched, highest in the 

 frontal region; upper molar larger than the carnassial, subquadrate, 

 and broader than long; lower carnassial longer than high: bullae flat- 

 tened; auditory meatus tubular but not noticeably extending beyond 

 the skull; posterior end of palate nearly on a line with back of last 

 molar. 



Dental formula: I. ^—^^ C. -^— ^. Pm. ^— ^, M. ^-^= 34. 

 3-3 i-i ?>-?> 2-2 



Two forms of the large Skunks belonging to the genus Mephitis 

 are known to occur in Illinois, and it is not unlikely that the range of 

 two others, mephitis and putida, may be found to cross our border. 

 No typical specimens of putida have, so far as known, been taken in 

 Illinois, although it is given by Hahn as the common form occurring 

 throughout Indiana, where, according to Howell its range meets that 

 of the Illinois Skunk, M. m. avia. Mephitis mephitis is common in 

 Ontario along the northern borders of the Great Lakes and it is by no 

 means improbable that its range may be found to extend into the 

 Michigan peninsula. A series of specimens from Green Bay, north- 

 eastern Wisconsin, are perplexing in that they are not typical of any 



