MEPHITIS. 507 
alike in appearance and habits. The skunk is not what may be 
called gregarious, but frequently a family of five or six may be seen 
together; more often, however, only single individuals are met with. 
It isa handsome animal, and the tail is really beautiful, with its long, 
flowing black and white hairs waving like a plume. The litters are 
large, six to eight, possibly occasionally more young are produced at 
a birth, and these generally remain underground until able to take 
care of themselves. 
97. Mephitis. Skunks. 
Seis (ates 2% nq II _ 
ae (Cee ee ae 
I 
A. H. Howell, Reviston of the Skunks of the genus Chincha, N. Am. 
Faun., No. 20, 1gor. 
J. A. Allen, The Generic names of the Mephitine, Bull. Am. Mus. 
Natesrhist., oon, p. 325. dd. Proc. Biol. Soc: Wash., xv, 10902, 
pp. 59-65. 
Mephitis Cuv., Lecons, d’Anat. Comp., Class Mamm., 1, 1800, Tabl. 
1. Type—? ‘‘Les Moufettes.”’ 
Chincha Less., Nouv. Tabl. Régn. Anim., Mamm., 1842, p. 67. 
Leucomitra Howell, N. Am. Faun., No. 20, p. 39, pls. Iv, vill. 
Upper posterior molar larger than the carnassial, subquadrate; 
palate reaching to hinder border of last molar; body elongate; limbs 
moderate, subplantigrade; head small, nose pointed; tail long, bushy; 
anal glands greatly developed. 
MEY NOVSPECIESVAND SUBSRECIES: 
A. Audital bullez not greatly inflated; divided 
white stripe on back. PAGE 
BEDOK SE GIDESeMALLOW.c 04.4.0 teas ones Sones ee M. 0. holznert 507 
pee BOiestripes wenyebLOad. so... 02+ atte eee M.m. estor 509 
B. Audital bulle greatly inflated; back all black 
or all white. 
a. Bulle small. 
eel SIMONE E GM AMMO OG. seacs.02 7. tne: oe) Gees M.macrura 510 
Drewhailnoplonger than body .<). 0-22.33. <: M.m.millert 511 
Fomor CCE Sin tonsils hd oin @ o orn we, hades he M.m. vittata 512 
occidentalis holzneri (Mephitis), Mearns, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., xx, 
USO 7p: 400: 
LOWER CALIFORNIA SKUNK. 
Type locality. San Isidro Ranch, Lower California, Mexico, near 
border of San Diego County, California. 
