1865.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE MUSTELID&, 149 
are usually quite similar.” He also states, in his specific characters, 
‘“The dorsal stripe sometimes broader, sometimes wanting, as also 
the nuchal patch.” Dr. S. Baird has kept the WM. mesomelas dis- 
tinct because Lichtenstein describes the sole of that species as 
hairy ; but some specimens of MW. varians are so in the young state. 
2. MEpuirtis VITTATA. B.M. 
Black ; sides with a white streak from each shoulder; tail elon- 
gate; base of tail bushy; hairs flaccid, the greater part of them 
white at the base. 
Var. a. Face with a narrow white frontal streak ; streaks on sides 
very broad, arched in front over the shoulder. B.M. 
Mephitis vittata, Licht. Saugeth. t. 47 (var. ?); Abh. Akad. 
Berl. 1838, p. 278; Baird, Mamm. N. A. 200. 
Var. 6. Face-streak none ; streaks on sides moderate, straight, of 
same width. ‘ BM. 
Var. c. Face with a very narrow indistinct streak ; fur all black ; 
streaks on sides none, or reduced to a small white spot on the 
hinder part of one side, not seen on the other; hair on underside 
of tail white at the base. B.M. 
Mephitis concolor, Verreaux, MS.? B.M. 
Hab. Mexico (M. Salle). 
Lichtenstein’s figures above quoted (t. 47) represent a variety of 
this species I have not seen, with spots on the withers, and the tail 
very long. , 
** Tail longer than the body. 
3. MepuHITiIs MEXICANA. 
Fur very soft, silky ; tail elongate, hair flaccid, long, and pendent, 
black ; a narrow streak on the nose, a broad vertebral streak from 
crown to tail, and a narrow streak on each side of the back, 
Var. a. With a small white spot on each shoulder. 
Mephitis mexicana, Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. i. 581, 1837. 
M. macroura, Licht. Abh. Akad. Berl. 1838, t. 77 ; Darstell. t. 46. 
f.1,2; Gerrard, Cat. Bones B. M. 97; Baird, Mamm. N. A. 900. 
Hab. Mexico. 
ahs 2° 
Skulls, 28 28 
se | se 
in. cube ae 
MeO VON SKU len spossccadaseeay «4 csasruncetiecseasvas incase VO Oe le 
peppers IOC Iara acvetanterenscareetesseorscrestsrgecer cucees | 10; | 0 10 
sav COMAyAME |GLDIb. csensecceerasses tee eees caesucaecce: (rare SEs | aie a 
TECLENES © Gatco tetdg soccenbcticc OCUnRCE EERE SS GH BERGrEEe 1 op | Mal 4. 
VOW GI BW noe cv encstcech asec dcesb soda setspocuesssuss Vie Ue | 4 
1 33 
0 103 
| 0 10 
