574 
In the extreme northern part of its range the raccoon hibernates 
during the most severe weather, but in this latitude, though less 
active and disposed to take long naps during the cold weather, it is 
doubtful if it ever falls into a profound winter sleep. In captivity 
it shows a remarkable indifference to cold or inclement weather. 
As a pet, none of our mammals is a greater favorite. Though it 
is always mischievous and destructive if opportunity occurs, its 
interesting and affectionate ways keep it in favor. 
Raccoons do a certain unknown amount of good by destroying 
insects injurious to forest-trees. They also destroy crayfish and 
small mammals, and possibly in that way benefit man at times. The 
mischief they do in corn fields, in chicken roosts, and to useful birds 
is well known. Whether the balance is in favor of or against the 
coon depends on circumstances; but, in any case, in a portion of the 
state so poorly provided with objects of sport as this the raccoon 
merits more sympathy and protection than it receives. 
BADGER. 
Taxidea taxus (Schreber). 
Ursus taxus Schreb., Saugth., I1I., 1778, p. 520. 
Kennicott, in his list of the mammals of Cook county, published 
in 1854, says the badger was formerly common in that county, and 
was still so farther south. It is reported that a specimen was killed 
afew miles north of Urbana in 1908. The dead animal was seen by 
reliable persons, but I have not been able to verify the identification 
by seeing its skin. The badger undoubtedly occurs in the northern 
part of the state, though I have no reliable record of one’s being 
found recently. 
SKUNK. 
Mephitis mesomelas avia (Bangs). 
Mephitis avia Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., XII., 1898, p. 32. , 
The skunks of this locality are referred to the above subspecies, 
the type of which came from San Jose, Mason county, Illinois. 
There is considerable variation in size, color, etc. The description 
given by the author of the subspecies is as follows: ‘Black all over 
except white frontal stripe, nuchal patch, and two lateral stripes 
