348 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
Distribution in New York. While the otter has doubtless greatly de- 
creased in numbers during the present century it probably still occurs 
throughout the greater part of New York. Details of its present distri- 
bution are however wholly lacking. 
Principal records. De Kay: “The American otter, once so numerous 
in every part of the state, is now exceedingly scarce. In the counties of 
Kings, Queens, Suffolk and Richmond it is now extirpated. In the 
northern districts it is yet sufficiently numerous to become an object of 
pursuit” (42, p. 40). Merriam: “ The otter is a common inhabitant of 
the Adirondacks” (’ $2, p. 87). Fisher: “ Probably it still rarely occurs 
at Croton lake and river. The last specimen we have any record of was 
taken in the tide creeks in Croton point about 1880” (’ 96, p. 199). 
Mearns: “ Otters are still found in the Hudson and in the streams and 
lakes of the Highlands though the species has now become extremely 
scarce. 20 years ago it was more numerous” (‘ 98a, p. 347). “‘ Otters 
were said by one or two of the Catskill residents to have been taken 
occasionally along Schoharie creek and at Kaaterskill lake during the 
past 25 years” (‘98b, p. 360). 
Mr Helme writes that the otter is nearly if not quite extinct on Long 
Island. 
Remarks. It is possible that the otter of the Hudson highlands and 
Long Island is the southeastern otter Lutra hudsonica lataxina (F. Cuvier) 
recently distinguished from the northern form by Rhoads (’ 98c, 
Pp. 420). 
Mephitis mephitica (Shaw) Skunk 
1792 Viverra mephitica Shaw, Museum Leverianum. p. 172. 
1842 Mephitis americana De Kay, Zoology of New York, Mammalia. 
Da 20: 
1858 Mephitis mephitica Baird, Mamm. N. Am. p. 195. 
1882 Mephitis mephitica Merriam, Linn. soc. New York.‘ Trans. 1: 69. 
1896 Mephitis mephitica Fisher, The Observer. May 1896. 7 : 199. 
1898 ALephitis mephitica Mearns, U.S. Nat. mus. Proc. 21: 358. 
1898 Mephitis mephitica Mearns, Am. mus. nat. hist. Bul. g Sep. 1898. 
1©) 2 SOs 
Type locality. North America. 
Faunal position. Until the exact status of the skunks found in New 
York is better understood it will be impossible accurately to state their 
faunal position. 
Habitat. Woods, fields and in fact anywhere, provided the ground is 
dry enough for burrowing. | 
