PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE MAMMALS OF NEW YORK 349 
Distribution in New York. The skunk occurs throughout the state. 
This is probably an animal whose range has been slightly if at all affected 
by the removal of the forests, but which has undoubtedly increased in 
numbers with the transformation of forests into farms. 
Principal records. De Kay: “This well known and theroughly 
detested animal is supposed to exist throughout the whole American 
continent” (’42, p. 30). Merriam: “The skunk is very common in the 
clearings and settled districts bordering this region and is found sparingly 
throughout the Adirondacks” (’82, p. 69). Fisher: “Common [at Sing 
Sing]. A very beneficial animal and one that should be carefully pro- 
tected” (’96, p. t99). Mearns: “Common. ‘Three specimens were 
trapped on the banks of Schoharie creek. It was not met with on the 
mountains” (98b, p. 358). 
I have found the skunk common at Geneva, Ontario co, and at Peter- 
boro, Madison co. 
Of the presence of the animal in the neighborhood of Buffalo Mr 
Savage writes: ‘The skunk is common, occasionally coming into the 
heart of the city. About three winters ago I came upon five dead skunks 
in ro days all within a radius of three-quarters of a mile and all within 
the city limits. Last fall a friend dug out a rabbit that his dog had 
‘holed,’ and found that in the short time occupied by the work of exca- 
vation the animal had been killed and partly eaten by a skunk that 
happened to be occupying the hole.” Mr Helme says: ‘The skunk is 
common but for some unknown reason it is much less numerous than 
formerly.” 
Remarks. It is probable that the skunk of the upper austral areas in 
New York is subspecifically distinct from that occurring in the 
Canadian zone, but at present there is no material with which to decide 
the question. If there are two forms the Canadian animal is A/ephitis 
mephitica mephitica, the upper austral, JZ. mephitica scrutator Bangs. The 
ranges of these subspecies are given by Bangs as follows: JZ. mephitica 
mephitica, *‘ Boreal eastern North America; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and 
Ontario south to about the northern limits of the United States” (’96d, 
p. 140); AZ. mephitica scrutator, “Pine and prairie regions of central 
Louisiana, extending up the Mississippi valley to Indiana and eastward 
across the Alleghanies to Virginia and thence northward, gradually be- 
coming less typical until it merges into true mephitica”’ (’96d, p. 141). 
It is of interest to note that De Kay in speaking of this animal now so 
extensively trapped for its fur says: ‘‘ His fur is coarse and of no value 
as an article of commerce” (’42, p 30). 
