898 MR. O. THOMAS ON A REMARKABLY SMALL SKUNK. [Nov. 30, 



Mr. Kirby in his remarks had omitted to mention a fact by no 

 means irrelevant to the question, namely that normal Mountain 

 lieedbucks [Cervicnpra fulvonifvla) do not ordinarily inhabit the 

 summits of mountains, but only their lateral cliffs and slopes, and 

 that in the mountains referred to they appeared to range almost 

 or quite as high as usual. The new form would therefore seem 

 to present a genuine difference in habits, as well as in colour. 



Mr. Oldfield Thomas exhibited a specimen of a remarkably 

 small Skunk of the genus Spilogale which had been received in a 

 collection made by Mr. P. O. Simons in Western Mexico. 



It appeared to be undescribed, and was characterized as 

 follows : — 



Spilogale pyqm.^a, sp. n. 



Size very small, barely half that of any known species. Pattern 

 of coloration differing considerably from that found in the other 

 members of the genus, which in this respect were all so like each 

 other that they had formerly been supposed to form but a single 

 species. White of forehead united to the white ear-patches so 

 as to form a band across the face from ear to ear, but in the 

 centre of the face the white did not project forward beyond the 

 level of the eye. Median pair of light dorsal bands grey, not 

 white, and running right through to the rump without interruption 

 by black transverse bands on the posterior back ; each was, how- 

 ever, divided for its posterior half by a narrow black longitudinal 

 line commencing at the usual level of the anterior transverse band, 

 and running backwards and afterwards outwards just like that in 

 connection with the transverse line in the other species. Chin 

 white, with two white stripes diverging from it towards the ear- 

 patches. Upper surface of both hands and feet white, in continu- 

 ation in front with the white lateral stripe, and behind with a 

 white line running up on to the hams ; but the inner side of both 

 carpus and tarsus with a large black patch continuous with the 

 black of the belly. Claws rather small, whitish horn-colour. Tail 

 short, with hairs not half the length of the head and body, mixed 

 black and white basally above, white terminally and below, the 

 basal half inch below quite black ; longest hairs little over 14 inch 

 in length. 



Skull very markedly of the narrow high-crowned type ; crests 

 and ridges exceedingly little developed, the postorbital ^^rocesses 

 minute ; intertemporal breadth greater than interorbital, but this 

 possibly due to parasites being present : brain-case vaulted, very 

 thin, little ridged, the temporal crests scarcely perceptible, and 

 not approaching within 8 mm. of each other. In these respects, 

 as was so often the case in mammals, the old skull of a small 

 species simulated the young one of lai'ger forms. Teeth apparently 

 similar in form to those of the larger species, of which they 

 formed a diminutive copy. Lower jaw not very markedly convex 

 below. 



