106 



Order CARNIVORA 



seen or taken in 25 counties; records indicate a sporadic occur- 

 rence in all but the northeastern part of the state. The river 

 otter in Illinois belongs to the subspecies Lutra canadensis cana- 

 densis (Schreber).- The range of the species includes most of 

 Canada, Alaska, and the United States. 



MEPHITIS MEPHITIS (Schreber) 



Striped Skunk 



Description. — The striped skunk, fig. 67, is a short-legged, 

 black and white animal, about as large as a house cat, but with 

 a bushy tail and a pointed head. This skunk is predominantly 

 black in color, but it always has at least a white stripe on the 



FijJ. 67. — Striped skunk. 



