MUSTELID^. — CCJI. 343 



598. MEPHITIS Cuvier. (Lat., a bad odor.) 



1129. M. mephitica (Shaw). Common Skunk. Black, with 

 narrow frontal stripe, nuchal patch, and two lateral bands extend- 

 ing from nuchal patch to and down sides of tail, white ; tip of tail, 

 white ; amount of white subject to much variation. E. U. S. and 

 Canada, south to Texas ; generally common and most ofiensive ; 

 the typical form northward. Subspec. scrutator Bangs. Size small ; 

 tail medium, tapering to a pencil ; feet very small ; markings varia- 

 ble. L. 23. T. 8^. F. 2^ Lower Miss. Valley N. to Ind., E. 

 to Va. (Lat., searcher.) 



1130. M. hudsonica (Richardson). Great Northern 

 Skunk. Size large, with the skull long and large; dentition 

 heavy ; palate ending in an open curve ; coloration normal. L. 

 28. T. 10. F. 3f . N. "W. and E. to Minn. 



599. SPILOGALE Gray. (Spotted Skunks.) (o-iriXos, spot; 

 yoKlj, weasel.) 



1131. S. interrupta (Rafinesque). Little Striped Skunk. 

 Black, with white patch on forehead ; four parallel dorsal stripes, 

 broken behind ; tail black, with white pencil at tip. Size very 

 small. L. 15. T. 4. Wis. (Hoy) to la., and S. 



1132. S. ringens Merriam. Similar to S. interrupta; white 

 of tail more extensive ; skull " broader across the postorbital pro- 

 cesses, and interorbitally, has better developed postorbital processes 

 and a decided postorbital constriction." Va. and W. Va. to Miss. 

 (Lat., gaping.) 



600. TAXIDEA Waterhouse. (Taxus, a related genus ; 

 €i8o9, form.) 



1133. T. americana (Boddaert). American Badger. Chiefly 

 grayish. L. 27. T. 5. Wis. to Tex. and W., formerly E. to 

 Ohio. Becoming rare. 



601. GULO Storr. (Lat., glutton.) 



1134. G. lusous (L.). Wolverene. Blackish ; a pale lateral 

 band meeting its fellow above root of tail ; forehead pale ; fur 

 shaggy. L. 30. T. 8. N. U. S. and Canada, N. Becoming rare, 

 S. (Lat., one-eyed, purblind, from the sad state of the specimen on 

 which the species was based ! — Coues.) 



