574 CARNIVORA 
raised each season; and as a rule they all live in the same hole 
until the following spring.” 
The two ducts leading from the anal glands open at the tips of 
two small conical papille placed in such a position that the 
animal can protrude them externally, and can thus guide the 
direction of the jet of nauseous fluid, which can be propelled 
by the powerful muscles surrounding the glands to a distance of 
from 8 to 12 feet. 
The Long-tailed Skunk (JZ. macrura), from Central and Southern 
Mexico, has two lateral stripes, and a longer and more bushy tail 
than the common species. Jf putorius, of the Southern United 
States and thence southwards to Yucatan and Guatemala, is of a 
much smaller size, with four interrupted white lateral stripes, and 
a skull differing considerably in form from that of the type species. 
It is regarded by some writers as representing a distinct genus, 
Spilogale ; and has been recently divided by Dr. C. H. Merriam 
into several nominal species. 
Conepatus.\—The Skunk of tropical America (C. mapacito), 
ranging from Texas to Chili and Patagonia, differs considerably 
from the true Skunks, although in colour it is almost precisely 
similar to the common species, with which it also agrees in the 
variation of the relative development of the black and white. Its 
build is heavier than that of Mephitis ; the snout and head are more 
Pig-like ; and the nostrils open downwards and forwards instead of 
laterally on the sides of the muzzle. The skull also has many 
special characters, and the teeth are different in shape and, as a rule, 
in number also, the first minute premolar of J/ephitis being almost 
invariably absent, so that the dental formula is i 3, ¢ 4, p 2, 
m 4; total 32. 
Remains of Conepatus, which have been referred to three species, 
are found in the cavern-deposits of Brazil. 
Arctonyx.>—Dentition: i 3, ¢ 4, p 4,m4; total 38. Incisor 
Ine curved, the outer teeth being placed posteriorly to the others. 
Lower incisors proclivous. First premolars often rudimentary or 
absent. Upper molar much larger than the carnassial, longer in 
the antero-posterior direction than broad; lower carnassial with 
a very large, low, tuberculated talon. Cranium elongated and 
depressed ; face long, narrow, and concave above. Bony palate 
extending as far backwards as the level of the glenoid fossa ; palatal 
bones dilated ; suborbital foramina very large. Vertebre: C7, 
D16, L 4,84, C20. Snout long, naked, mobile, and truncated, 
with large terminal nostrils, much like that of a Pig. Eyes small. 
Kars very small and rounded. Body compressed rather than 
depressed. Limbs of moderate length and digitigrade in walking. 
Gray, dan. Mag. Nat. Hist. sev. 2, vol. i. p. 581 (1837). 
? F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. des Mammiferes (1825). 
