MUSTELID^ 237 



viding on the shoulders, running along the upper part of the sides 

 and across the hips and ending on the sides of the tail, usually 

 extending but a short distance on the tail — ^this stripe varying in 

 form' and width ; hairs of tail four to seven inches in length, the 

 basal half white and sometimes those about the middle of the tail 

 white throughout. 



Length about 685 mm. (27 inches); tail vertebrae 300 

 (12) ; hind foot TJ (3) ; ear from crown 22 (.85). 

 Type locality, Petaluma, California. 



Central and northern California and southwestern Oregon, 

 east to the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains. Common in 

 mountain and valley, timber and plain. Their food is varied, 

 irrcluding mice, small birds, eggs, frogs, insects and grubs. 

 Grasshoppers, beetles and their larvze, in fact, constitute the bulk 

 of their food when these are in season, and these Skunks are 

 really worthy of protection for their usefulness in destroying 

 harmful' insects and mice. It is true that they do sometimes de- 

 stroy poultry, but much the greater part of this damage is done 

 by the smaller Sf>otted Skunks. California Skunks cannot climb, 

 nor can they creep through very small holes, and a properly built 

 poultry house will protect the inmates from this species. 



This genus has been accused of causing hydrophobia by its 

 bites, but there are good reasons for believing that this is a mis- 

 take, and that the bite of this species never causes hydrophobia. 

 No cases, as far as I can learn, have been reported outside the 

 range of Spilogale, and many instances are known of bites from 

 the larger Skunks that have not resulted in an attack of the dis- 

 ease. 



California Skunks are not as audacious as the little Spotted 

 Skunks are ; but they are very little afraid of man or beast. They 

 are self reliant, bold and inquisitive. In spite of their powerful 

 odor they are preyed upon by foxes, coyotes and great horned 

 owls, as their flesh is as sweet as that of a hare or squirrel. 

 Those persons who, not being troubled with squeamishness, have 

 eaten it pronounce it agreeable in flavor. I never cared to try it. 



