238 CALIFORNIA MAMMALS. 



Like most Skunks they have the habit, when angered or defiant, of 

 stamping on the ground with one forefoot, or with both alter- 

 nately. They are suspicious of quick movements, and act ac- 

 cordingly. By moving slowly one can get quite near a Skunk 

 without provoking a discharge of scent. 



The odor of a Skunk is penetrating, very pungent, and to 

 most people very disagreeable or nauseating; when strongly in- 

 haled it may produce unconsciousness. The fluid, much diluted 

 and administered internally, has proved efificacious as a remedy 

 for asthma, whooping cough and croup. Its disagreeable odor is 

 a bar to its extended use, however. The accidental reception of a 

 small amount of the liquid in the eye is followed by inflamma- 

 tion, lasting a week or so ; a large amount has produced the loss 

 of eyesight. In case of such an accident, the eye should be 

 washed out with clean cold water as soon as possible. The odor 

 is produced by the volatilization of a fluid secreted in a pair of 

 glands which lie either side of the rectum, and nearly surround- 

 ing it. These glands are enveloped in a strong muscle which is 

 capable of compressing them with sufficient force to spurt the couf- 

 tained fluid in several small streams a distance of twelve to fif- 

 teen feet. The ejection of the fluid is wholly within the control 

 of the animal, and is ordinarily only resorted to in self defence. 



Skunks are chiefly crepuscular and nocturnal. They occupy 

 burrows dug by themselves when they cannot find hollow logs or 

 suitable crevices in rocks. They are born in April, May and 

 June, and are five to nine in number. The name Polecat be- 

 longs to an European animal of another genus. 



Mephitis occidentalis major Howell. (Large.) 



GREAT BASIN SKUNK. 



Similar to occidentalis but larger; hind foot longer; skull 

 larger, heavier built, broader and flattened ; rostrum broader. 

 Type locality. Fort Klamath, Oregon. 

 Eastern Oregon, northeastern California, Nevada and Utah. 



