Fes., 1912. Mamas oF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN—CoRY. 335 
Specimens examined from Wisconsin: 
Wisconsin — Eagle Lake, 1; (M. P. M.) Prairie du Lac, 1; Walworth 
Co., 1; Arena, Iowa Co., 1; (O. C.) Drummond, Bayfield Co. 
(skull), 1; Gordon, Douglas Co. (skull), 1; Langlade Co. (skull), 
1=7. 
Subfamily MELINAZ. Skunks and Badgers. 
Members of this subfamily are found in both the Old and New World. 
They are burrowing animals and largely nocturnal in habits. The 
Skunks are notorious for their ability to eject a noxious smelling fluid 
for a considerable distance when angry or excited. The two glands 
containing this liquid are situated on each side of the rectum and are 
connected by a duct with a nipple-like papilla which can be voluntarily 
protruded from the anus. In young animals the removal of these 
glands is a comparatively simple operation.* When taken sufficiently 
young they make gentle and interesting pets. 
The earliest mention of Skunks in North America seems to be the 
one given by Gabriel Sagard Theodat in 1636, in which he refers to 
these animals as Children of the Devil (‘‘enfans du diable”’).t ‘‘Child 
of the Devil’ appears to have been a recognized name for a Skunk 
among the French in Canada in early days, as it is so referred to by 
Charlevoix | and others. The etymology of the name Skunk, by 
which it was known later, is obscure, but Dr. Cones suggests that it 
may have had its origin in the Cree Indian name ‘‘See cawk . . ., 
as the sound is not so very different though the literal discrepancy is 
great.’ § 
The Badgers, which also belong to this subfamily, comprise several 
genera and a number of species. The American Badger (Taxidea) 
with its four subspecies is confined to North America and is generically 
distinct from Old World forms. A species which occurs in Java (Mydaus 
*T have successfully performed this operation on several occasions with 
species of both Mephitis and Spilogale. 
+ ‘‘Les enfans du diable, que les Hurons appellent Scangaresse, & le commun 
des Montagnais Babougi Manitou, ou Ouinesque, est un beste fort puante, de la 
grandeur d’un chat ou d'un ieune renard, mais elle a la teste un peu moins aigué, & 
la peau couuerte d’un gros poil rude & enfumé, et sa grosse queué retroussée de 
mesine, elle se cache en Hyuer sous la neige, & ne sort point qu’au_ commencement 
de la Lunedu mois de Mars, laquelle les Montagnais nomment Ouiniscon pismi, 
qui signifie la Lune de la Ouinesque. Cet animal, outre qu’il est de fort mauuaise 
odeur, est tres-malicieux & d’un laid regard, ils iettent aussi (a ce qu’on dit) parmy 
leurs excremens de petits serpens, longs & deliez, les quels ne viuent neant moins 
gueres long temps.” (Hist. Canada, 1636, p. 748.) 
t Nouv. France, V., 1744, p- 196. 
§ Fur-bearing Animals, 1877, p. 221. 
