Fres., 1912. Mammats or ILLINoIs AND WISCONSIN — Cory. 345 
WY 
Mephitis hudsonica 
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M. m. putida 
M. m. avia 
Area of intergradation 
Map showing supposed distribution of Skunks belonging to the genus Mephitis in Illinois and 
Wisconsin and adjoining states. 
Mephitis hudsonica (RICHARDSON). Type locality — Plains of the Saskatchewan, 
Canada. Size large; total length from 26 to 29 inches; tail with blunt black brush 
at tip, without white pencil; no median spine on palate; description as previously 
given. 
Mephitis mephitis (SCHREBER). (Sdugthiere, III, 1776, p. 444, tab. CXXI.) Type 
locality —‘‘America.”” (The name is now restricted to the northern form of the 
Eastern Skunk.) Palate without median spine; zygomata heavy and not greatly 
expanded; tail rather short, mixed black and white, the end white. 
Mephitis m. avia (BANGS). Type locality — San Jose, Illinois. Description as 
previously given. Resembles mesomelas, but larger; tail more than half the 
length of body and usually wholly -black. : 
Mephitis m. putida (BoiTaRD). (Jard. Plantes Paris, Mamm., 1842, p.147.) Type 
locality — New Jersey. Palate with distinct median spine; end of tail with 
white pencil; tail vertebra less than 11 inches. 
Mephitis m. mesomelas (LICHTENSTEIN). (Darst. Saugeth., 1832, text, pl. 45, fig. 2.) 
Type locality — Louisiana. Palate without median spine; size small; tail 
usually wholly black; length about 23 inches; tail vertebra about 9 inches. 
Mephitis m. elongata Bancs. (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., XXVI, 1895, p. 531.) 
Type locality — Micco, Brevard Co., Florida. Size medium; tail long, usual 
over 11.50 inches, with white pencil; palate with spine; frontal region arched; 
rostrum broad. 
