MAMMALS OF UTAH 139 



are distinct. Externally S. saxatilis may be distinguished 

 at a glance from its nearest geographical neighbor, S. gra- 

 cilis, by the inconspicuous and nearly obsolete lateral stripe. 

 In S.' gracilis this stripe is large and broad and broadly con- 

 fluent with the anterior transverse stripe. (Merriam.) 



Distribution — ^Utah, western Colorado, northern Ne- 

 vada, southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, and northeastern 

 California. The type locality of this species is Provo, Utah, 

 though several specimens have been taken at St. George, 

 and Professor Jones informs me that he has taken it at 

 Marysvale. S. B. Locke says it is rare in southeastern Utah. 



Habits — The little spotted skunk, being more agile 

 than the larger members of the genis Mephitis, frequently 

 climb bushes. They prefer rocky situations, making their 

 homes in rock piles, cliff crevices, hollow logs, deserted bur- 

 rows, or bushy river bottoms. Some live beneath farm 

 buildings. They often dig small holes in search of insects. 

 They are strictly nocturnal, being seldom seen except on 

 moonlight nights, when their markings so blend with the 

 lights and shadows as to render them inconspicuous. Their 

 bite seldom produces ill effect. Their food consists of 

 insects (mostly beetles and grasshoppers), mice, lizards, 

 salamanders, small birds, crawfish, fungi, hen's eggs, wood 

 rats, house rats, and rarely squirrels. They do more good 

 than harm. 



Subfamily MUSTELINAE 



WOLVERINE: SKUNKBEAR: 

 GLUTTON: CARCAJOU 



GULO LUSCUS (Linnaeus) 



Mustela gulo Linn.. Syst. Nat. I, p. 45, 1758. 

 Ursus luscus Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 47, 1758. 

 Gulo luscus Elliot, Syn. N. Am. Mamm. F. C. M. Pub. II, 1901, 

 p. 333. Zool. Ser. 



Description;— General colour a deep blackish-brown, 

 paler and grayer on crown and cheeks ; a band of pale chest- 

 nut begins on each shoulder and passes backwards along the 

 sides to meet its fellow on the tail; these become nearly 

 white on the rump in some specimens ; the throat and chest 

 are more or less spotted with yellowish-white, which some- 

 times forms a large irregular patch; claws, whitish horn- 



