158 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 66 



the eye in lukewarm water, followed by flusliing with boric acid. 

 Turpentine is useful for removing skunk odor from clothing and 

 from skin, and tomato juice is also effective. 



Skunk fur is commercially valuable, and in the 1965-66 trapping 

 season, 161 striped skunks were reported taken in Maryland by fur 

 trappers (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fur Cat^h in the United 

 States, 1966, Wildlife Leaflet 478). 



Specimens examined. — Allegany County: Mount Savage, 1 (CoU. 

 U. Md.). Frederick County: Jefferson, 1. Montgomery County: Cabin 

 John, 4; Forest Glen, 1; Silver Spring, 1. Prince Georges County: 

 Laurel, 6; Patuxent Research Center, 2. Washington County: 

 Boonesboro, 1. 



Other records ami reports. — Baltimore Coujity: Bare Hills-Lake 

 Roland area (Bures, 1948, p. 66) ; Loch Raven (Kolb, 1938) ; Pa- 

 tapsco State Park (Hampe, 1939, p. 6). Dorchester County: Black- 

 water National Wildlife Refuge (Service Survey, U.S. Fish and 

 Wildlife Service, 3(4), p. 15, December 1943). Garrett County: 

 Cranesville Pine Swamp (Mansueti, 1958, p. 83). Montgomery 

 County: Plummers Island (Groldman and Jackson, 1939, p. 132). 

 Prince Georges County: Beltsville, near (Lamore, 1953, p. 80). 



EASTERN SPOTTED SKUNK 



Spilogale putorius putorius (Linnaeus) 



{Viverral putorius Linnaeus, Syst. nat., ed. 10, 1 : 44, 1758. 

 Type looaMty. — ^^South Carolina. 



General diistri'bution. — "Southeastern United States from Alabama, Missis- 

 sii>pi, and northern Florida northward through western and central Greorgia 

 and South Carolina and northward in the Appalachian Mountains to south- 

 central Pennsylvania." (Van Gelder, 1959, p. 225) . 



Distribution in Maryland. — Ridge and Valley and Allegheny 

 Mountain sections. 



Distinguishing characteristics. — Teeth 3/3, 1/1, 3/3, 1/2, = 34; size 

 small; coloration striking, the background being black, striped with 

 four white dorsal stripes which run about to the middle of the back, the 

 center ones being somewhat narrower than the outer; stripes breaking 

 up into patches on the hind quarters, giving the skunk a spotted 

 appearance; broad triangular white patch on nose and forehead; small 

 white patch in front of ears; tail long and full, broadly tipped with 

 white. 



This skunk is readily distinguished from the striped skunk (Mephi- 

 tis mephitis) by the patterning of its coloration. Spilogale has four 

 white stripes on the body whereas Mephitis has two (these may be 

 highly variable, however, in length and breadth). Spilogale has a 



