Northern Plains Skunk 209 
is governed." — ''Mammals of the Adirondack Region," 
Trans. Linn. Soc. N. Y., i., p. 76, 1882. 
Skunks are terrestrial animals, living in caves or burrows, 
and are good diggers. They live on small mammals, reptiles, 
batrachians, birds and birds' eggs, and insects. In the sum- 
mer they destroy great numbers of grasshoppers. Occasion- 
ally a raid is made on the farmer's henhouse, and then they 
may do considerable damage; but no doubt they are more 
useful than injurious. 
Large numbers are annually trapped for their fur, and their 
pelts are sold by thousands. 
This is an exclusively American genus, ranging northward 
from Guatemala to Great Slave Lake, in the interior, while 
on the Atlantic Coast skunks have not been taken north of 
Nova Scotia, and on the Pacific Coast Stuart Lake, British 
Columbia, is the most northerly record. Nine species, with 
eight subspecies are given by Elliot in his Check-list, of which 
two have been taken in Colorado. 
Key of the Species 
A, Tail comparatively short, much less than i total length; hind 
foot long, in males 3.25, in females 2.75; body propor- 
tionately heavy. Mephitis hudsonica, p. 209 
B. Tail long, almost \ total length ; hind foot in males 3 or less, in 
females, 2.6; body not as stoutly built as in the preceding 
(total length is approximately the same in both species). 
Mephitis mesomelas varians, p. 211 
Mephitis hudsonica. Northern Plains Skunk 
Mephitis hudsonica Richardson, Fauna Boreali Americana, i., 
Mamm., p. 55 (1829). 
Type locality. — Plains of the Saskatchewan. 
Measurements. — Average of 3 males (Howell, I.e.) : Total length, 
28.5 ; tail vert., 10.5 ; hind foot, 3.25. Average of 3 females (Howell), 
total length, 23.75; tail vert., 9.85; hind foot, 2.75. 
Description. — The color pattern is in nowise different from that 
usual in this group of skunks, there being a narrow white stripe 
on the head, from the nose backwards; and another beginning at 
14 
