xlviii Carnivora. MAMMALIA. Carnivora. 
Fossil, Extinct Melin^e. 
In tlie bone caves of Europe are found several 
fossil and extinct forms allied to this family. Meles 
antidiluvianus is one that has been recorded and 
named. Another genus, called PaliBomephitis, has 
been discovered in the fresh-water calcareous beds of 
Steinhein. 
jMepiiitis. — Cuvier . 
The mephitic or bad odor resulting from the secre- 
tion of peculiar glands in these animals, suggests the 
generic name. The sub-family name — from Meles, the 
Latin for Marten — has a more general signification. 
The Mustelidm are all in bad odor, they all have 
odoriferous glands, more or less potent or disagree- 
able ; but the Skunks ! — “ And smelt so, pah ! ” 
Lichtenstein has established two groups, which he 
regards as exhibiting well-marked differences. Thi- 
osmus he establishes as having the upper incisors 
linear, the outer stronger and longer than the inter- 
mediate ones, the lower equal, with a longitudinal 
groove jn the posterior face. There are three upper 
molars on either side, and five on the lower, the an- 
terior sometimes deciduous. The naked muzzle is 
depressed, projecting, and with nostrils on the under 
surface ; the soles are broad and naked ; the tail 
moderate in size. Mephitis he regards as having 
nearly equal upper incisors, the outer one being a 
little stouter. There are four upper molars on each 
side, and five on the lower jaw, the anterior being 
always persistent. The snout is prominent and not 
depressed, and the nostrils are laterally situated. 
Tlie soles are somewhat narrow, and partially or en- 
tirely hairy. All the North American species belong 
to the latter, excepting the M. mesoleuca, which is a 
Thiosmus. In treating this subject. Prof. Baird adds : 
“ J. E. Gray, in Gharlesworth's Mag. of Nat. History, 
1837, vol. i.,p. 581, establishes two genera — Conepatus 
and Marputius— the latter of which, to some extent, 
covers the ground of Thiosmus, and anticipates it in 
point of date. Though objectionable in some respects, 
a strict regard for the law of priority may cause it 
to be retained. Tlie species of these two divisions 
of Mephitis belong to America exclusively, and 
extend throughout both halves of the continent. 
Several are peculiar to Mexico. Of 'J’hiosmus, two 
are iMexican, one of them extending into the United 
States. All the rest are South American, where the 
restricted Mephitis does not occur.” 
WHITE -BACKED SKUNK {Mephitis mesoleuca, 
Lic/i-L)— This was first described by Lichtenstein 
from a specimen brought from Chico, in Mexico, and 
is one of his genus Thiosmus. Audubon says that 
it is quite common in Texas. Its geographical dis- 
tribution has not been fully determined. 'J’he specific 
characters are : A broad, uninterrupted band of 
white, beginning abruptly at the nape as a transverse 
straight line, and occupying the entire back to the 
tail, which also is entirely white ; the body is en- 
tirely black, excepting the white dorsal stripe. It is 
regarded as similar to M. leuconota of Lichtenstein, 
but is much larger, has a longer tail, and differs in 
having much less white. Its length is seventeen 
inches, the tail about twelve inches. Bennett de- 
scribes the same species as M. nasuta, and Ijessing 
the same as Thiosmus nasuta. 
TEXAS SKUNK {Mephitis varians. Gray'). — This is 
another Texas species, said to be abundant there. It 
is the M. macroura of Audubon. 'I'he specific charac- 
ters are seen in a full and bushy tail, which is attenu- 
ated and pointed at the end, where the hairs are long. 
The vertebrm of the tail are the same length as the 
body. Its color is black, with a narrow, white frontal 
line. A white nuchal patch, broad and truncated 
anteriorly, extends between the ears, then passing 
backward, narrowing a little, to between the shoul- 
ders, where it bifurcates narrowly, the branches pass- 
ing along the sides to the hind legs ; another narrow 
white stripe on either side commences within the 
termination of these, and runs out on the posterior 
halt of the tail. The tail is black, the hairs on the 
basal half being white ; on the middle of the tail, 
there is a patch on which the hairs are white to the 
end. Its length to the root of the tail is fifteen 
inches; the vertebrae measures fifteen inches, and 
the terminal hairs three and a half. 
CALIFOENIA SKUNK {Mephitis occidentalis, 
Baird). — This is a large species, inhabiting the 
region about California, where the two preceding- 
species are not known. It resembles M. varians, 
excepting that it is much stouter, with stronger and 
broader feet ; the tail, also, is much shorter, being 
entirely black externally, instead of a patch of white 
in the central parts. The skulls differ somewhat. 
Professor Baird gives the specific characters as fol- 
lows : “In size, that of a Cat. Tail vertebrae two 
thirds the head and body. Bony palate with small, 
narrow emargination in the middle of its posterior 
edge. Color black, with a white nuchal patch bifur- 
cating behind and reaching to the tail, which is en- 
tirely black. The feet seem to be a notable character 
in this species, being exceedingly large and broad.” 
THE SKUNK {Mephitis mephitica, Baird.) — Plate 
10, fig. 33. — This is the Skunk par excellence, the 
mephitic Mephitis, literally and emphatically, ac 
cording to the text. 'J’o a portion of our readers, it 
were superfluous to call attention to the renowned 
attributes of this creature. To the rural denizen, it 
is one of the salient objects of his earlier memories ; 
to him, its possibilities are unutterable, its conse- 
quences ineffaceable. With all its demerits, however, 
the Skunk is not without certain admirable qualities. 
It is handsome — notwithstanding the poet saith, 
“Handsome is that handsome does ” — and it is gentle 
as a kitten. Mr. John Bell, the eminent taxidermist, 
has given a very interesting account of the capture 
and taming of a litter of young Skunks. Mr. Audu- 
bon studied these specimens, and made from them 
the figures found in his large work, the Quadrupeds 
of North America. 'I’he glands were removed from 
these little creatures early ; consequently, they were 
handled with entire impunity, and proved to be in- 
teresting pets. Mr. Bell says that they exhibited 
from the earliest moment a tendency to turn and 
assume the attitude requisite for a discharge of the 
