12 
LARGE-TAILED SKUNK. 
the flanks ; the hairs on the tail are irregularly mixed with white and 
black ; under surface black. 
Another skin from the same region has a narrower stripe on the fore- 
head, the usual white stripes from the back of the head along the sides 
nearly meeting again at the root of the tail, leaving the dorsal black patch 
very much broader than in the specimen just described, and of an oval 
shape ; the tail contains a greater number of black hairs, and towards the 
tip is altogether black ; sides, legs, and whole under surface, black. 
Lichtenstein’s figure resembles this specimen in form and markings, 
with the exceptions that it represents scarcely any black patch on the back, 
and that it exhibits a longitudinal white stripe running from the shoulder 
to the hip. Lichtenstein has also described and figured the young ol 
this species, which very closely resembles the adult. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Male. — Killed January 28, 1846. 
Feet. 
Prom point of nose to root of tail, - - - 1 
Tail (vertebras), 1 
“ to end of hair, 1 
Between ears, - - - 
Girth around the body, behind fore-legs, - 
“ “ belly, 1 
Height from sole of fore-foot to top of shoulders, 
Weight, 4} lb. — specimen fat. 
inches. 
4 
1 
6 
2i 
9 
2i 
8i 
HABITS. 
In Texas, during the winter of 1845-6, specimens of this skunk were 
obtained, by J. W. Audubon ; the first he met with was seen on one of the 
high and dry prairies west of Houston, on the road to Lagrange ; this 
was, however, only a young one. It was easily caught, as these animals 
never attempt to escape by flight, depending on the fetid discharges which 
they, like the common skunk, eject, to disgust their assailant and cause 
him to leave them in safety. By throwing sticks and clods of dirt at this 
young one, he was induced to display his powers in this way, and teased 
until he had emptied the glandular sacs which contain the detestable 
secretion. He was then comparatively disarmed, and by thrusting a 
forked stick over the back of his head, was pinned to the ground, then 
seized and thrust into a bag, the mouth of which being tied up, he waa 
