i895-] 5ol [Bangs. 
urements or proportions, simply stating the animal to be North 
American (although his artist drew it wandering about under 
huge palm trees). He refers to Buff on and Pennant, Hist, quad., 
but these authors are so vague and confused on this subject, that 
they are of little value. 
JMy researches in this matter do not alter the name which has 
been in common use for a long time for our eastern skunk, but 
they seem worth mentioning as placing Shaw's name on a firm 
basis. I am aware that many mammalogists had misgivings as 
to its right to stand. 
If I have not overlooked some obscure earlier name, the skunk 
of northeastern North America must still be Mephitis inepliitica 
(Shaw). 
In eastern North America the range of the skunks extends 
from the high north well down into P'lorida, and the northern and 
southern extremes are very different and may be regarded as 
good subspecies. The principal external differences are that the 
northern skunk is a large, heavily built animal, with broad feet 
and a short tail (little more than half the length of head and 
body); while the southern skunk is a smaller, more lightly built 
animal, with slender feet and a long tail (about the length of the 
head and body). 
There seems to be no name that applies to the southeastern 
skunk, and I therefore propose for it the name 
Mephitis mephitica elongata subsp. nov., the southern skunk. 
Geographical distribution.^ Florida and southern Atlantic 
states north to about Connecticut. 
Type No. 3051, coll. of E. A, and O. Bangs. J young adult 
from Micco, Florida, March 5, 1895. Outram Bangs, collector. 
Total length 68G mm. ; tail vertebrae 312 mm.; hind foot I'l mm. ; 
ear from notch 34 mm. (measured in flesh by collector). 
1 Mr. Chapman in his Remarks on certain land mammals from Florida, with a list 
of the S])ecies known to occur in the state (Bull. Amer. mus. nat. hist., v. 6, 1894), 
speaks of the curious distribution of the two skunks found in Florida. I had the 
same experience this winter. I found Mephitis common at Micco, and Spilogale 
abundant at Oak Lodge on the East Peninsula just across the Indian River from 
Micco. At Oak Lodge Mephitis is unknown, and the same is true of Spilogale at 
Micco. This has been the experience of every one I have talked with who has 
known the two animals in Florida and is like the distribution of the turkey buzzard 
and black vulture throughout the south. 
