slightly larger average size throughout and relatively longer tail.

Fig. 1. Map showing the geographic ranges of the four subspecies of the species Mephitis macroura.

Remarks.—M. m. eximius is regarded as a subspecies of M. macroura because there is some overlap in size between larger individuals of M. m. eximius and smaller individuals of M. m. macroura. Actually, as indicated above, we doubt that the geographic ranges of the two subspecies are continuous or that the geographic range of M. m. eximius is continuous with the geographic range of M. m. vittata. Small size and relatively long tail characterize both of the lowland, tropical subspecies, eximius and vittata, whereas the two upland subspecies of the temperate areas are larger and have relatively shorter tails.

Habitat closely resembling that at the type locality extends from the southern base of the first mountains north of Jalapa southward as far as the north base of the Tuxtla Mountains—a distance of approximately 110 miles from northwest to southeast along the gulf coast. None of our 5 skins shows the hooded color-pattern so common on the Mexican Plateau and in vittata of Oaxaca. One of our five specimens has well-developed lateral stripes; three have greatly reduced lateral stripes and one is black except for a white spot on the right hip.

University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Lawrence, Kansas.

    Transmitted October 31, 1949.

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