Part 8

=Mustela frenata leucoparia= (Merriam)

Weasel; Spanish, Comadreja; Tarascan, ApAisr or Apatzee (Apatz)

Putorius frenatus leucoparia Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:29, June 30, 1896, type from PAitzcuaro, MichoacAin.

Mustela frenata leucoparia, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 79:100, December 31, 1912.

Range.--Probably statewide.

Specimens examined, 6: in Biological Surveys Collection of U. S. Nat. Mus., nos. 120304, 125972, 34914/47179, 36855/49239, and 34915/47180; 2014 B. Villa R., I.B., distributed as follows: Zamora, 1; Los Reyes, 1; PAitzcuaro, 4.

Remarks.--This subspecies of weasel is notable for having, among American weasels of any kind, the maximum amount of white on the head. When collecting at PAitzcuaro we saw no live specimens but were shown several from there that had been recently mounted by P. Luna. He regarded the animal as not especially rare.

=Spilogale angustifrons angustifrons= Howell

Spotted Skunk; Spanish, Zorrillo Manchado

Spilogale angustifrons Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:242, December 16, 1902, type from Tlalpam, D. F.

Range.--Probably all of state except low coastal area.

Specimen examined, 1: no. 100126, 3 mi. NW PAitzcuaro, 6,700 ft.

Remarks.--The short tail of our specimen, an adult male, is noteworthy as perhaps also is the breadth between the orbits. External measurements are 338, 101, 39. It weighed 308 grams. Selected cranial measurements are: Basilar length, 44.1; zygomatic breadth, 32.4; postpalatal length, 26.6; least interorbital breadth, 13.8; height of cranium, 16.0. The specimen was trapped in a hole in a stone fence. Howell (1906:23), under the name Spilogale gracilis, recorded another male from PAitzcuaro.

=Mephitis macroura macroura= Lichtenstein

Hooded Skunk; Spanish, Zorrillo or Mofeta Rayada; Tarascan, Cuitziqui (Kweetzeke)

Mephitis macroura Lichtenstein, Darstellung Neuer oder wenig bekannter SAugethiere pl. 46, 1832, type from mountains northwest of MA(C)xico City.

Range.--Statewide.

Specimens examined, 12: nos. 100114-100125, distributed with reference to PAitzcuaro, as follows: 3 mi. NW, 6,700 ft., 1; 2 mi. W, 7,600 and 7,000 ft., 2; 3-1/2 mi. S, 7,900 ft., 1; 4 mi. S, 7,800 ft., 2; 5 mi. S, 7,800 ft., 5; 9 mi. SE, 8,000 ft., 1.

Remarks.--Skunk tracks were abundant in all localities around PAitzcuaro. Most of our specimens were caught in steel traps, some along the edges of cornfields, others along the highway and along the pole fences. Tarascan friends at Colonia RevoluciA cubedn were eager to have the bodies of the skunks which we caught. They regarded the skunks as a delicacy and told us that this food was reputed to be good for a person's blood and complexion.

=Conepatus mesoleucus nelsoni= Goldman

Hog-nosed Skunk; Spanish, Zorillo Real

Conepatus mesoleucus nelsoni Goldman, Jour. Mamm., 3:41, February 8, 1922, type from ArmerA-a (near Manzanillo), Colima, 200 ft. altitude.

Range.--Probably greater part, or all, of state.

Specimen examined, 1: no. 52217, TancA-taro, 6,000 ft.

Remarks.--The name C. m. nelsoni is tentatively used for the single skin, which is without skull or indication of sex.

=Urocyon cinereoargenteus colimensis= Goldman

Gray Fox; Spanish, Zorra Gris; Tarascan, Cumihuaitz (Cumewatz)

Urocyon cinereoargenteus colimensis Goldman, Jour. Washington Acad. Sci., 28:495, November 15, 1938, type from 3 mi. W city of Colima, 1,700 ft. elevation.