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diff --git a/43272-8.txt b/43272-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index df28d0e..0000000 --- a/43272-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,27634 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Weasels, by E. Raymond Hall - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: American Weasels - -Author: E. Raymond Hall - -Release Date: July 21, 2013 [EBook #43272] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN WEASELS *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Richard Tonsing, Joseph Cooper -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - Transcribers Notes: - - Italics words are denoted by _underscores_. Bold words are denoted by =equals=. - - Whole and fractional parts are displayed as 7-3/4. - - Greek text has been transliterated and are denoted by ~tildes~. - - Male and Female symbols are represented by [M] and [F] respectively. - - - - - UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS - MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - Vol. 4, pp. 1-466, plates 1-41, 31 figures in text - December 27, 1951 - - - - - AMERICAN WEASELS - - - BY - - - E. RAYMOND HALL - - - - - UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS - LAWRENCE - 1951 - - - UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - - Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, A. Byron Leonard, - Edward H. Taylor, Robert W. Wilson - - Vol. 4, pp. 1-466, plates 1-41, 31 figures in text - - - December 27, 1951 - - UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS - Lawrence, Kansas - - - PRINTED BY - FERD VOILAND, JR., STATE PRINTER - - TOPEKA, KANSAS - 1951 - - 23-3758 - - -[Illustration: PLATE 1. Coloration of head and foreparts in ten -subspecies of long-tailed weasel, _Mustela frenata_. All figures are of -males, approximately × 1/2. - -In regions of heavy rainfall (see figs. 2 and 3) there is an increase -in pigmentation and extent of blackish color backward over the neck and -a decrease in extent of the white facial markings. In regions -progressively more arid (see figs. 3 to 7) there is a decrease in -pigmentation and extent of blackish color and an increase in extent of -the white facial markings. - -As shown by rearing mammals from humid regions in arid regions, and -_vice versa_, the color is not visibly altered in one or a few -generations; the color is an hereditary character. Beginning with the -southernmost subspecies (fig. 1) and continuing northward to the -northern subspecies (fig. 10) there is a darkening, next a lightening, -and finally a darkening closely conforming to amounts of precipitation -in the geographic regions concerned. A fuller discussion of this -correlation is given on page 51.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 1. Map showing localities of capture of specimens -depicted in plate 1.] - - - - -American Weasels - - -BY - - -E. RAYMOND HALL - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - INTRODUCTION 7 - - PALEONTOLOGICAL HISTORY 10 - - SKELETON AND DENTITION 12 - - DISPARITY IN NUMBERS OF MALES AND FEMALES 19 - - MATERIALS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND METHODS 21 - - VARIATION 24 - Variation with Age 24 - Secondary Sexual Variation 26 - Individual Variation 28 - Seasonal Variation 30 - Variation in Coloration and Molt 30 - Variations of Taxonomic Worth 44 - - DISTRIBUTION AND SPECIATION 54 - - HISTORY OF CLASSIFICATION 69 - Chronological List (annotated) of Specific and Subspecific - Names Applied to American Weasels 71 - - CHECK-LIST OF AMERICAN SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF THE GENUS - MUSTELA 81 - - ARTIFICIAL KEY TO AMERICAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS MUSTELA 83 - - DIAGNOSIS OF THE GENUS 83 - - EXPLANATION OF SYSTEMATIC TREATMENT 84 - - SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES 87 - _Mustela erminea_ 87 - _Mustela rixosa_ 168 - _Mustela frenata_ 193 - _Mustela africana_ 406 - - EXPLANATION OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS 417 - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS 418 - - LITERATURE CITED 442 - - INDEX 461 - - - - -American Weasels - - -By E. RAYMOND HALL - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -The weasel's agility and speed take it in and out of retreats, over -obstacles and across open places in amazingly rapid fashion and are -responsible for the animal's actions being described as "quick as a -flash." The common long-tailed weasel of the United States measures -approximately a foot and a half in length, of which the tail comprises -a third; but the round, slender body is scarcely more than an inch and -a half in diameter. Brown above and whitish below in summer dress, the -animal is sleek as well as lithe and graceful. It is easy to -understand, therefore, why the Bavarian name _Schönthierlein_ (pretty -little creature) and the Italian name _donnola_ (little lady) were -bestowed upon it. The Spanish name is _comadreja_ (godmother). - -In the winter, in temperate and northern regions, the coat becomes pure -white except for the black tail-tip. In this dress the correct name for -the animal is ermine, a mammal whose fur is known to all and justly -esteemed, especially for its luster in artificial light, where it is -scarcely excelled in enhancing the beauty of gems and their feminine -wearers. - -In relation to its weight, the weasel is thought to be unsurpassed, and -perhaps it is unequalled among mammals, in the effectiveness with which -it exercises its carnivorous heritage; it kills with speed and strength -a wide variety of animals including many much larger than itself; and -it has been known to attack even man himself when he stood between the -weasel and its intended prey. In structure and temperament it is so -highly specialized for offense that, when opportunity affords, it -sometimes kills, for storage in its larder, far more than enough to -meet its immediate needs. After speaking of this tendency, Elliott -Coues (1877:129) has said: - -"A glance at the physiognomy of the weasels would suffice to betray -their character. The teeth are almost of the highest known raptorial -character; the jaws are worked by enormous masses of muscles covering -all the side of the skull. The forehead is low and the nose is sharp; -the eyes are small, penetrating, cunning, and glitter with an angry -green light. There is something peculiar, moreover, in the way that -this fierce face surmounts a body extraordinarily wiry, lithe, and -muscular. It ends in a remarkable long and slender neck in such a way -that it may be held at right angle with the axis of the latter. When -the creature is glancing around, with the neck stretched up, and flat -triangular head bent forward, swaying from one side to the other, we -catch the likeness in a moment--it is the image of a serpent." Although -Coues' colorful description more closely links the weasel with the -symbol of evil than pleases me, his description does emphasize the -raptorial character of the weasel. - -Even though most weasels are intractable as pets, they have a value to -man, as, for instance, when he is plagued by mice. In a field where -mice and other small rodents are so abundant as to damage cultivated -crops, the weasel is the farmer's best friend. A weasel may inhabit one -den until the rodents thereabouts are almost exterminated in an area -two or three hundred yards across; in this way the weasel acts as a -control, locally, as well as a check more widely, on the increase in -size of populations of kinds of rodents upon which it preys. The -smaller species are mousers of remarkable efficiency and can, if -necessary, follow a mouse to the end of the mouse's burrow. The slender -body allows the weasel to pass through any burrow or hole into which it -can thrust its head. This ability in an organism as highly specialized -for killing other animals as is the weasel, has earned for it a bad -name in connection with poultry yards. Authentic instances are recorded -in which a weasel, gaining entrance through a knot-hole to a coop of -young chickens, killed several dozen of the fowls. In other instances, -however, weasels have lived under buildings close by a poultry yard -without even molesting the birds in the slightest; in the latter -instances the weasels probably were present because there was an -abundant supply of rats and mice. At least three poultry raisers (see -page 214) have encouraged weasels to live in their poultry yards -feeling that the good they do by destroying rats outweighs the damage -caused by the occasional weasel which turns to the fowls; the idea is -that the individual weasel can be eliminated if he becomes destructive. - -Although tending to be nocturnal, weasels are almost as active by day -as by night. Their young, numbering 4 to 9, are born in a nest in a -burrow and as with other members of the Order Carnivora, are blind, and -incapable of looking after themselves at the time of birth. In _Mustela -frenata_ of Montana, breeding occurs in July and August, and the young -are born in the following April and May. Wright (1948A:342) showed that -the gestation period could not have been less than 337 days in one -individual and that it averaged 279 (205-337) days in 18 instances. -Findings of the same author (1942B:109) showed that the embryos are -implanted only 21 to 28 days before the young are born. In the -preceding part of the "long gestation period, the embryos lie dormant -in the uterus as un-implanted blastocysts. The young female weasel [of -_M. frenata_] mates when 3 or 4 months old." Consequently, in the -spring, all females of this species may produce young (Wright, -1942A:348). The circumboreal species _Mustela erminea_ likewise has -been shown to have a delayed implantation of the ova. Each of these two -species, _M. frenata_ and _M. erminea_, has only one litter per year; -but the weasel, _Mustela nivalis_, of the Old World seems to lack the -delayed implantation, in this respect resembling the ferret (subgenus -_Putorius_) as it does also in its ability to have more than one litter -per year (see Deanesly, 1944). The manner of reproduction in the South -American species _M. africana_ and the circumboreal species _M. rixosa_ -at this writing is unknown. - -The genus _Mustela_ includes the true weasels, the ferrets and minks. -The ferrets commonly are treated as a subgenus, _Putorius_, along with -the Old World polecat. The minks usually are accorded subgeneric -distinction under the name _Lutreola_, and the true weasels comprise -the subgenus _Mustela_, the three subgenera together, along with some -other subgenera which are mostly monotypic, comprising the genus -_Mustela_. Considered in this way, the group of true weasels, subgenus -_Mustela_, has a geographic range roughly coextensive with that of the -genus _Mustela_. This range includes Asia and Europe, Northern Africa, -North America and northern South America. Java has its weasel. -Australia and nearly all the oceanic islands lack weasels, and the -animals are absent from roughly the southern half of Africa and the -southern half of South America. Other small mustelids, weasellike in -shape and with corresponding habits and dentition, take the place of -true _Mustela_ in the southern half of Africa and in the corresponding -part of South America. - -In America the subgenus _Mustela_ occurs from the northernmost land in -Arctic America southward to Lake Titicaca in the Andes of South -America, a distance of approximately 6900 miles. _Felis_, I think, is -the only other genus of land mammals in the western hemisphere that has -a geographic range as extensive from north to south. _Felis_ does not -range so far north but does range farther south. The one species, -_Mustela frenata_, ranges from Lake Titicaca northward to about 57° N -in British Columbia or for approximately 5000 miles in a north to south -direction and from within the Alpine Arctic Life-zone through the -Tropical Life-zone. In North America, weasels occur in almost every -type of habitat, being absent only in the extremely desert terrain of -western Arizona and western Sonora and in adjoining parts of California -and Baja California. Even this area, along the Colorado River, may -support some weasels; evidence suggesting that it does so is given in -the account of _Mustela frenata neomexicana_. - - - - -PALEONTOLOGICAL HISTORY - - -The paleontological record fails to show the precise ancestry of -_Mustela_. The genus has been found in deposits of Pleistocene age, -but, so far as I can ascertain, not in deposits of earlier times. The -Pleistocene remains are not specifically distinct from Recent (living) -species, and in only a few instances (see _M. f. latirostra_ and _M. e. -angustidens_) are they even subspecifically distinct from the Recent -weasel living in the same area today. It is true that fossil remains -from deposits of several stages of the Tertiary beds have in the past -been identified in the literature as _Mustela_, but most of these -identifications were made many years ago when the generic name -_Mustela_ was used in a far broader and more inclusive sense than it is -today and much of the fossil material was so fragmentary that the -generic identity could not be ascertained, at least at that time. -Because the generic identity could not be ascertained, the fossil -material was tentatively assigned to the genus _Mustela_, the "typical" -genus of the family Mustelidae instead of to some other more -specialized or less well-known genus of the family. To satisfy my -curiosity about these species of "_Mustela_" of a geological age -earlier than the Pleistocene I have personally studied nearly all of -the original specimens from North America and have found each to be of -some genus other than _Mustela_. Also, such study as I have been able -to make of the Old World fossils themselves that have been referred to -the genus _Mustela_ up to 1938, and my study of the illustrations and -descriptions of the others from there lead to the same conclusion; that -is to say, none that is true _Mustela_ is known up to now from deposits -older than the Pleistocene. - -When, in 1930 (pp. 146-147), I wrote about the taxonomic position of -three American genera of fossils (known only from lower jaws), each of -which had been previously referred to the genus _Mustela_, I said that -they pertained "to that section of the weasel family (Mustelidae) -which comprises the polecats, true weasels, ferrets, minks and martens. -The fossil specimens . . . are smaller than any other later Tertiary -members of the group yet described, and are more primitive than any of -the above mentioned Recent relatives. Of the three extinct genera . . . -_Miomustela_ [Lower Pliocene or Upper Miocene of the Lower Madison -Valley, Montana] is the most primitive and _Martinogale_ [Pliocene, 18 -mi. SE Goodland, Sherman County, Kansas] is the most advanced. This -view rests largely on the character of M_{=1} which in _Miomustela_ has -a deeply basined, short, narrow talonid with a thick, high metaconid -situated partly posterior to the protoconid. In _Martinogale_ the -talonid is incipiently trenchant, long, broad, and it has a lesser -developed metaconid which is situated more anterior [ly]. _Pliogale_ -[Lower Pliocene, Humboldt County, Nevada] is intermediate in this -respect. - -"These three forms are of special interest as possible ancestors of the -subgenus _Mustela_, true weasels. No members of this subgenus, nor -related forms which can with any degree of certainty be regarded as -directly ancestral to them, have yet been described from Miocene or -Pliocene deposits. _Palaeogale_ of the Old World and _Bunaelurus_ of -North America, each of Oligocene age, have been placed by Schlosser -(1888, p. 116) and Matthew (1902, p. 137) as members of the primitive -group of mustelids ancestral to _Mustela_. This course seems logical; -and with no truly intermediate links between these forms of the -Oligocene on the one hand, and _Mustela_ which first appears in the -Pleistocene, on the other, more definite statements about ancestral -positions of the small Oligocene forms can hardly be made. The deciding -considerations for authors who placed _Palaeogale_ and _Bunaelurus_ as -ancestral to _Mustela_ were the absence of a metaconid on M_{1} and the -trenchant talonid of that tooth. These characters are found also in -_Mustela_. On the other hand certain structures in the basicranial -region of _Palaeogale_ and more especially of _Bunaelurus_ indicate -that these genera possibly are not close to the ancestral form of -Mustela . . . _Martinogale_ may stand near the ancestral form of -_Mustela_ and . . . _Pliogale_ may be ancestral to _Martinogale_. -_Pliogale_, in turn, may have had an ancestor similar to _Miomustela_. -If this should prove to be the case, _Palaeogale_ and _Bunaelurus_ -might be regarded as an independent branch which displays merely a -parallelism to _Mustela_ in the loss of the metaconid on M_{1} and the -development of a trenchant talonid on that tooth. The writer would make -it clear that he does not hold such to be the case. The ancestral -relation of _Martinogale_ to _Mustela_ is presented merely to show the -possibility, and not the special probability, of such an origin for -_Mustela_. Knowledge of the tympanic bullae and other structures of the -basicranial region would go far toward answering the question and until -these structures are known [in mustelids of the Later Tertiary,] some -uncertainty will remain." - -At the present writing I can add to the above statement only a few -facts. The discovery of better material of _Bunaelurus_ than was -available to previous workers led Simpson (1946), correctly I think, to -synonymize _Bunaelurus_ with _Palaeogale_. Simpson figures the cranial -foramina in _Palaeogale_. The differences, between _Palaeogale_ and -_Mustela_, in cranial foramina, possibly are only the result of the -elongation of the tympanic bullae. The bullae of the subgenus _Mustela_ -are seen to be much elongated posteriorly if comparison is made with -the bullae of earlier mustelids. Consequently, it might be concluded -that there is nothing in the arrangement of the cranial foramina which -would preclude the derivation of _Mustela_ from _Palaeogale_. However, -the anterior situation of the carotid foramen--well forward along the -medial margin of the tympanic bulla--is a character typical of other -mustelids and the posterior location of this foramen in _Palaeogale_ -might indicate that it was not ancestral to _Mustela_. - - - - -SKELETON AND DENTITION - - -The outstanding features of a weasel's skeleton are its length and -slenderness. Whereas the length of the vertebral column measured from -the atlas (the first cervical vertebra) to the last sacral vertebra is -175 per cent of the length of the hind leg (as measured from the head -of the femur to the tip of the longest claw), the corresponding -percentage is only 116 in the raccoon. Stated in another way, the -vertebral column and the hind leg are of approximately equal length in -a raccoon, but in a weasel the vertebral column is one and -three-fourths times as long as the hind leg. - - -VERTEBRAE - -The vertebral column consists of 7 cervicals, and ordinarily 14 -thoracics, 6 lumbars, 3 sacrals and, depending on the species, 11 to 23 -caudals. For the three species of which skeletons were examined, -variations from the normal number of vertebrae are noted in the -following table: - -TABLE I - -Data on vertebrae in three species of the subgenus Mustela (Numerals in -parentheses indicate number of specimens) - - ===================+=========+=========+========= - |_Mustela_|_Mustela_|_Mustela_ - |_erminea_| _rixosa_|_frenata_ - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - Number of cervical | (75) | (12) | (65) - vertebrae | 7 | 7 | 7 - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - Number of thoracic | (71) | (12) | (54) - vertebrae | 14 | 14 | 14 - +---------+---------+--------- - | (4) | | (13) - | 15 | | 15 - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - The dorsal vertebra| (18) | (12) | (40) - constituting the | 11th | 11th | 11th - anticlinal +---------+---------+--------- - | (7) | | (27) - | 12th | | 12th - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - Number of lumbar | (2) | | (11) - vertebrae | 5 | | 5 - +---------+---------+--------- - | (73) | (12) | (54) - | 6 | 6 | 6 - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - Number of sacral | (9) | | (3) - vertebrae | 2 | | 2 - +---------+---------+--------- - | (65) | (10) | (67) - | 3 | 3 | 3 - +---------+---------+--------- - | (1) | (2) | - | 4 | 4 | - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - Number of | (73) | (12) | (57) - pseudosacral | 0 | 0 | 0 - vertebrae +---------+---------+--------- - | (2) | | (6) - | 1 | | 1 - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - | | (1) | - | | 11 | - +---------+---------+--------- - | | (3) | - | | 14 | - +---------+---------+--------- - | (2) | (7) | - | 15 | 15 | - +---------+---------+--------- - | (3) | (1) | - | 16 | 16 | - +---------+---------+--------- - | (9) | | - | 17 | | - +---------+---------+--------- - Number of caudal | (28) | | - vertebrae | 18 | | - +---------+---------+--------- - | (11) | | (6) - | 19 | | 19 - +---------+---------+--------- - | | | (14) - | | | 20 - +---------+---------+--------- - | | | (14) - | | | 21 - +---------+---------+--------- - | | | (7) - | | | 22 - +---------+---------+--------- - | | | (1) - | | | 23 - -------------------+---------+---------+--------- - -Variation according to the species is evident in the number of caudal -vertebrae, but in the other categories of vertebrae no consistent -difference in number according to species was found in the material -examined. Apparently there is also some geographic variation in the -number of caudal vertebrae within a species. For example, the one -skeleton seen of _Mustela rixosa eskimo_ (no. 219036, U. S. Nat. Mus., -from St. Michaels, Alaska) has only 11 caudal vertebrae, whereas in the -11 _Mustela rixosa rixosa_ from Roseau County, Minnesota, the usual -number is 15 with extremes of 14 and 16. Similarly specimens of -_Mustela frenata_ from Idaho and California almost always have 1 or 2 -more caudal vertebrae than do individuals of the shorter-tailed -subspecies of the same species from eastern Kansas. - -Of the vertebrae, only the cervicals, of which there are 7, were found -to be constant in number. In _M. erminea_, two of the seven individuals -in which the anticlinal vertebra was the 12th (instead of the 11th) had -15 instead of the customary 14 thoracic vertebrae. In _M. frenata_, -seven of the twenty-seven individuals in which the anticlinal vertebra -was the 12th (instead of the 11th) had 15 instead of 14 thoracic -vertebrae. The one _M. erminea_ with a pseudosacral vertebra had only -two instead of the customary 3 sacral vertebrae but the same individual -had 15 thoracic vertebrae. Of the six _M. frenata_ with a pseudosacral -vertebra, two animals had only two instead of three sacral vertebrae. -Conceivably, therefore, the pseudosacral vertebra in each of the three -instances mentioned may represent merely an unfused sacral vertebra, -instead of a true pseudosacral as occurs in four individuals of _M. -frenata_. - - -TEETH - -In American weasels, for example in _Mustela frenata_, the permanent -dentition normally is - - I 3 C 1 P 3 M 1 - -, -, -, -, -, -, -, - or 34 teeth in all. In most respects the - i 3 c 1 p 3 m 2 - -dentition is typical for post-Tertiary mustelids but in several parts -is highly specialized for a diet of flesh, the degree of this -specialization being second only to that of the cats, family Felidae. -The outstanding specialization is in the first lower molar, in which, -as in the cats, the internal cusp (metaconid) is completely suppressed -and the heel (talonid) forms an elevated blade for cutting food rather -than a basin for crushing it. In one sense the tooth is simplified -since it owes its distinctive form to a reduction in number of parts; -nevertheless, the distinctive form of the lower molar clearly is -correlated with a diet of flesh, and the tooth is correctly to be -thought of as the lower blade of a pair of shears; the upper blade is -the fourth upper premolar. The reduction in size of the second (last) -lower molar and small size of the inner lobe of the one remaining upper -molar probably are additional modifications for a diet of flesh. - -The absence of the last two upper molars and last molar in the lower -jaw would be expected in any mammal as highly specialized for a diet of -flesh as is the weasel, but these teeth are absent also in other -Quaternary members of the family Mustelidae, many of which are -substantially less specialized for a diet of flesh than is the weasel. -Therefore, in the weasel, it is reasonable to regard the absence of -these teeth more as a heritage than as an indication of a special -adaptation. The absence of a first premolar above and below, as in the -weasel, is to be expected in any carnivore that has the first lower -molar and fourth upper premolar highly specialized for shearing, but -the loss of these premolars and the small size of the second premolars -may be as much the result of a slight shortening of the face as it is a -result of a lengthening of the third and especially the fourth -premolars. The lengthening of these more posteriorly-situated teeth -would appear to be an adaptation to a diet of flesh. The cause of the -lengthening of the mentioned teeth and the reason for the absence of -the first premolars probably will be unknown until the fossil record is -more complete. - -The teeth of American species vary little except in size. The absence -of P2 in _Mustela africana_ is the only difference of a qualitative -(presence or absence) nature that was detected. Also, the Central -American subspecies of _Mustela frenata_ exhibit a tendency to early -loss of P2 and thus foreshadow the condition typical of _M. africana_. - -As a whole the dentition of the weasel exhibits a high degree of -specialization for a diet of flesh and this specialization is fully as -evident in the deciduous dentition as in the permanent dentition. - -The deciduous, or milk, dentition, of _Mustela frenata_, as known from -immature specimens of _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ and _Mustela -frenata frenata_ available for this study, is comprised of canines, one -on each side above and below, and 3 cheek teeth on each side above and -below. See figures 2-9. The upper cheek teeth from anterior to -posterior are: a minute peglike tooth in general similar to the first -premolar of the permanent dentition; a shearing tooth in general -similar to P4 of the permanent dentition; and an anteroposteriorly -compressed tooth in general similar to M1 of the permanent dentition. -In the lower jaw, behind the canine, there is first a minute peglike -tooth, second a two-rooted tooth similar in general outline to a -permanent third premolar, and finally a shearing tooth corresponding in -function to m1 of the permanent dentition. - -No postnatal specimens which show deciduous incisors have been -examined. - -Selected, outstanding differences between the permanent teeth and the -deciduous teeth are as follows: In the deciduous teeth the canine above -has on the posterior face a well-defined ridge extending from the tip -to the cingulum. This ridge is absent or at most faintly indicated in -the permanent tooth. The lower deciduous canine, in cross section is -seen to have a marked indentation on the anteromedial border in the -region of the cingulum; this indentation is lacking in the permanent -tooth. The anterior one of the deciduous cheek teeth, both above and -below, is single rooted and its crown-surface is only about -one-fifteenth as much as that of the anterior premolar of the permanent -dentition. The second deciduous cheek tooth below has two roots, -usually fused, and differs from p4 of the permanent dentition in having -the tip of the principal cusp more recurved, in having the anterior -basal cusp better developed and the posterior heel less well developed. - -The second deciduous cheek tooth above corresponds in function and -general plan of construction to P4 of the permanent dentition but -differs from that tooth in the more pronounced protostyle, longer -tritocone, more posteriorly located deuterocone and as noted by Leche -(1915:322) separation of the protocone and tritocone by a notch. The -third upper deciduous tooth has a single cusp internally and two cusps -laterally. Thus it reverses the relation of parts seen in M1 where the -internal moiety is larger than the lateral or buccal moiety. The third -deciduous tooth below differs from m1 in very much shorter talonid and -separation of the paraconid from the protoconid by a deeper notch. - -All the features in which the last two deciduous teeth, both above and -below, are described as differing from their functional counterparts in -the permanent dentition, are features found in the permanent teeth of -primitive fossil mustelids and certain fossil and Recent viverrids. -Even so, taking into account Leche's (1915) work, which shows that the -milk teeth of some carnivores have structures lacking in the -corresponding permanent teeth of the same individual animal and also in -the teeth of genera that seem to be ancestral, a person suspects that -some of the structural features mentioned above are not inheritances -of ancestral conditions but rather specializations of the milk -dentition. - -[Illustration: FIGS. 2-9. Views of permanent and deciduous teeth of -_Mustela frenata nigriauris_. Incisors not shown. In each instance -teeth are of the left side. - -Permanent dentition × 3. No. 32421, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., [M], adult; -Berkeley, Alameda County, California; obtained October 4, 1921, by D. -D. McLean. - -Deciduous dentition × 5. No. 132158, U. S. Nat. Mus., [M], juvenile; -Stanford University, Santa Clara County, California; obtained May 7, -1898, by W. K. Fisher. - -Figs. 2-3. Lateral views of upper teeth, of adult and juvenile -respectively. - -Figs. 4-5. Occlusolingual views of upper teeth of adult and juvenile -respectively. - -Figs. 6-7. Lateral views of lower teeth of adult and juvenile -respectively. - -Figs. 8-9. Occlusolingual views of lower teeth of adult and juvenile -respectively.] - -In other deciduous teeth there is clearer evidence of more -specialization for a diet of flesh in the deciduous teeth than in the -permanent teeth. For example, the upper carnassial of the milk -dentition is even more highly sectorial than is the permanent tooth -and strikingly like that of some of the cats. The lower tooth that is -effective in the shearing action bears no more trace of the metaconid -than does the permanent first lower molar. These features of the -deciduous dentition suggest that it is more specialized for a diet of -flesh than is the permanent dentition. If this be the fact, it may seem -especially remarkable because the commonly employed term "milk teeth" -suggests that the animal makes but little or no use of these teeth in -the short time that they are in place. Accordingly, the student may -credit the form of these teeth more to some indirect effects of -inheritance than to natural selection acting directly upon the teeth. -But, after all, natural selection probably is responsible for the form -of these teeth as is indicated by the observations of Hamilton -(1933:318-325). He found that these milk teeth are used for eating -solid food as soon as the principal shearing teeth are in place. This -is three weeks after birth and before all of the deciduous teeth have -broken through the gums. These shearing teeth are used for almost two -months before being replaced by the permanent teeth and it is, -therefore, evident that natural selection could operate to fully as -great a degree in determining the form of the deciduous teeth as it may -with the permanent teeth. - -Hamilton (1933:325-326) found that the permanent dentition was complete -at 75 days after birth in captive specimens of _Mustela frenata -noveboracensis_. In the same subspecies, he noted 28 days after birth -that the canines and carnassial teeth [second deciduous cheek tooth -above and third below] had erupted through the gums. Animals 45 days -old, Hamilton found, were losing the milk dentition, and had the gums -broken through by several of the permanent cheek teeth. - -Study of the cleaned skulls available of juveniles indicates that the -deciduous teeth which persist longest are, on each side of the mouth, -the second cheek tooth above and the third cheek tooth below. These -teeth persist until after the permanent P4 and m1 have come into use. -These permanent teeth are situated immediately behind their functional -counterparts of the milk dentition. P3 and p4 are the teeth of the -permanent dentition which ultimately push out the last milk teeth to be -lost. Accordingly, in the permanent dentition, P4 and M1 appear before -P3 does, and m1 and m2 make their appearance before p4. - - - - -DISPARITY IN NUMBERS OF MALES AND FEMALES (IN ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS) - - -The question has frequently been asked why twice as many male as female -weasels are captured. This is the proportion in research collections, -as may be seen from table no. 2, and I am convinced that the specimens -in these collections are saved in approximately the same proportion as -that in which they are caught. Although it might be assumed, upon first -consideration, that there are twice as many males as females in nature, -selective factors enter into the catch. For example, because a male -weasel is approximately twice as heavy as a female, it may be necessary -for him, in a given length of time, to travel twice as far as the -female to obtain the required amount of food with the result that a -given number of traps or snares will catch twice as many males as -females. Indeed, Glover (1943B:8) shows that, on the average, in -_Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ in Pennsylvania, the male actually -does travel slightly more than twice as far as the female (704 feet -versus 346 feet). From table no. 2, it may be seen that in most winter -months the ratio is 3 males to one female. This ratio is reasonable -enough, in view of what has been said, if it is considered also that -the lighter weight of the female permits her safely to step on the pans -of traps that would be sprung by heavier males. - -If in the breeding season, which is April through August in _M. -frenata_, the female is passive and if the male is restlessly searching -for her, he may thus increase still more his chances of being caught in -traps set for weasels. - -My own studies of live weasels in nature indicate that in the season -when females are attending young which are half grown, or larger, the -adult male weasels live singly in dens of their own, separate and apart -from the females and their young (Hamilton, 1933:328, records adult -males living with the female and her young, but possibly this was when -the young were less than half grown). Perhaps these males at that time -travel no farther than is necessary to obtain food for themselves. -Females, at this time, forage not only to meet their own needs, but for -food to supply their young as well. At this time, in May and June, as -may be seen from table no. 2, almost as many adult females as adult -males _are_ caught. The reason why only relatively more females than in -other months, instead of actually more females than males, are caught -at this time probably is that the adult males also are extraordinarily -active at this time because they are in breeding condition. Perhaps -the explanation in part is to be found in the lesser weight of the -female (approximately half of the male's weight) which, as indicated -above, permits her to step on the pan of a steel trap without springing -it whereas the heavier male does spring the trap and as a consequence -is caught. Hamilton (1933:299-300), who mentions this selective factor, -found an equal number of males and females in the three newly born -litters that came under his observation. - -TABLE 2 - -Specimens of _Mustela frenata_ (north of the range of _M. f. frenata_) -arranged by sex and under each sex by age - - KEY: - A: adult [M] - B: [M] ad., % of total adults - C: subadult [M] - D: young [M] - E: juvenal [M] - F: total number of [M] - G: [M] % of total - H: adult [F] - I: [F] ad., % of total adults - J: subadult [F] - K: young [F] - L: juvenal [F] - M: total number of [F] - N: [F], % of total - O: total number of [M] and [F] - P: total number of adults, [M] and [F] - - /-----------Male---------\/--------Female--------\ - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - | A | B | C | D | E| F | G| H | I| J| K | L| M | N| O | P - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - May | 29| 55| 4| 14| 7| 54|59| 24|45| 1| 9| 3| 37|41| 91| 53 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - June | 42| 53| 14| 40| 8| 97|59| 38|47| 4| 25| 2| 69|41| 166| 80 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - July | 59| 70| 18| 55| 2|130|59| 25|30| 5| 58| 2| 90|41| 220| 84 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - August | 40| 77| 23| 55|..|113|74| 12|23| 2| 25|..| 39|26| 152| 52 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - September| 15| 79| 25| 12| 1| 51|75| 4|21| 4| 9|..| 17|25| 68| 19 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - October | 11| 58| 46| 7|..| 43|66| 8|42|13| 1|..| 22|34| 65| 19 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - November | 41| 70| 48| 1|..| 88|73| 18|30|12| 2| 1| 33|27| 121| 59 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - December | 59| 69| 43| 1|..|108|73| 26|31|15|...|..| 41|27| 149| 85 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - January | 80| 69| 32| 2| 1|126|72| 36|31|14|...|..| 50|28| 176|116 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - February | 45| 66| 19| 5|..| 82|73| 23|34| 4| 3|..| 30|27| 112| 68 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - March | 38| 72| 2|...|..| 57|70| 15|28| 8| 1|..| 24|30| 81| 53 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - April | 30| 67| 2| 4| 3| 39|67| 15|33|..| 2| 2| 19|33| 58| 45 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - Totals |489| 67|281|196|22|988|68|244|33|82|135|10|471|32|1,459|733 - ---------+---+---+---+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+--+---+--+-----+--- - -I suppose that in nature there are approximately equal numbers of male -and female weasels and further suppose that the selective factors which -cause more males than females to be caught are the greater distances -traveled by the males and their greater weight. - - - - -MATERIALS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND METHODS - - -At a late stage in the preparation of this manuscript a total of 5,457 -specimens had been examined. For the most part these were conventional -study-specimens; that is to say, they were stuffed skins with the -skulls separate and each was accompanied by the customary data as to -locality of capture, date of capture, name of collector, external -measurements and sex recorded on the labels by the collectors. Skulls -unaccompanied by skins, nevertheless, comprised a large share of the -total and a small proportion was made up of skins unaccompanied by -skulls, mounted specimens, skeletons, and entire animals preserved in -liquid. - - It was the recognition of this need for specimens from extensive - areas from which no specimens previously had been collected that - influenced me, approximately a year after the study was begun, to - allot for it a long span of time. The procedure adopted, in - general, was to study the weasels of one species from a given - geographic area in so far as the material warranted, then lay this - aside until additional critical material could be obtained, and - finally, some months or a year later, complete the account. In - this fashion the manuscript of the American weasels received my - attention in each of the past twenty-five years (September, 1926 - to date of publication). This is a confession of fact rather than - a recommendation of procedure. This type of procedure unduly - delays the diffusion of knowledge and for a variety of reasons - justifiably annoys other students of the subject. Nevertheless, - many gaps have been filled that otherwise would have remained - open. Although specimens to solve several problems still remain to - be collected and studied, it seems that a point of diminishing - returns has now been reached, which, in fairness to all concerned, - calls for publication of the results so far obtained. - - For assistance in the entire undertaking, I am more indebted to - Miss Annie M. Alexander than to any other one person; she provided - the means by which specimens from critical areas were obtained, - made it possible to examine the European collections, and assisted - in other ways. The late Professor Joseph Grinnell and Mr. Charles - D. Bunker, among others, gave truly valuable encouragement and - assistance. - - Collections containing weasels which were examined in the study - here reported upon were as follows: - - -Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia -American Mus. Nat. History -Baylor University -Berlin Zoological Museum -Boston Society of Natural History -Brigham Young University -British Museum of Natural History -California Academy of Sciences -Carnegie Museum -Charleston Museum -Coe College -Collection of J. Arnold -Collection of Stanley C. Arthur -Collection of Rollin H. Baker -Collection of William Bebb -Collection of R. H. Coleman -Collection of Ian McTaggart-Cowan -Collection of Stuart Criddle -Collection of John Cushing -Collection of Walter W. Dalquest -Collection of William B. Davis -Collection of J. M. Edson -Collection of Ralph Ellis -Collection of John Fitzgerald, Jr. -Collection of Mr. Green -Collection of Ross Hardy -Collection of Donald V. Hemphill -Collection of L. M. Huey -Collection of R. W. Jackson -Collection of Stanley G. Jewett -Collection of E. J. Koestner -Collection of J. E. Law -Collection of A. H. Miller -Collection of Lloye H. Miller -Collection of R. D. Moore -Collection of J. A. Munro -Collection of O. J. Murie -Collection of Robert T. Orr -Collection of Arthur Peake -Collection of Kenneth Racey -Collection of William B. Richardson -Collection Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever Lab. -Collection of Victor B. Scheffer -Collection of William T. Shaw -Collection of O. P. Silliman -Collection of W. E. Snyder -Collection of Frank Stephens -Collection of T. C. Stephens -Collection of D. D. Stone -Collection of Myron H. Swenk -Collection of Joe and Dean Thiriot -Collection of John Tyler -Collection of Jack C vonBloeker -Collection of Alex Walker -Collection of Edward R. Warren -Colorado Museum of Natural History -Charles R. Conner Museum -Cornell University -Donald R. Dickey Collection -Field Museum of Natural History -Florida State Museum -Fresno State Junior College -Humboldt State Teachers College -Illinois Natural History Survey -Iowa State College -Iowa Wesleyan College -Kansas State Agric. College -Leland Stanford Junior University -Leningrad Academy of Science -Los Angeles Mus. Hist. Art and Sci. -Louisiana State University -Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park Collection -Museum of Comparative Zoölogy -Mus. Polonais d'Hist. Nat., Warsaw -Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Univ. California -Museum of Zoölogy, Univ. Michigan -National Museum of Canada -Naturhistoriska Ricksmuseum, Sweden -Neuchatel University Museum -New York State Museum -Ohio State Museum -Oklahoma Agric. and Mech. College -Ottawa University, Kansas -Paris Museum -Provincial Museum of British Columbia -Royal Ontario Museum of Zoölogy -San Diego Society of Natural History -State Hist. and Nat. Hist. Soc. Colo. -State Normal School, Cheney, Wash. -Texas Cooperative Research Collection -United States National Museum -University of Arkansas -Univ. California Mus. Palaeo. -University of Idaho -Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. History -University of Minnesota -University of Notre Dame -University of Oklahoma -University of Oregon -University of South Dakota -University of Utah -Univ. Washington Museum of Zoölogy -University of Wisconsin -Univ. Zool. Mus., Copenhagen - - The largest single collection is in the United States National - Museum, where the specimens of the National Museum proper and the - United States Biological Surveys Collection, together, provide - essential materials including a large share of the holotypes. - Specimens in all of the North American collections including - Canada and México have been made available, by loan, and in 1937 - materials were examined in the principal collections of northern - and central Europe. After the materials in North American - collections were assembled, special effort, with considerable - success, was made in each of several winters, to obtain specimens - from areas not previously represented in collections. - - To the many persons who were in charge of the collections - consulted, to those who at my request sought critical specimens, - and to those who assisted in various stages of assembling data and - in preparation of the manuscript, I am grateful indeed. Likewise, - I am deeply appreciative of the grants-in-aid received from the - Carnegie Institution of Washington, the University of California - Chapter of Sigma Xi, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation - and the Kansas University Endowment Association. I am mindful also - of an obligation to those who appropriated funds, by legislative - action, for research use by The University of California and The - University of Kansas. - - For assistance with the illustrations I am indebted to the late - Major Allan Brooks for Plate 1, to Mrs. Mary Blos for figures - 25-31, to Miss Ann Murray for figures 11-13, to Mr. W. C. Matthews - for all the photographs, to Mrs. Freda L. Abernathy for figures - 2-9, 18-22, 24, and for retouching all the photographs except the - following which were retouched by Mrs. Virginia Unruh: figs. _d_ - of plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17; figs. _i_ of plates 5, 6, 7; - figs, _h_, _j_, _k_ of plate 7; figs. _f_ and _g_ of plates 12 and - 13; and figs. _c_ and _d_ of plate 14. To Mrs. Unruh I am further - indebted for figures 1, 16, 17 and 23 and for much terminal - assistance with preparing most of the illustrations for the - engraver. - -The methods of study, after specimens were assembled, included first -comparisons of specimens of like age and sex from each of several -localities to ascertain the constant features by which full species -were distinguishable, one from the other. For example, it was found -that in every individual from Trout Lake, Washington, of the species -here designated _Mustela erminea_, the postglenoidal length of the -skull amounted to more than 47 per cent of the condylobasal length -whereas it was less than 47 per cent in all individuals here designated -as _Mustela frenata_, from the same locality. Testing of specimens from -other localities by means of this and other selected characters -permitted the outlining of the geographic ranges of the full -"species-groups." By comparing specimens of other nominal species and -by examining specimens from localities geographically intermediate -between the nominal species, I found intergradation and therefore -arranged the nominal species as subspecies of a single species. -Intergradation here is understood to be the result of crossbreeding in -nature between two kinds of animals in the area where the geographic -ranges of the two kinds meet. Presence of intergradation between two -kinds of weasels was basis for according them subspecific rank. Absence -of intergradation in nature at every place where the geographic ranges -of two kinds met or overlapped, and absence of intergradation by way of -some other kind, or chain of kinds, was basis for according each of the -two kinds full specific rank. By thus applying the test of -intergradation, or lack of it, I found that there were four full -species of weasels, of the subgenus _Mustela_, in all of the Americas. - -Next, the specimens of one species were arranged in trays in a -geographic sequence. The specimens from any one locality were -segregated by sex and under one sex from one place were arranged from -oldest to youngest, that is to say by age. The four series with the -largest numbers of individuals of a given age were selected. Seventeen -cranial measurements and three external measurements were recorded for -each individual of each of these four series. For each measurement, the -coefficient of variation, standard deviation and probable error were -computed. The four samples subjected to such analysis were a series of -adult males, one of adult females, one of subadult males and one of -subadult females. Also, studies of each sex were made to ascertain -seasonal changes in pelage. After data were obtained on ontogenetic -(age) variation, secondary sexual variation, seasonal variation, and -degree of individual variation by studying specimens in the manner -described above, tests were made for subspecific (geographic) variation -by comparing series of specimens of like sex, age and season, from -different localities. For each one of several geographically variable -features noted, a map was prepared for animals of each sex. When all -the data thus obtained were codified, subspecific ranges were, in a -sense automatically, obtained. On the resulting map showing geographic -ranges of subspecies for a species, a type locality was accurately -plotted for each name that had been applied to the species, and names -then were applied in accordance with the international rules of -zoölogical nomenclature. - - - - -VARIATION - - -Variation with Age - -The kind of variation which results from increasing age has been dealt -with extensively for the skull (of the Old World _Mustela erminea_) by -Hensel (1881) and for the external features and to some extent for the -skull by Hamilton (1933) in the North American forms _M. erminea -cicognanii_ and _M. frenata noveboracensis_. - -The young of both _erminea_ and _frenata_ are hairless and blind at -birth. In _M. frenata noveboracensis_, the eyes open on approximately -the 37th day. When 2 to 4 months old, the tail is pointed at the tip. -This is because the terminal hair of the tail, including the black tip, -is short and lies flat on the tail. In subadults and adults the hair on -the terminal part of the tail is as long as that on the basal part, and -the tail appears to be of uniform diameter all the way out to the end. - -In the western subspecies of _M. frenata_, and in its tropical -subspecies, animals so young as to have pointed tails commonly have the -underparts of the body more intensely colored than do adults. The young -may have salmon-colored instead of yellowish fur on the underparts. - -Otherwise, in animals that have attained approximately adult -proportions--which appears to be at approximately 6 months of age in -males--there are no variations which are ascribable to increasing age -in the color-pattern or pelage that cause the systematist to confuse -species or subspecies. - -Of the several parts of the skull in juvenal animals, the braincase and -width of the posterior part of the palate are most nearly of the size -attained in the adult, the facial part of the skull at birth is the -least developed, and the interorbital region is, in relation to its -ultimate adult size, intermediate in stage of development. The -permanent teeth are acquired when the animal is approximately eleven -weeks old. - -Four age groups, based on characters of the dentition and skull, have -been recognized. They are: - - Juvenile.--One or more deciduous (milk) teeth present. Birth to - three months of age. - - Young.--Sutures widely open between the maxillae and nasals and - between the premaxillae and nasals. Three to seven and a half - months of age. - - Subadult.--Sutures between maxillae and nasals visible but - indistinct. Seven and a half to ten months of age. - - Adult.--Bones of rostrum coalesced with no traces of sutures - visible to the naked eye. More than ten months old. - -The skull as a whole increases in size until the animal is two-thirds -of the way through the stage designated as young. After this time the -width of the rostrum, as measured across the hamular processes of the -lacrimals, increases until approximately a third of the way through -adulthood. The interorbital breadth decreases from late subadulthood to -adulthood and even in adults there appears to be a slight decrease in -this part of the skull with increasing age. - -The average zoölogist will readily distinguish skulls of juveniles and -young from adults but usually fails to distinguish subadults from -adults. Nevertheless, subadults must be distinguished from adults if -geographic variation is to be measured accurately. The reason for this -is that such differences in the form (not size) of the skull as result -from increasing age equal and often exceed the differences of a -geographic sort which serve for distinguishing subspecies that have -adjoining geographic ranges. All sutures in the skull, except those -between the tympanic bulla and the braincase, and those on the dorsal -face of the rostrum, are obliterated while the animal is a subadult. -Most kinds of mammals retain sutures throughout life or until the -animals are well into adulthood. Therefore, skulls of weasels offer -fewer features for estimating age than do those of most mammals and the -skulls of weasels that are subadults or older are more difficult to -classify accurately as to age than are the skulls of most other -mammals. More reliance on shape of entire skull and less reliance on -extent and shape of any individual bone is necessary in estimating the -age of a weasel. Wright (1947:344) shows that the weight of the baculum -(os penis) is a certain means of differentiating adults from males of -lesser age. When approximately eleven months old, _Mustela frenata -oribasus_ of western Montana molts from the white winter coat into the -brown summer coat. At that time spermatogenesis starts for the first -time and the weight of the baculum increases from less than 30 -milligrams to more than 52 milligrams. - -In the autumn and early winter, most of the specimens are subadults. -Ordinarily the few adults obtained in these seasons can easily be -segregated from the subadults because ontogenetic development in the -twelve additional months of life of each of the older animals has -obliterated the sutures on the rostrum, heightened (vertically) and -lengthened (anteriorly) the sagittal crest, widened the rostrum, and -produced still other changes in form that are revealed by direct -comparison of specimens of the two ages. - - -Secondary Sexual Variation - -The secondary sexual variation, which has been detected, is in size of -the animal, relative length of the tail and shape of the skull. The -female is the smaller. In the small _Mustela rixosa_ and apparently in -_Mustela africana_ the secondary sexual difference in size is -relatively slight. In _Mustela frenata_ and _Mustela erminea_, males -are approximately twice as heavy as females, the degree of difference -very definitely depending upon the subspecies. For example, in _M. e. -richardsonii_ the recorded weights are 175 and 69 grams as opposed to -81 and 54 grams in _M. e. cicognanii_. In general, within one species -the greatest difference in size of males and females is in those -subspecies in which the animals are of large size. The secondary sexual -variation in size is much more than the individual variation in either -sex. The same is not true of secondary sexual difference in length of -the tail (relative to the length of the head and body), which in -eighteen subspecies of _M. erminea_ is from 1 to 7 per cent longer in -males than in females. In two subspecies, _M. e. haidarum_ and _M. e. -olympica_, the tail is a fraction of a per cent the longer in females -if we may rely upon the few specimens for which collectors' -measurements are available. - -In both _M. erminea_ and _M. frenata_ the skull of the female is -approximately 45 per cent lighter than that of the male, or put in the -opposite way, the skull of the male is 83 per cent heavier than the -skull of the female. The difference in this respect varies greatly -depending on the subspecies. For example, the skull of the male is 127 -per cent heavier than that of the female in _M. e. richardsonii_ but -only 33 per cent heavier in _M. e. anguinae_. In _Mustela frenata_, the -subspecies _noveboracensis_ shows most sexual dimorphism in weight of -skull (3.6 and 1.7 grams) and _olivacea_ the least (5.3 and 3.8 grams). -In general, the difference in this respect is less in subspecies the -individuals of which are of small size. - -Therefore, as might be expected, the secondary sexual variation in -weight of the skull is less in _M. rixosa_, individuals of which are of -small size, than in _M. erminea_ or than in _M. frenata_, in general of -larger size. Nevertheless, in _M. africana_, in which the individuals -are of large size, there appears to be less sexual dimorphism in weight -of the skull than in _M. frenata_ or than in _M. erminea_, although it -should be remarked that there are too few data for _M. africana_ to -allow of forming a trustworthy conclusion concerning the amount of -secondary sexual variation in that species. - -The secondary sexual variation in shape of the skull consists of a -slenderness in the female. In relation to the basilar length the spread -of the zygomatic arches is more in males and, except in the one -subspecies _M. f. altifrontalis_, the rostrum is broader. Also the -interorbital region is relatively broader in males of most subspecies. -In most subspecies of both _M. frenata_ and _M. erminea_ the tympanic -bullae are relatively (to the basilar length) longer in females. The -maximum sexual dimorphism occurs in _M. erminea arctica_ and the -minimum dimorphism in _M. e. haidarum_, _M. e. anguinae_ and _M. e. -muricus_. Taking into account all of the subspecies of each of the -North American species, the shape of the skull differs most in _M. -erminea_ and least in _M. frenata_. In the latter species the greatest -difference in shape of the skull, as was true also of its weight, is in -the subspecies _M. f. noveboracensis_. In these two subspecies, _M. f. -noveboracensis_ and _M. e. arctica_, in addition to the secondary -sexual variation already mentioned in the skull, females have the -braincase smoother and more rounded, the postorbital-, mastoid-, and -lacrimal-processes relatively smaller, and the ventral face of the -tympanic bulla at its anterior margin more nearly flush with the floor -of the braincase. - -In the weasels, subgenus _Mustela_, the disparity in size of the two -sexes is almost or quite as much as in any other fissiped carnivore. It -is because of this large degree of difference that the skulls of the -two sexes are described separately in the following systematic -accounts. The need for such treatment was recognized by Reinhold Hensel -(1881:127) more than sixty years ago when he wrote in the introduction -to his "Craniologische Studien," of _Mustela_, as follows: ". . . die -Geschlechtsdifferenzen am Schädel vieler Säugethiere . . . so gross -sind, dass man diese wie Schädel verschiedener species behandeln muss, -während in anderen Ordnungen (Rosores, Edentaten) die Schädel solche -Unterschiede nichtzeigen." In the past, failure to appreciate the large -amount of secondary sexual variation has resulted in erroneous -deductions as regards characters of certain geographic races and has -been the cause of some nomenclatural confusion, as for example, in -_Mustela frenata macrura_, where the female was named as a separate -species (_Mustela jelskii_). - - -Individual Variation - -Individual variation is here considered to be the variation in one -species which can occur between offspring of a single pair of parents, -after variation ascribable to differences in age, sex, and season is -excluded. Individual variation, therefore, is a term here used in a -composite sense; it includes variations which probably represent -different genetic strains within certain populations and variations -induced within one generation by environmental factors. - -In skulls of weasels, the individual variation in size is more than it -is in relative proportions. Hensel (_op. cit._) has stressed that -weasels, like other carnivores, produced "dwarfed" individuals more -than do herbivorous mammals. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this -view, but can say that individual variation is not greater than in some -other fissiped carnivores. Impressions to the contrary probably result -largely from failure to recognize age-variation. When skulls of a large -series from any one locality are arranged first by sex, and under each -sex according to probable age on the basis of extension anteriorly of -the sagittal crest and of degree of postorbital constriction, -individual variation is seen to be less than a cursory examination, -even of only one sex, would suggest. - -Study of a large series of one age of one sex of one species from one -locality shows that some parts, of the skull for example, vary more -than other parts. In illustration, among 22 male topotypes of _Mustela -frenata washingtoni_ the least interorbital breadth varied 25 per cent -(9.0 mm. to 12 mm.) whereas the length of the tooth-rows varied only -13.3 per cent (15.6 mm. to 18.0 mm.). In color the individual variation -definitely is more in areas of intergradation between subspecies than -in other areas. Details of one such instance of intergradation are -given in the account of _Mustela frenata spadix_. - -Statements to the effect that there is much individual variation in the -color of weasels, were made mostly fifty years or so ago by writers who -had but few specimens from widely separated localities. Where marked -climatic differences exist between localities only a few miles apart, -marked differences occur in coloration of the weasels from the -different localities. Much of what formerly was mistaken for individual -variation now proves to be geographic variation. Individual variation -actually is of slight amount in comparison with that in mammals -generally. Differences in size and relative proportions of parts -usually are correlated with geographic differences in color. The color -does fade slightly in the period between molts. Also as a result of the -seasonal color change, in autumn along the upper margin of the Austral -Life-zone, some individuals become white whereas others become white on -only the underparts, the upper parts changing only to lighter brown. -Probably it would be correct to say that this variation was a -combination of seasonal and individual variation rather than either one -alone. - -As might be supposed, individual variation is not the same in all -species or subspecies. For example, p2 is always absent in _Mustela -africana_ and always present in certain subspecies of _M. frenata_. In -some other subspecies of _M. frenata_, p2 is absent approximately as -often as present. In the writer's experience, when only a few specimens -are available for comparison, individual variation is more difficult to -distinguish from specific and subspecific (geographic) variation than -is age-variation or secondary sexual variation. - -Among the larger series of specimens examined, only one instance of -what might be called a mutation in the old sense of a large, sudden -change, was detected. That was the loss of the second lower molar in -many (less than a third) of the specimens from Newfoundland. The six -instances of abnormal coloration described on pages 41 to 43, might be -regarded as mutations of large magnitude but no evidence was found of -repetition of an abnormality in any one population. Otherwise, in -every instance where plotted, the manifestations of a variation -arranged themselves about the mean in such a way as to form a smooth, -unimodal curve. - - -Seasonal Variation - -When subspecific and specific variations are the objectives of study, -seasonal variation must be understood, in order to be excluded from -consideration, in the same way that variations ascribable to age, sex -and individualism must be understood in order to be excluded from -consideration. In weasels, change in color of the pelage is the -seasonal variation most important for the systematist to understand. -Other seasonal variations in the pelage are hairiness versus nakedness -of the pads of the feet, length of the pelage on the body, and possibly -the density of the pelage on the body. In the northern half of North -America, roughly speaking, seasonal change in color is so pronounced -(white in winter and brown in summer) as to be easily recognized. South -of this area, in the Austral and Sonoran life-zones, the color of the -winter pelage differs only slightly from that of the summer pelage. In -these more southern latitudes the winter pelage in almost all -subspecies is of lighter color than the summer pelage and has a smoky -suffusion. With material of the two seasons in hand for comparison, -close attention to the variation will permit the systematist to -recognize the difference in shade of brown as seasonal variation and -not geographic or specific variation. Farther south still, in the -Tropical Life-zone, seasonal difference in color was not detected in -the material studied. Seasonal change in color is discussed in the -section immediately following. - - -Variation in Coloration and Molt - -In all American weasels (subgenus _Mustela_) the color, at least in -summer, is brown with more or less white or whitish on the underparts. -In one species, _Mustela africana_, there is a longitudinal stripe of -brown on the middle of the light-colored underparts; this stripe is -absent in each of the other three American species. Two species, _M. -erminea_ and _M. frenata_, always have a black tip on the tail. Of the -other two species, _M. africana_ lacks the black tip and _M. rixosa_ -may or may not have a few black hairs in the tip of its tail. White or -light yellowish facial markings occur in subspecies of _M. frenata_ -from the southwestern United Stated to Central America. Subspecies -having the most extensive light-colored facial markings have the -remainder of the upper part of the head black. In weasels without light -facial markings the upper parts of the head all are brown. In the two -species, _M. erminea_ and _M. frenata_, the extent to which the light -color of the underparts extends down the insides of the legs and out on -the underside of the tail, or the absence of light color on these -parts, is a matter of geographic variation. The same can be said for -_M. rixosa_ except that first its tail is unicolored and second -individual variation as well as geographic variation accounts for the -color pattern on the underparts and legs in animals from the -southeastern part of the range of the species. - -The most remarkable feature of the coloration of weasels is the winter -whitening. This occurs in the northern part of North America in each of -the three species of weasels found on that continent. The black tip of -the tail in _M. erminea_ and _M. frenata_ remains black in winter. If -an individual of _M. rixosa_ has black hairs on the tip of its tail in -summer, there are thought to be black hairs there also in winter. -Otherwise the winter pelage is all white in northern areas in each of -the three species. In this white winter coat the animal is known as -ermine. - -The underlying cause seems to be protective coloration. At any rate, -weasels are always white in winter if they are from areas where snow -lies on the ground all winter, every winter, or almost every winter; -and they are always brown if from areas where there is never, or -rarely, snow in winter. The changes in color are effected by molt, one -in autumn and one in spring. Animals that are brown in winter undergo -the same two molts as do those that are white in winter. The capacity -to acquire a white coat or a brown coat in winter is an hereditary -matter just as one man grows red hair and another grows black hair. In -the weasels, however, all individuals in the north turn white in winter -and if one that was born there is kept through successive winters in -the warmer south where there is no snow, he will still turn white each -winter. A weasel born in a southern area, where all are brown in -winter, molts into a brown (not white) winter coat even when kept in a -cold, snowy, northern area where native weasels of the same species all -turn white. Obviously, therefore, neither snow nor temperature is an -immediate cause and, as we have said, the color in winter is a matter -of heredity. The time of the molt, we now know, is determined by the -amount of light. When nights grow longer and days shorter, a point is -reached at which the lesser light received through the eyes causes the -pituitary gland to cease producing a gonadotropic hormone. Directly or -indirectly, the lack of this hormone stimulates molt and, probably -enzyme action, or the lack of it, causes the melanoblasts of the cells -in the hair follicle to be without pigment. Hence the hair grown from a -follicle under such conditions lacks pigment (melanin) and is white. In -spring, as the days grow longer and the nights shorter, the increasing -amount of light received day by day through the eyes stimulates the -pituitary gland to produce the gonadotropic hormone which directly or -indirectly, stimulates molt and, probably by enzyme action, the -melanoblasts are caused to be present in cells of the hair follicle and -the melanoblasts provide granules of melanin pigment which are -incorporated in cells of the growing hair. These granules of pigment -give the hair its color. - -Evidence in support of this hypothesis is given below. - -Along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia southward, _M. erminea_ -(see fig. 25 on page 95) is brown in winter. This is an area where snow -rarely falls and the temperature in winter ordinarily is above -freezing. In the remaining part of the American range of this species -the temperature in winter is below freezing much of the time and snow -remains throughout the winter or for long periods. In this colder part -of the animal's range, only white coats occur in winter. _M. frenata_ -likewise has a white coat in winter in the part of its geographic range -where snow and freezing temperatures prevail throughout most of the -winter and a brown coat in warmer, snowless areas to the southward and -along the Pacific Coast. The third species, _M. rixosa_, exhibits a -corresponding correlation between coat color and climate. On the -Asiatic continent, several species, including _M. erminea_, provide -parallel correlations and nowhere are there any exceptions for the -subgenus _Mustela_. These data are an important part of the material on -which we have based the induction that the underlying cause of seasonal -change in color is a need for protective coloration. - -As regards molt, most naturalists who have written upon the subject -regard it as responsible for the change from the white winter coat to -the brown summer coat. However, the change from brown summer coat to -white winter coat has been thought by several writers to be effected by -change in coloration of the individual hairs. Among those holding this -opinion there may be cited Bell (1874:197) in reference to _Mustela -erminea_, and Coues (1877:123) in reference to American specimens to -which he applied the same name. More lately Hadwen (1929) has taken -this same view, and Gunn (1932) also discusses the possibility of the -hairs changing color. Bachman (1839:228-232), Macgillivary -(1843?:158), Audubon and Bachman (1851 (vol. 2):62), Schwalbe -(1893:538), Pearson _et al._ (1913:447), Miller (1930, 1931A), Hamilton -(1933:300) and Rothschild (1942), among others, have been inclined to -the opinion, or positively affirm, that the color change in autumn is -the result of a molt. The papers cited above contain, in turn, -references to many other printed accounts dealing with this question. - -To my mind, it has not so far been demonstrated that the change in -color of weasels in autumn is accomplished without a molt. Also so far -as I am aware, no explanation has been given of how the pigment may -disappear from the hair of weasels. Metchnikoff's (1901:156) idea that -the senile whitening of the hair in man is accomplished by phagocytes -which remove the pigment granules would hardly seem to explain the -relatively sudden and complete autumnal change occurring in weasels. -Anyhow, Danforth (1925:108), and some other students have thought that -the action of these phagocytes was at most a factor of slight -importance in the whitening of hair. Whatever be the complete answer to -the question of how the weasel changes color in autumn, at least one -specimen of long-tailed weasel, which is in process of color change in -autumn, presents clear evidence of molt of the overhairs. This specimen -of _M. f. longicauda_ is no. 188408, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken on November -12, 1897, at Rapid City, South Dakota. Other specimens of _M. erminea_ -which were taken in autumn similarly show molt to be in progress. For -these and other reasons, I am inclined to the opinion that the autumnal -change in color, like the one in spring, is effected by molt. During -the period of the autumnal color change, Noback (1935:27) had a captive -_M. f. noveboracensis_ and, each morning, found clumps of brown hair on -the floor of its cage; this was strong indication that molt was -responsible for the color change in this instance. - -However, I freely admit that the evidence does not _prove_ that the -change from brown to white can be accomplished _only_ by molt; in the -present state of knowledge it would be unscientific to deny that the -change were possible of accomplishment by other means. Also, it is true -that the fifteen specimens before me of _Mustela frenata_, subspecies -included, in process of change from brown to white, with the exception -of the one from Rapid City, South Dakota, if taken individually, do -not, in macroscopic examination, show definite molt lines or other -absolutely convincing evidence of molt. However, these same specimens, -insofar as examined microscopically, do show overhairs all white, or -overhairs pigmented throughout. The lighter color of the proximal parts -of the overhairs in itself should not be accepted as evidence of color -change, for in the fresh summer pelage, the same condition exists. -Also, careful macroscopic examination suffices to show that in the -transitional pelage of autumn, the brown overhairs generally are longer -than the intermixed white overhairs. - -Whether the underfur behaves in exactly the same way as the overhair, I -have not myself definitely ascertained, but I assume that the underfur -is molted twice each year, at least in the northern populations of -_Mustela frenata_ and in the other species of more northern -distribution. Schwalbe's (1893) work, including sectioning of the skin -and study of the hair follicles, led him to conclude that the underfur -was molted twice each year in _Mustela erminea_. - -In _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, _M. f. nevadensis_, and _M. f. -nigriauris_, measurements taken on adult males show the overhairs to be -longer in the winter pelage than in the summer pelage of specimens from -the same locality. For example, in _M. f. nigriauris_ from Berkeley, -California, the overhairs of the summer coat (July and August) average -8 millimeters in length on the hinder back and 7 mm. on the belly, but -average 9.5 mm. and 8 mm. respectively in January-taken specimens -possessing the full winter coat. At Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the summer -coat, the longest hairs on the hinder back average approximately 12 -mm., and those on the belly, 9.5 mm., against 13 mm. and 9.5 mm. -respectively in winter. Although general observations initially led me -to believe that the black, terminal hairs of the tip of the tail are -longer in the winter pelage than in the summer pelage, actual -measurements fail to show a difference in length. - -The change from one coat to the other in the long-tailed weasel has -been described among others by Miller (1930, 1931A), Hamilton (1933) -and Glover (1942) on the basis of captive specimens. In a general way, -the progress of the molt in their specimens agrees with that which I -have been able to make out from examination of skins taken in the wild. -There is, however, this difference: Their specimens show a more spotted -pattern when in process of hair-change than do specimens taken in the -wild. Probably the more or less unnatural conditions under which these -captive animals lived modified the normal progress of molt. - -In wild-taken specimens of the species _Mustela frenata_, subspecies -included, the spring molt begins on the mid-dorsal line and proceeds -laterally, producing, at almost any given time, a relatively sharp -molt line separating the white winter hair from the incoming brown -summer coat. However, in autumn the change takes place first on the -belly, then on the sides, and finally makes its appearance over all the -upper parts at about the same time, with the result that the upper -parts have a salt-and-pepper appearance without at this time any -sharply defined molt lines. In general, the molt pattern can be said to -be reversed in the two seasons; in spring, it begins on the back and in -autumn, on the belly. The difference in spring and autumn color pattern -is better illustrated on plate 39 than by additional description. -Swanson and Fryklund (1935:123) have observed that the "spring molt -proceeds differently" than the fall one in _Mustela rixosa_, and -Barrett-Hamilton (1903:309) in commenting on the European hare (and the -stoat?) remarks, "In spring the moult, and with it the brown colour, -progresses in exactly the opposite order . . ." as compared with the -white color of autumn, which that particular writer thought resulted -from removal of pigment from the hairs rather than from molt. - -The tail, excepting the black tip, lags in the molt in many instances, -with the result that, especially in spring, it may retain a few white -hairs as late as does the belly. In autumn it is less tardy and so far -as I have observed, becomes white at about the same time that the -general area of the back changes color. On the tail, the black tip -itself, as clearly shown in more than a score of specimens, is molted -at approximately the same time in autumn as is the pelage of the body. -However, the long black hairs, which appear in, say, November, appear -to increase in length until January. In spring, the long black hairs of -the tip of the tail seem not to be shed at the same time as the rest of -the winter pelage, but remain approximately six weeks longer and then -are replaced by long black hairs of the summer coat. At any rate, this -is the picture presented by a half dozen specimens of _M. f. -nevadensis_ and _M. f. longicauda_ which do show a spring molt to be in -progress on the black tip of the tail. Schwalbe similarly -(1893:536-537) has suggested that the black tip of the tail in _Mustela -erminea_ in spring is not molted until about two months after the -pelage on the rest of the body is changed. Schwalbe (_loc. cit._) -thinks also that in _M. erminea_ studied by him, the black tip of the -tail in autumn is replaced approximately one month in advance of the -pelage on the rest of the body. As indicated above, my specimens of -_Mustela frenata_, subspecies _longicauda_ and _nevadensis_, do not -show this discrepancy in autumn. I have considered the possibility that -the black tip of the tail, in some species of _Mustela_, is molted only -once while the remainder of the coat was undergoing two molts. My -inconclusive data lend but little support to this possibility. - -The difference in pattern of color between specimens taken in autumn -and spring is known to some fur-trappers of my acquaintance who have -suggested that molt occurs in spring, whereas the individual hairs -change color in autumn. Reference to plate 39 will show how gross -comparisons might lead one to this erroneous explanation of the color -change. - -As to time of molt: In eight subspecies of _Mustela frenata_, namely, -_noveboracensis_, _occisor_, _primulina_, _spadix_, _longicauda_, -_arizonensis_, _nevadensis_ and _effera_, material is available to -indicate that the autumnal molt begins in October and is completed in -November, and that the spring molt occurs in March or April. A -condensed list of specimens providing basis for this statement is as -follows: - - _M. f. noveboracensis_: 26 specimens in transitional pelage taken - in autumn and 14 taken in spring; _M. f. occisor_: One topotype - has acquired one-fifth of the winter pelage on October 22, 1896; - _M. f. primulina_: 2 in November, one in March, and 2 in April are - in process of change; _M. f. spadix_: 6 autumnal specimens and one - in April show pelage change; _M. f. longicauda_: 7 autumnal - specimens and one in April show pelage change; _M. f. - arizonensis_: 12 specimens in autumn and 3 in spring are in - process of molt; _M. f. effera_: One November-taken male has - acquired four-fifths of the winter coat and another taken on April - 21 at Fort Rock, Oregon, is half finished with the spring molt. - -It may be added that no marked difference in time of either autumnal or -spring molt is apparent as between the more northern and more southern -localities from which the mentioned specimens come. With more complete -material I would expect to find a difference in this regard. - -The material of the other, more southern, subspecies of _Mustela -frenata_ has not been adequate to show the time of molting or the -number of molts which occur in one year. - -Animals in the northern part of the range of _Mustela frenata_ acquire -a white winter coat, whereas those in the southern part acquire a brown -winter coat, and in an intervening area the winter coat may be either -brown or white. By plotting on a map the localities of capture of all -specimens examined in the winter coat, it was possible to outline this -intervening area as shown in figure 10 on page 37. However, Dearborn -(1932:36) shows that in Michigan some animals have a brown coat in -winter at places farther north than figure 10 shows to be the case. -Hamilton's (1933-306) map for New York shows the same to be true in -that state. Accordingly, the boundaries of the area shown in figure 10, -in which both brown and white long-tailed weasels occur in winter, are -known to be only approximate; with full information available the belt -would be represented as wider. - -[Illustration: FIG. 10. Map showing the region (in black) where both -the brown and white winter pelage is found in the long-tailed weasel, -_Mustela frenata_.] - -Hamilton (1933:302) has pointed out that "Where half of the weasels -remain brown, these brown winter specimens are always males." The -results of my own examination of specimens not studied by Hamilton, in -a general way provide confirmatory data. More exactly, my examination -reveals that at the most northern localities where brown specimens -occur, only males are in this coat. In explanation, it may be said that -in plotting on a map localities of capture of specimens in the winter -coat, thirteen places were found where both sexes were represented and -where both brown and white winter coats were found. With the two sexes, -it is theoretically possible to have nine different combinations of -coat color. With males all brown, there might occur females (1) all -brown, (2) all white, or (3) some brown and some white. In addition to -these three combinations, we might have three more by finding the -mentioned types of female coat color repeated where all males are -white, and three more, or nine in all, by substituting a population of -males some of which were brown and some of which were white. Seven of -these possible combinations actually were found. The two combinations -not found were all white males with all brown females, and all white -males with females both brown and white. In the three instances where -the males all were brown and the females all were white, the localities -of capture were in the northern part of the variable area. This -indicates that where the brown winter coat occurs at northern -localities, the brown individuals are all males. Farther south, of -course, the females, too, acquire the brown winter coat. - -Stated in another way, there is a broad belt across North America from -the Atlantic to the Pacific in which males of _Mustela frenata_ at any -one locality may be either brown or white in winter. Inside this broad -belt there is a narrower one, approximately half as wide, in which -females at any one locality may be either brown or white. - -In support of the idea that color of the winter coat is an hereditary -matter and that it is not dependent on temperature, the following -evidence derived from my transplanting specimens of _Mustela frenata_ -supports the idea that color of the winter pelage is dependent on -heredity and not on temperature or snowfall. - -A male captured on June 24, 1937, in the brown summer coat in Salt Lake -City, Utah, was received by me at Berkeley, California, five days later -and kept in captivity almost six months. On November 17, 1937, half the -pelage was white and on December 27, 1937, when next examined, the -animal was in the full, white, winter coat as it was on January 25, -1938, when it died. Native weasels all turn white in winter in Salt -Lake City, but in Berkeley native weasels always are brown in winter. - -A juvenile or young animal, a male, captured in May, 1936, at -Lafayette, Contra Costa County, California, was kept there until August -13, 1936, when transferred to Calneva at the north end of Lake Tahoe, -California. The weasel was kept at Calneva until its death on December -23, 1937. In both the winter of 1936-'37 and in that of 1937-'38, the -winter coat was brown as in animals from its place of origin (Contra -Costa County) and unlike weasels of the Tahoe region nearly all of -which turn white in winter. - -Two females, each approximately two months old, captured on May 1, -1936, at James Landing, 4 miles northwest of San Pablo, Contra Costa -County, California, were kept in Berkeley, California, until August 13, -1936, when they were transferred to the mouth of Blackwood Creek, on -the west side of Lake Tahoe, California. On October 25, 1936, both -weasels escaped. On December 25, 1936, the headless body of one of -these was found approximately 300 yards south of the mouth of Blackwood -Creek. The animal had been dead at most a few days when found and was -in the brown winter coat. At the place of its origin all weasels are -brown in winter but at the mouth of Blackwood Creek only 2 of 60 -weasels caught there in the winter coat were brown; the other 58 were -white. The headless weasel was identified, as one of the two formerly -in captivity, by means of certain short toes, the ends of which had -been clipped off when the animal was a captive. No trace of the second -female was found. - -A female of unknown age, in white winter pelage, captured 4 miles -southeast of Tahoe City, California, and kept there until April 3, -1937, on which date it was brought to Berkeley, California, molted to -brown in the spring. The first signs of the brown coat were noted on -April 14. On May 24 or 25 she gave birth to 4 young which lived less -than ten days. In the following winter this animal acquired a white -coat. As previously noted, weasels native to the Berkeley area, where -this female was kept, have brown coats in winter. - -The weasels were in every instance kept in cages out-of-doors. The -sides of the cages were open to the elements. A nest box in each cage -provided shelter. All were of the species _Mustela frenata_. - -The significant results, it seemed to me, were that the winter coat was -the kind found in the area where the weasel originated instead of the -kind found in weasels native to the areas in which the specimens were -held in captivity. - -That the time of molt is determined by the amount of light has clearly -been shown by Bissonnette (1944:223) for American weasels of the two -species _Mustela erminea_ and _M. frenata_. In his words (_op. -cit._:246) "Reducing the daily periods of light induced molting and -regrowth of new fur. . . . In the Bonaparte weasels [_Mustela -erminea_], white replaced brown. . . . Increasing daily light-periods -caused molting and change to dark brown. . . . Incomplete molts in both -directions (toward white or toward brown) were produced as a result of -early reversal of increase or decrease of daily light-time. . . . That -this stimulus is received through the eyes and acts through the -anterior pituitary gland is indicated by Bissonnette's [1935:159] -studies on ferrets, a nearly related animal. That the thyroids and -sex-glands are not essential is at least suggested . . . by Lyman's -(1942) study on the varying hare [_Lepus americanus_]." It can be added -that Lyman (1943:451) demonstrated in _Lepus americanus_ that the -effect of light is received through the eyes. He demonstrated this by -masking the animals. To Wright (1942B:109) who studied the two American -weasels, _M. erminea_ and _M. frenata_, it seemed likely that the -pituitary produced or released gonadotropic hormone at about the time -of the spring molt and that this molt and the spring changes in the -reproductive tracts of the weasels might be caused by a stimulus from a -common source. Later, Wright (1950:130) injected a gonadotropic hormone -into long-tailed weasels which had recently acquired their white winter -pelage and thereby caused them to lose the white pelage and acquire the -brown pelage. It is Lyman (1943:450) who says, in relation to _Lepus -americanus_, "When in the physiologically white condition, the -melanoblasts of the regenerating guard-and pile-hair follicles contain -no melanin-forming enzyme (dopa-oxidase), which may be the reason for -the lack of pigment." Schwalbe (1893) by sectioning the skin and -microscopically examining the hair-follicles of _M. erminea_ learned -that the basal cells producing hairs lacked pigment granules in autumn -when the European ermine (_M. erminea_) was acquiring its white winter -coat and that the cells contained granules of pigment in spring when, -as we know, the granules are incorporated in the growing hair and give -it its color. - -The above material, then, is basis for the account on pages 31 and 32 -of what causes the weasel of northern areas to have a white coat in -winter. The discerning student will instantly perceive that although -some parts of the account on pages 31 and 32 are precisely accurate, -other parts are the result of inferences which need to be proved. More -careful work of the kind that Schwalbe (1893) and Wright (1942B) did is -needed. The account on pages 31 and 32 is merely the best that can be -given with the information now available. - -Many writers have commented on the yellowish color, sometimes with a -greenish tinge, found on the fur of weasels in the white winter coat. -The stain is more often found on the tail and hinder-parts of the body -than elsewhere. Possibly, partly on this account, some have ascribed -this color to the smearing of the fur with urine. Still others have -thought it resulted from the smearing of the fur with secretions from -the anal scent glands. Schumacher (1928) takes this point of view, and -while it may be that he has not proved his point, still his conclusions -fit the known facts and seem sound to me. Schumacher points out that -the same soiling of the fur is present in summer as well as in winter, -but that on the summer pelage the stain can be detected only on the -light-colored underparts. It is from this point of view that he -criticizes the systematic worth of white versus yellowish-white -underparts in the summer pelage of geographic races of _Mustela -erminea_ and _Mustela nivalis_. Although in the long-tailed weasels -(_Mustela frenata_) the underparts of all the races are pigmented with -some form of red, orange or yellow, it seems probable to me that the -additional color resulting from the soiling effect of this glandular -secretion explains the greater variation, found at a single locality, -in the color of underparts than of upper parts in the summer pelage. - -I have neither seen nor heard of a black weasel in any part of the New -World or of the Old World. I have found only one albino among American -specimens. It is an adult female, no. 121424, American Museum of -Natural History, of _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, taken on August 30, -1935, at Hot Springs, Northwest Territory. This place, I am told by G. -G. Goodwin who obtained the animal, is on the "Nahanni River where the -rugged mountain ridges rise abruptly from the low mud flat lands, -latitude 61, longitude 125." The shortness and coarseness of the hair -corresponds to that of the summer pelage and not winter pelage. The -pelage is everywhere white, even the tip of the tail. True, all except -the nape and top and sides of the head has a faint yellowish-green -tinge which has been supposed to result from staining by secretion of -the anal scent glands but there is no pigment in the hair as in -erythristic specimens. From the Old World, Farurick (1873:17) has -recorded what he regards as an albino of _Mustela vulgaris_ since it -had no black hairs on the tip of its tail. Flintoff (1935:228, 229) -records what may have been an albino _Mustela vulgaris_ from Yorkshire -and an albino _M. erminea_ from an unstated locality. Jäckel (1873:459) -mentions specimens of _Mustela erminea_ and _Mustela vulgaris_, which -were partly "albinistic" or "erythristic." Among the American specimens -of _M. erminea_ I have not recorded any which appeared to be either -partly or wholly erythristic or only partly albinistic. Among the 1550 -skins of _M. frenata_ which were in summer pelage or brown winter -pelage, five, described below, show marked abnormalities in color. - -Two of these five are partly albinistic. One is an adult male, no. -223880, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Billy's Island, Okefinokee Swamp, -Georgia, which has the nose as well as the area between the eyes white. -Also there is a tuft of white hairs at the anterodorsal margin of each -ear, scattering white hairs suggesting a postorbital bar on each side -of the head, and a patch of white hairs on the mid-dorsal line behind -the ears. Markings of this kind are not abnormal in _M. f. peninsulae_, -the subspecies adjoining on the south, except for the white nose which -clearly is an instance of partial albinism. The second specimen is a -subadult male, of _M. f. noveboracensis_, no. 177679, U. S. Nat. Mus., -in process of acquiring the brown winter coat, taken on November 27, -1911, at Gaylordsville, Connecticut. It has white markings on the nose, -on the right side of the neck, on the right hind foot and right -forefoot, and on the tip of the tail. The white area of the nose on the -left side extends back to the eye, but on the right side barely -encircles the nose-pad. On the right side of the neck, all that area -between the foreleg and ear is white from the mid-dorsal line -(including 7 or 8 millimeters to the left of the mid-dorsal line) down -to the throat, which is white as it is also in normal individuals. The -toes of the right hind foot are more extensively white than in normal -specimens of _noveboracensis_, and all of the right forefoot as well as -the wrist is white. The tail is of striking appearance because of its -tricolor pattern. The proximal part is of the normal brown color. The -black terminal part commences proximally at the usual place, but the -distal 11 millimeters of the fleshy part of the tail bear only pure -white hairs producing a terminal white pencil 35 millimeters long. - -The three other specimens abnormally colored are erythristic -individuals. An adult male of _M. f. latirostra_, no. 7574, coll. D. R. -Dickey, taken on April 14, 1918, at Covina, Los Angeles County, -California, has the color of the upper parts greatly restricted, and, -in addition, has spots and blotches of the color of the underparts -distributed over the back and rump. A spot of this same color occurs -above each ear. Incidentally, this and other subspecies of _Mustela -frenata_ from the Pacific Coast of North America obviously have the -factor for erythrism operating over a larger part of the body than it -does in _M. erminea_ or than in _M. f. noveboracensis_, where the -underparts sometimes are white. In _M. f. latirostra_ and in other -subspecies from the Pacific Coast the light color of the underparts -always is tinged with this reddish color. - -Another erythristic specimen is a young male of _M. f. nevadensis_, no. -23493, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken on August 6, 1890, at Birch Creek, Idaho. -It has all of each foreleg, the axillary regions, and a saddle-shaped -area over the shoulders of the same buff-yellow color as the -underparts. - -The third erythristic specimen is a subadult female, of _M. f. -oregonensis_, no. 47149, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., taken on December 20, 1930, -at Carlotta, Humboldt County, California. This specimen appears to be -white and initially was thought to be merely an individual in the white -winter coat. Closer examination, however, shows that it has a light -wash of ochraceous or faint reddish color. Also, other specimens taken -in winter at Carlotta show that weasels there do not acquire a white -winter coat. The only normally brown area is approximately three -millimeters in diameter at the anterodorsal margin of the pinna of the -right ear. The tip of the tail is black as in a normal specimen. The -specimen in question is actually pure white only on top of the head -from a short distance behind the ears on over the forehead nearly to -the eyes, and on the inside of the ears. In a normally colored animal -this area is the dark area of the head. In this freak, the other parts -of the head, which, in individuals of normal coloration are the white -or light orange facial markings, have the reddish cast of the remainder -of the body, although the color is less intense than on the back. The -collector noted that the specimen had eyes of normal color. A possible -explanation for the coloration of this specimen is that this species -has three factors for color, one for the black tail tip, one for the -reddish color, and a third, missing in the specimen in question, for -the blackish brown. - -For some more exact knowledge concerning this erythristic type of -coloration, we are indebted to Pitt (1921:99), who describes a -population of polecats, _Mustela putorius_, in Cardiganshire, England, -in which this erythristic variation is maintained in a state of nature. -In ferrets, _Mustela furo_, Pitt (_op. cit._:114) notes that ". . . -erythrism is certainly dependent on a Mendelian factor, being dominant -to albinism and recessive to the black-brown coloration. Both in the -ferret and polecat, erythrism seems to be correlated with increased -size, and certainly in the ferret is usually accompanied by a quick -temper and general increase in vitality." - - -Variations of Taxonomic Worth - -Variations of taxonomic worth usually are referred to as characters. -For example, shortness of the tympanic bulla is a character, and the -opposite condition, long tympanic bulla, is another character. Specific -variations, that is to say specific characters, are provided by the -color-pattern, length of tail, number of premolar teeth, shape of the -tympanic bullae, and length of the braincase in relation to the length -of the tooth-bearing parts of the skull. Subspecific characters are -provided by color-pattern, color itself, size as measured by weight of -the animal, and its linear measurements, size of the skull, and size -and shape of parts of the skull. The characters distinguishing -subspecies from one another are not of a different nature from those -distinguishing species from one another. - -Given any one of the above structural features, say, dorsal outline of -the skull, several characters may be provided by it. For example, -weasels of the species _Mustela frenata_ have the dorsal outline of the -skull convex in southern Louisiana, straight in Missouri and concave in -North Dakota, thus providing three characters. This is geographic -variation. These variations, characters in zoölogical parlance, when -plotted on maps, reveal the geographic occurrence of, say, the convex -shape of the skull. In combination with other characters, for example, -dark color and short tail, basis is provided for recognizing a -subspecies, in this instance _Mustela frenata arthuri_ of Louisiana. -Because the change from convex to flat skull takes place geographically -at about the same place (in eastern Texas) as does the change from -short tail to long tail, and the change from dark color to light color, -it is easy to draw a line there marking the western geographic limit of -occurrence of the _M. f. arthuri_. This same line marks also the -eastern margin of the geographic range of the subspecies _Mustela -frenata frenata_, the subspecies next adjacent to the westward. On this -line and for several miles to either side of it weasels show varying -combinations of these three characters or an intermediate condition as -regards one or more of the characters, or both. For example, from a -locality in eastern Texas a weasel may have (1) a facial pattern -exactly intermediate between that of the unicolored face of _arthuri_ -and that of the bicolored face of _frenata_, (2) the long tail of -_frenata_ and (3) the convex skull of _arthuri_. In the sum of its -characters this specimen is exactly intermediate between typical -_arthuri_ and typical _frenata_. Another specimen from the same place -may differ from the first specimen only in having the tail slightly -shorter. The total "score" for the two specimens is, therefore, by a -very slight margin in favor of _arthuri_. Let us suppose that we obtain -a third specimen from the same place and that it has the face marked -like that of _arthuri_ but the tail fully as long, and the skull as -lacking in dorsal convexity, as in _frenata_. Now the score is -definitely for _frenata_. For convenience of handling, the population -is referred to _frenata_, providing that the average of specimens from -a nearby locality to the westward is not in favor of _arthuri_. In -event the average of specimens from a locality next adjacent to the -westward is in favor of _M. f. arthuri_, the total evidence from the -two localities may be weighed together and appropriate decision as to -subspecific status of weasels from the area is made according to what -the average is for the area as a whole. - -The three individual animals of an intermediate sort are ordinarily -termed _intergrades_. This implies that their characters are the result -of mixed parentage--perhaps a female of _M. f. arthuri_ and a male of -_M. f. frenata_ but probably each parent itself was an intergrade and -the offspring, of which we examined three, owe their characters to -reproductive processes operating in obedience to Mendelian laws of -inheritance. - -The two kinds of animals, _Mustela frenata arthuri_ and _Mustela -frenata frenata_, are identified as subspecies because of the -intergradation between them. If at this and all other places where the -geographic ranges of _arthuri_ and _frenata_ met there was no -crossbreeding (no intergrades), the two kinds would be treated as -distinct species. Intergradation, and the lack of it, are accepted as -the criteria of subspecies and species, respectively. - -These criteria suffice for animals, in this instance weasels, which -have a continuous geographic distribution. Some kinds of weasels are -confined to islands, as for example the islands off the coast of Alaska -and British Columbia. Because weasels are land animals, crossbreeding -in nature between the weasels of two islands is, of course, impossible. -A modified test (used in the study here reported upon) in deciding on -specific versus subspecific status in these instances can be made as -follows: On the adjacent mainland, ascertain the degree of difference -between two subspecies whose geographic ranges meet (for example, _M. -e. richardsonii_ and _M. e. alascensis_). Next ascertain the degree of -difference between the insular kind of animal and the kind on the -mainland. If the degree of difference is greater when the insular kind -is compared than when only the kinds of the mainland are compared, the -insular kind is to be regarded as a species. If the degree of -difference is no greater between the insular kind and the mainland kind -than it is between the two adjacent mainland kinds, the insular kind is -to be regarded as a subspecies. In short, for insular kinds, the -criterion is degree of difference, with the limitation of geographic -adjacency, rather than intergradation. - -The geographic variation (subspecific characters) found could be spoken -of as two kinds: First, there is the variation which is expressed in a -general trend for a long distance, producing, in general, a cline of -even slope; and second, that of inconstant trend in any one direction. -In his "The Rabbits of North America" Nelson (1909:34-35) has commented -on the latter type of variation as follows: "While studying series of -specimens from all parts of the vast range occupied by the geographic -races of such species as _Sylvilagus floridanus_ and _S. auduboni_, I -have been impressed with evidences of fluctuation of both external and -skull characters. These fluctuations are somewhat wavelike in character -and rise to central points of extreme development and then sink away to -intermediate borders beyond which new waves rise. Where the waves of -differentiation are pronounced they mark recognizable geographic races. -Within the area covered by the larger or geographically broader waves -of differentiation (recognized as of subspecific value), smaller waves -of differentiation are included, which may represent local variations -in intensity of characters of the subspecies, or these characters may -diminish and the variation tend in other directions, sometimes even -closely reproducing the characters of another subspecies occupying a -distinct area." In _Mustela frenata_, much of the geographic variation -at first inspection appears to be of this nature. Closer scrutiny, -however, reveals that the repetition, at geographic intervals, of -several features of color and structure are closely correlated with -environmental features which are repeated only at these same places. - -In _Mustela erminea_, much of the variation is of the first kind, -namely, that which can be expressed as long clines of relatively even -slope. As several authors have said, zoölogical classification based on -this kind of variation is like dividing the spectrum and depends -largely upon the standards set, for, theoretically, the possibilities -of subdivision are unlimited. Actually, however, none of the clines has -an even slope and the possibilities for subdivision therefore are -limited. Also, when several features are used, instead of only one -feature, the classification is more satisfactory even if the basis is -more complex. - -Some features of structure which provide subspecific characters are -mentioned below. - -Total length, of males, ranges from 598 to 360 mm. in _M. frenata_ and -from 336 to 228 mm. in _M. erminea_. There is no cline of sustained -slope in _M. frenata_ but in _M. erminea_ there is a progressive -decrease in total length from north to south. - -Length of tail varies from as little as a half to as much as -seven-tenths of the length of the head and body in _M. frenata_, the -subspecies _neomexicana_ having the long tail and the two subspecies -_arthuri_ and _primulina_ having short tails. The geographic ranges of -_primulina_ and _neomexicana_ are contiguous. In _M. erminea_ there is -likewise no variation of a clinal nature in length of tail and -furthermore the variation is much less than in _M. frenata_. - -In length of hind foot, which in males varies from 49 mm. in northern -populations of _M. erminea_ to 28 mm. in southern populations, the same -cline is seen as in the total length of animals of this species. In _M. -frenata_, however, there are several decreases and increases along any -straight line which can be drawn through the geographic range of the -species. The range of variation in males is 41 mm. (_M. f. -arizonensis_) to 59 mm. (_M. f. macrophonius_). - -Weight of the entire animal is an excellent measure of size but weights -are unavailable for many subspecies. In _M. frenata_, the two -subspecies _texensis_ and _macrophonius_ probably are the heaviest and -_effera_, _arizonensis_ and _helleri_ probably are the lightest. -Geographically the variation in weight behaves in approximately the -same way as does the measurement of total length. In _M. erminea_ the -variation in weight of males is from 206 grams in northern animals to -58 grams in southernmost populations, there being a relatively constant -gradient geographically. - -Degree of hairiness of the foot-soles in _M. frenata_ clearly is linked -with the temperature; in regions of high average temperature the -hairiness is least and in regions of low average temperature it is -most. The decrease in hairiness is accomplished in two ways, namely, -smaller breadth and decreased length of individual hairs and decrease -in number of hairs on a given area of dermal surface. This correlation -holds throughout the entire north to south range of the species. -Corresponding differences are found on the same latitude where -topographic diversity in an east to west direction produces northern -conditions at high altitudes and southern conditions at low altitudes. -The conclusion seems unavoidable that climate, directly or indirectly, -determines the degree of hairiness. Less careful observations were made -on the hairiness of the soles of the feet in other species but it is -clear that the northern species _M. erminea_ has the most hair on the -foot-soles and that _M. africana_, the tropical weasel, has the least. -In this regard, _M. frenata_ is intermediate as it is also in -geographic position. - -[Illustration: FIGS. 11-15. Dorsal views of adult skulls of each sex of -five subspecies of the ermine, _Mustela erminea_, to show secondary -sexual variation and geographic variation in size of the skull. Males -on the left and females on the right. All × 1. - -Note especially the geographic variation in decreasing size of the -skull from north to south in each sex, and that the secondary sexual -variation in size of skull is less in ermines with small skulls than in -those with large skulls.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 16. Map showing the localities where the skulls, -represented in figures 11-15, were obtained.] - -The maximum length of facial and carpal vibrissae is attained in _M. -erminea_ in the far north. In weasels from north of the Arctic Circle -the longest facial vibrissae extend posteriorly beyond the posterior -border of the ear. In the tropical weasel, _M. africana_, the facial -vibrissae do not extend posteriorly beyond the ear and the carpal -vibrissae are not so long as the distance between their bases and the -apical pad of the first digit. The correlation of long vibrissae with -low temperature, is mentioned here merely because length and density of -pelage were under consideration. - -The most obvious and most exact correlation between change in climate -and change in the animal is furnished by color. This is well shown in -the one species, _Mustela frenata_, to which the following remarks -apply unless indication is given to the contrary. The color of the -upper parts varies from bay (blackish brown) in _M. f. panamensis_ to -buckthorn brown (light brown) in _M. f. neomexicana_. The color of the -head varies from solid brown (white chin excepted) to contrasting black -and white markings. - -Dark color of the upper parts is associated with a large area of this -color; the enlargement of this area is at the expense of the area of -light color on the underparts. In the weasels of darkest color the -upper parts occupy four-fifths of the circumference of the body (as -measured in the anterior lumbar region) but in the lightest-colored -weasels the upper parts comprise only two-thirds of the total -circumference. In these light-colored animals the color of the -underparts extends onto the underside of the tail and down the insides -of the legs and over the feet whereas in the animals with the darkest -upper parts the entire tail, feet, and legs below the knees ordinarily -are of the same dark color as the upper parts. The length of the black -tip on the tail varies inversely with the length of the tail, probably -because the lightest-colored weasel has the longest tail. In some -subspecies the black brush is almost half as long as the tail-vertebrae -but in others is less than a fourth as long as the tail-vertebrae. - -The extent of the color of the head, as well as the intensity of the -color there, varies markedly and is correlated with climatic -conditions. The extent and intensity of this dark color is greater in -weasels inhabiting regions of heavy rainfall than in those inhabiting -regions of sparse rainfall. Considering the geographic range of each -subspecies of _Mustela frenata_, that of _M. f. panamensis_ has the -maximum of rainfall. Reference to the colored plate (1) will show that -in _M. f. panamensis_ (2) the black of the head is extended over all of -the upper parts. _M. f. macrura_ (1) of Perú, to the southward, is from -an area of lesser rainfall and is correspondingly lighter colored. -Returning to _panamensis_ (2) as a starting point and proceeding -northward to the range of _nicaraguae_ (3), which also has lesser -rainfall, thence another step northward to Guatamala, which has still -less rainfall, the weasel there, _M. f. goldmani_ (4) has the black -extending posteriorly only to the shoulders. _M. f. leucoparia_ (5) -from Michoacán, and _M. f. frenata_ (6) from Tamaulipas are from -progressively more northern and also progressively drier regions. In -_M. f. frenata_ (6) the dark color extends posteriorly only to the ears -and is blackish rather than black. In _M. f. neomexicana_ (7) of the -extremely arid parts of Durango, Arizona, and New Mexico the dark -marking of the head is confined to a brown spot on the nose. Its -geographic range is the most arid of those of all of the subspecies. -The contrast between _neomexicana_ (7) and _panamensis_ (2) illustrates -the great range of geographic variation in color which occurs in the -one species. Continuing from the geographic range of _neomexicana_ -(specimen from Safford, Arizona) northwesterly 480 miles to Riverside, -California (see 8, _latirostra_), 430 miles north to Point Reyes, -California (see 9, _munda_), and finally 570 miles north to Tillamook, -Oregon (see 10, _altifrontalis_), each place with more rainfall than -the one farther south, another correlation of increasingly dark -coloration with increasing amount of rainfall is illustrated. - -This geographic variation, it should be remembered, is all within one -species. It is the more significant still when we remember that the -same correlation, with never an exception, occurs at hundreds of places -within the geographic range of the species. A particular feature of -climate, namely rainfall, and possibly therefore humidity, is concerned -in this correlation. The same correlation, heavy rainfall and dark -color, is shown also in the other species of North American weasels. -The conclusion is unavoidable that climate, directly or indirectly, -determines or influences the color of weasels. - -The light facial markings appear in American weasels in two separate -geographic areas. One is the southwestern United States, México and -northern Central America. The second area is in the same latitude, in -Florida and adjoining parts of Georgia and Alabama. In the western -weasels the markings are white south of latitude 32° N. North of this -latitude, the facial markings, if at all extensive, usually are of the -same yellowish color as the underparts of the body. Weasels of southern -California and its interior valley usually have these yellowish instead -of white facial markings. The light facial markings, in this instance, -white markings, attain their maximum extent in _M. f. leucoparia_ of -the southwestern margin of the tableland of México, at latitude 19° N. -A gradual decrease in area of the light facial markings occurs both to -the north and south; they disappear at 10° N in _M. f. costaricensis_ -and at 35° N at approximately the southern limits of range of _M. f. -arizonensis_ and _M. f. nevadensis_. In the mild climate of California -the light (yellowish) facial markings are found at still higher -latitudes. These light facial markings crop up as vestiginal remnants, -consisting of a few white hairs, in some individuals of nearly all -races of weasels. - -In certain parts of the skull there are trends, in size and shape, -which continue for long distances geographically. In other words, -clines can be recognized. Changes in size and shape in some other parts -of the skull are wavelike; change toward narrower rostrum, for example, -is not progressive in a given geographic direction for any great -distance. Length of the upper tooth-rows and zygomatic breadth, when -expressed as percentages of the basilar length, and also the actual -length of individual teeth vary geographically in the same wavelike -fashion as does the width of the rostrum. - -Size of the skull, on the other hand, shows a sustained trend for a -long distance; it becomes progressively smaller from the southern -United States southward to Columbia, South America. This clinal -variation can be demonstrated by plotting on a graph, the basilar -length, the zygomatic breadth, or the weight of the skull. Beginning at -Mérida, Venezuela, and proceeding southward to increasing elevations in -the mountains of South America, there is a reversal of the direction of -the variation in this cline; weight of skull, for example, increases to -the southward from Mérida for a considerable distance. A cline of -decreasing width of the postorbital constriction of the skull is -evident from Panamá north into Texas. - -Variations in the tympanic bullae provide many characters useful in -distinguishing weasels from different localities. Most of these -characters have to do with degree of inflation of the bullae. -Indirectly correlated with degree of inflation is first the extent of -removal of the anterior margin of the bulla from the glenoid fossa and -foramen ovale, and second the form (convex, flat, or concave) of the -part of the squamosal bone between the foramen ovale and the anterior -margin of the tympanic bulla. As one proceeds southward from, say, -southwestern Kansas through the geographic range of the species -_Mustela frenata_, there is a progressive deflation of the bulla, an -increase in length of the space between its anterior margin and the -foramen ovale, and the floor of the braincase in front of the bulla -changes from ventrally concave to ventrally convex. (See figs. _e_ and -_h_ of pl. 24 and figs, _e_ and _f_ of pl. 27.) - -One extreme of this variation in bulla is shown in _Mustela frenata -neomexicana_ (fig. _e_ of pl. 24), in which the anterior margin of the -bulla (viewed from the ventral side) rises vertically from the floor of -the braincase to form a 90-degree angle. The other extreme, the -uninflated bulla, is in _Mustela frenata panamensis_ (fig. _e_ of pl. -27), in which the anterior margin of the bulla is not raised above the -floor of the braincase. This variation is remarkable because it occurs -within a single species. Otherwise, in the family Mustelidae, -differences in the tympanic bullae as great as that between the two -subspecies _M. f. neomexicana_ and _M. f. panamensis_, occur only -between genera. The need for caution in inferring the limits of -variation for a particular structure in one species or genus, on the -basis of variation in another group, is therefore obvious. - -Speaking now of full species, the most inflated tympanic bullae in -American weasels are in _Mustela frenata_, and more restrictedly in -those subspecies of it which occur in the temperate region. Subspecies -of _M. frenata_ in Central and South America, as already noted, have -less inflated bullae. The tropical weasel, _Mustela africana_, of the -Amazon drainage of South America has the bullae still less inflated -(see fig. _i_ of pl. 39 and fig. _f_ of pl. 40). The bullae are less -inflated even than in the mink, subgenus _Lutreola_. In _M. africana_ -the cleidomastoideus, omotrachelian, levator scapulae, and rhomboideus -profundus muscles take origin from a fossa on the mastoid bone, whereas -in the forms with greatly inflated bullae these muscles take origin -from a raised ridge or tubercle. Using _Mustela frenata_ of the -temperate region as a starting point and proceeding northward, a -reduction in inflation of the tympanic bulla is seen also in that -direction in that _Mustela erminea_ has less inflated bullae. The -bullae are less inflated in southern than in far northern (arctic) -populations of _Mustela erminea_. In _erminea_ the lesser inflation is -real enough but at the same time there appears to be less inflation -than actually exists, for the squamosal floor of the braincase is -"pushed down." This places the anterior end of the tympanic bulla -farther in the braincase than it otherwise would be. Although the -anterior end of the bulla is flattened to the extent that it resembles -the sharp edge of a splitting-wedge, inspection of the lateral and -medial edges shows that in its central part the bulla is more inflated -than it is in the weasels of Central and South America. - -For reasons set forth later, _M. erminea_ is judged to resemble the -ancestral stem form more closely than does any one of the other three -American species of weasels. If this judgment is correct, the shape of -the tympanic bullae of the American weasels may be explained as -follows: In the subspecies of _Mustela frenata_ of the temperate -regions of North America the bullae have most nearly been pushed out of -the braincase and at the same time have undergone some enlargement. The -subspecies of this same species in Central and South America represent -an earlier stage in the evolution of American weasels and retain less -inflated bullae--less inflated even than those of the southern -subspecies of _erminea_. _M. africana_ probably separated from the stem -form at a still earlier time if we may judge by the lesser inflation of -its tympanic bullae. There are other reasons for thinking that -_africana_ separated from the stem form earlier than _M. frenata_ did. -During the time that elapsed since the separation of _M. frenata_ from -the stem form, the tympanic bullae of _M. erminea_ probably increased -slightly in size, as probably also did the brain but without shoving -the auditory complex forward from its former position. - - - - -DISTRIBUTION AND SPECIATION - - -Weasels of the subgenus _Mustela_ are known from the Pleistocene but -not from deposits laid down at an earlier time (see page 10). The -Pleistocene weasels from Rancho La Brea of southern California and from -Potter Creek Cave and Samwel Cave, both of northern California, are -subspecifically indistinguishable from the weasels living in those same -localities today. The other notable occurrence of weasels in the -Pleistocene is in the Conard Fissure of Arkansas. Brown (1908:181, 182, -pl. 17) names two kinds from the Fissure. One is an extinct subspecies -(_Mustela frenata gracilis_) possibly of the species which occurs in -the same region today and the other, _Mustela erminea? angustidens_, -is an extinct subspecies of a species which occurs only farther north -today. _M. erminea_ came south, probably in front of one of the ice -sheets, as did several other species of American mammals, now of more -northern distribution, that left their remains in Conard Fissure. -_Mustela rixosa_ is not recorded as a fossil in America although it is -known from the "Diluvial" deposits of the Old World; see Woldrich -(1884:1000), who employs the name "_Foetorius minutus_ n. sp.," and see -also Zimmerman (1943:295-296). - -The ermine, _Mustela erminea_, is the most generalized of the full -species. For example, the number of teeth is as large as in any other -species and greater than in certain species. The teeth are -sharp-pointed, uncrowded, and individually less specialized than in any -other American weasel. M1 has the inner half, or lobe, of approximately -the same size as the outer lobe instead of much larger than the outer -lobe (the outer lobe is the larger in several other species). The -tympanic bullae are less inflated and less protruded from the -braincase. The skull is rounded, and has no marked crests and ridges -whereas the skulls of the other species are more pronouncedly modeled -and sculptured. Therefore, it is possible to think of these other -species as derived from _M. erminea_. A derivation in the reverse -direction would be more difficult. From the foot soles of an ermine, or -a weasel closely resembling an ermine, the more complex soles of -_Mustela africana_ could have been derived by a decrease in hairiness, -although it would be necessary to suppose that the thenar pad has been -retained in _africana_ and has been lost in the living _erminea_. The -alternate possibility, namely, that the thenar pad was a relatively -recent acquisition in the _africana_ line seems less probable. The tail -of _erminea_ is of "average" length and in size of entire animal -_erminea_ is intermediate between the other American weasels. -Structurally, _Mustela erminea_ appears to be nearest the stem form -from which all of the living weasels ascended. Its present holarctic -distribution is in harmony with the view that it is a direct descendant -from the stem form because the stem forms of most of the known kinds of -mustelids appear to have lived in the holarctic region. To be sure, -_Mustela erminea_ is regarded as having undergone some progressive -change in structure, but less than the other weasels, in the period of -time when the weasels were evolving from the stem form. - -The least weasel, _Mustela rixosa_, seems to be an ancient type and to -judge from the size and proportions of its parts, was differentiated -from the _erminea_ stem at a time earlier than were the other American -Recent species of weasels. In size, in reduction of the tail, and in -proportions of the skull, _M. rixosa_ is, in each instance, the most -aberrant of all the weasels, _Mustela nivalis_ of Europe and western -Asia included. This aberrancy results from the retention of certain -primitive features, in the teeth and basicranial region, and from -specialization in proportions of the skull. The skull is long, deep, -and narrow. These proportions probably are adaptations permitting the -animal to follow the smaller kinds of mice into their burrows. In most -of that part of North America where _erminea_ and _rixosa_ occur -together, _erminea_ is a much larger animal and takes as prey almost -all kinds of land vertebrates that it is powerful enough to kill. These -include varying hares and ptarmigans. The least weasel, _rixosa_, can -hardly manage such large prey and lives on the smaller rodents. -_Mustela rixosa_ may eat numbers of insects (see page 176 beyond),--a -kind of food which _Mustela erminea_ is not known to eat. Apparently -the two species are able to live in the same areas because each eats a -somewhat different kind of food than does the other and hence they do -not compete to the point where one is crowded out by the other. This is -the case in the latitudes where the two species of weasels are of -different bodily size, but in the southernmost latitudes where these -two species occur, _erminea_ becomes almost as small as _rixosa_ and -only one of the species, to the exclusion of the other, occurs in a -given area. All through the Rocky Mountains, south of Montana and in -the territory west of these mountains all the way to the Pacific Coast, -only the small subspecies of _erminea_ is to be found. In the -Alleghenies of the eastern United States only _rixosa_ occurs. In New -England where _erminea_ approaches the size of _rixosa_, the latter is -unknown. Probably this exclusiveness results from competition for food, -although competition for dens, safe breeding places and other -requirements of life may be involved. - -The species _erminea_ invaded the western United States and in the -process of invasion probably developed there the small size appropriate -to permit _erminea_ to live in that latitude before it could do the -same thing in the Appalachian region. Later than _erminea_, the least -weasel, _Mustela rixosa_, which was small to begin with, also spread -southward from the holarctic region, stopped short in the western -United States at the northern boundary of the area in which _erminea_ -was of small size, but in the Appalachian region of the eastern United -States continued on southward to the limits of temperature tolerant for -it because _erminea_ had not yet penetrated into that region and no -other small carnivore was there to offer competition. - -The long-tailed weasel, _Mustela frenata_, occurs mostly south of the -regions inhabited by the ermine, and mostly south of the region -inhabited by the least weasel which appears to live as well with -_frenata_ as with _erminea_. It is true that _erminea_ and _frenata_ -occur in the same region, but this is a relatively narrow belt across -the United States; and from within it a person cannot go far either -north or south without reaching a region in which only one of the two -species occurs. Exception has to be made for the Rocky Mountains and -the Sierra Nevada, where _erminea_ is of exceptionally small size. In -these mountains and in the boreal mountainous parts of the intervening -region of the United States, _erminea_ and the large-sized _frenata_ -occur together over a wide area. Presumably the two occupy different -ecologic niches, much as _rixosa_ and _frenata_ probably do where they -occur together. - -Most of the geographic range of the long-tailed weasel, _M. frenata_, -is in the temperate region. Structurally, this species is the most -advanced of the American weasels. Its dentition is the most highly -specialized for cutting. M1 is relatively small and the inner lobe is -slightly larger than the outer lobe. The skull, throughout, is more -modeled than in the other species; the rostrum, the lower jaws and the -teeth--all parts of the offensive equipment--are well developed -relative to the corresponding structures in other weasels; the -basicranial region exhibits an advanced stage of development in that -the tympanic bullae show the maximum degree of inflation. Also, they -are thrust far out of the braincase, thereby providing more room for -the relatively larger brain which is protected by a more solidly built -braincase than in _erminea_. - -Several subspecies of _Mustela frenata_ occur in the tropics, that is -to say, south of the Mexican tableland and on the coastal plain to the -east of it. Each is structurally more primitive than subspecies of the -temperate region. As compared with _Mustela frenata frenata_ of the -temperate Mexican tableland the size in these tropical subspecies is -smaller; the tail is shorter; the braincase and entire skull are less -modeled; the postorbital breadth is more; the teeth are smaller; the -deuterocone of P4 is not so far anterior to the protocone; the tympanic -bullae are less inflated, are farther removed from the foramen ovale, -and a larger proportion of each bulla is contained within the -braincase. These features serve to set off from northern races of -_frenata_ all those subspecies of _frenata_ which occur from southern -México southward to the northern and western limits of the Amazon -drainage of South America. The Amazon Basin is inhabited by another -species, _Mustela africana_, having more primitive characters. - -In the species _frenata_, the explanation for this abrupt change in -characters between the animals of the temperate highlands and those of -the tropical lowlands may be this: In the early Pleistocene, after the -emergence of much or all of Central America took place, weasels -distributed themselves over the Isthmus and into South America. These -weasels were more generalized in structure than those now inhabiting -the uplands of México. Failure of this stock of weasels often to cross -some still-persisting water barrier, or failure of this stock to cross -some water barrier that was widened or reformed because of a rise in -sea level in some one of the interglacial periods of the Pleistocene -cut the _frenata_ stock into two or more parts. After the land -connection was established or re-established and when the necessary -precedent plants and rodents again had established themselves, the two -groups of weasels, one from the northern tableland of México, and the -other from the southern area of tropical complexion, met. The weasels -of the _frenata_ stock that reinvaded the area from the north probably -did so by following along the chain of high volcanic cones and narrow -uplifts. If and when a subsequent inundation occurred in some -part of Central America, weasels were stranded on the adjacent -mountains--converted into islands--only the higher parts of which were -above water. _Mustela frenata costaricensis_ and _Mustela frenata -goldmani_ may be examples of a northern stock of weasel that pushed -southward in the highlands and became stranded for a short time. -Following the latest emergence of land to provide a continuous highway -between the two continents, weasels from the south and the insular -populations, as for example, _M. f. costaricensis_, were the first to -invade the low tropical areas most recently under water. When the -Pleistocene history of Central America is better known, the facts will -provide a useful means of testing the hypothesis that has been outlined -immediately above. - -As explained above, fossil specimens of _M. frenata_ from deposits of -the last half of Pleistocene time show that no appreciable change -occurred in some areas, for example, in the vicinity of Hawver Cave and -Samwel Cave of California, and that but slight change occurred in other -areas, for example, in southern California (fossils from Rancho La -Brea) and probably in the central United States (fossil from Conard -Fissure). It is possible to imagine, therefore, that the two groups of -weasels, one occurring southward only as far as the highlands of -Central America and the other occurring in northern South America, had -not differentiated sufficiently in the period of their isolation to -prevent crossbreeding when they last came into contact. If the -separation of the two groups had been maintained for a longer period, -the two groups, tropical weasels and austral weasels, probably would -have been so different when the two met as to prevent crossbreeding and -they would have constituted two full species instead of only one. - -_Mustela africana_ is the most primitive of the American weasels. Some -of the most important structural features that mark it as such are in -the basicranial region. The tympanic bullae are less inflated than in -other weasels, are pointed anteriorly and posteriorly, and do not have -the lateral margins carried outward to the outer margins of the -braincase. The mastoid sinus is not involved, by inflation or marked -modification in the production of the auditory complex. Between the -alisphenoid and the squamosal there is a clear demarcation posteriorly -from a point directly lateral to the foramen ovale. This demarcation -permits a transverse rounding of the alisphenoid to form a longitudinal -ridge between the anterior margin of each bulla and the base of the -pterygoid of the same side. Nevertheless, there is no such -specialization of this primitive, structural feature such as occurs in -some African and Asiatic mustelids in which the tympano-pterygoid part -of the alisphenoid fuses with the tip of the hamulus of the pterygoid. -However, the tympano-pterygoid eminence has not been obliterated in _M. -africana_ as it has in the other American weasels. Another primitive -feature in the basicranial region of _M. africana_ is the tendency -toward separation of the paroccipital processes from the tympanic -bullae. The thenar pad of the foot probably is an inheritance from a -primitive ancestor since the pad is present in the viverrids and in a -majority of mustelids judged to be more primitive than _Mustela_. - -Some specializations are obvious in _Mustela africana_. One is the -reduction in number of premolars; p2 is absent whereas it is normally -present in the other weasels; P2 has one instead of two roots; and, in -relation to the other teeth, m2 is smaller. The shortness of the -preorbital part of the skull in relation to the length of the skull as -a whole may reflect the mentioned reduction of the premolars or -retention of a primitive shape of skull, or both. Also, certain -features which denote immaturity in other weasels are retained in -adults of this species, as for example, sutures on the dorsal face of -the preorbital region of the skull. - -[Illustration: FIGS. 17-22. Views of the feet of American weasels -(subgenus _Mustela_) to show differences in number and arrangement of -the pads and variation in degree of hairiness of the soles. × 1-1/2 In -each figure, left-forefoot on left, and left hind foot on right. - -FIG. 17. _M. rixosa rixosa_, Halifax, N.S.; juv., [F], 7425 U.S.N.M. - -Fig. 18. _M. erminea richardsonii_, Ft. Chimo; ad. [F], 14866 U.S.N.M. - -Fig. 19. _M. frenata noveboracensis_, Mich., July 7, 1913; ad. [M], -44689 M.Z. - -Fig. 20. _M. f. frenata_, Brownsville, June 1, 1892; yg. [M], 34043 -U.S.N.M. - -Fig. 21. _M. frenata panamensis_, Panamá, February 17, 1911; sad. [F], -type. - -Fig. 22. _M. a. africana_, Pará, Brazil, Sept., 1908; yg. [M], 37475 -A.M.N.H. - -Figs. 17, 18 and 19. Drawn from specimens preserved in alcohol. - -Figs. 20, 21 and 22. Drawn from relaxed feet of dried skins.] - -_Mustela africana_, all characters considered, is the most aberrant of -the American weasels. That is to say, greater difference prevails -between _M. africana_ and any other American weasel than exists between -any other two American weasels. The distinctive cranial and dental -characters, excepting the reduction in number of premolars, are of a -primitive nature. For example, the relatively wide postorbital region, -the large braincase that is inflated anteriorly, and the flattened -tympanic bullae are points of resemblance to the holarctic _Mustela -erminea_, the species which is regarded as most closely resembling the -stem form. Also, the mentioned characters in adults of _M. africana_ -resemble ontogenic stages passed through by other weasels. -Consequently, it is thought that _M. africana_ crossed the -filter-barrier from North America to South America, remained isolated -from the original stock for a length of time sufficient to permit -_africana_ to differentiate from North American weasels and _vice -versa_ to such a degree that crossbreeding with the _frenata_ stock was -prevented when _frenata_, at a later time, pushed southward over the, -then zoölogically less-effective, water barrier, or continental bridge -if it was by this time in existence. - -[Illustration: FIG. 23. Diagram indicating probable relationships of -the species of American weasels.] - -The four full species of American weasels may well be thought of as -having the same stem form of which _erminea_ is the most nearly direct -descendant. Geographic and climatic changes may have operated to -isolate, and then to foster morphologic differentiation of, first -_rixosa_ in Eurasia, next _africana_, third the _tropicalis_ section of -_M. frenata_, and finally _M. frenata_ itself, leaving _M. erminea_ as -a modern version, somewhat altered to be sure, of the stem form. Some -of these ideas are expressed in figure 16. The climate is different in -the ranges of the several species and the climate has changed through -time in the ranges of at least many subspecies. Natural selection of -morphological features best adapted to a particular kind of climate -probably has altered some species more than others. _M. erminea_ in -almost every one of its characteristics is generalized and potentially -progressive whereas _africana_ retains more characters which are truly -primitive along with a few which are specializations. _M. africana_ is -potentially the least progressive of any of the American weasels. The -most specialized weasels are the North American races of _Mustela -frenata_. A progressive series of increasing specialization is -comprised in (1) _M. africana_, (2) the _M. tropicalis_ (Central -American, lowland) section of _M. frenata_, and (3) the races of _M. -frenata_ in North America. - -Considering now features of the environment which have obviously -influenced the distribution and speciation of weasels, water barriers -are important. Bering Strait, Carquinez Strait (along with San -Francisco Bay) which opens through the Golden Gate, and the channels -between the islands of southeastern Alaska, have contributed to the -formation of subspecies. The difference is really slight on the two -sides of Bering Strait and San Francisco Bay and is slightly more on -two sides of each of several of the channels between the islands of -southeastern Alaska. The differences between the weasels on the two -sides of one of these water barriers supposedly result from the -preservation in animals on one side, or on one island, of small -mutations, which would be swamped by crossbreeding if the water barrier -were not present. The effect of this isolation is easily seen if -ermines from the Queen Charlotte Islands are compared with those of the -opposite mainland. The degree of morphological difference is great. -Isolationwise, the Queen Charlotte Islands are the seaward end of a -chain, beginning with Admiralty Island in southeastern Alaska, and are -farther from the mainland, zoölogically, than the distance in actual -miles across the water channel would suggest. Between any two islands -that are geographically consecutive, however, and between the mainland -and the first island of the chain, the difference in the ermines is -small. In other places, water barriers of equal or greater width have -contributed little if anything to the differentiation from one another -of weasels on the two sides of the water barrier. The strait between -eastern Canada and Newfoundland is an example. - -The absence of water, or scarcity of it to a degree that closely -approaches absence, in any large area appears to prevent weasels from -living there. At any rate, the one sizeable region of North America -from which weasels are unknown is the desert of the southwestern United -States and adjoining part of northwestern México. More precisely, in -western Arizona, the Mohave Desert and the desert of northwestern -Sonora, collectors of mammals have repeatedly sought small carnivores -without ever finding any weasels. - -Degree of moisture is closely correlated with color in weasels. -Humidity and cloudiness as well as actual precipitation seem to be -involved. Even if we take into account average annual rainfall alone, -the darkest-colored weasels are found in the areas of heaviest rainfall -and the lightest-colored weasels in areas of lightest rainfall (extreme -type of desert where no weasels occur being excepted). In any large -region where there is a geographic gradient in rainfall, the transition -from light to dark color almost exactly parallels the increase in -amount of rainfall. Within a given species the same color reappears in -widely separated areas that have the same amount and seasonal -distribution of rainfall. This correlation is repeated so often that -one can almost certainly say that heavy rainfall, or the associated -phenomena of high humidity and cloudiness, acting separately or -together, causes an increase in intensity of color. Relative extent of -the color of the upper parts and underparts and presence and absence of -light facial markings seem also to be correlated, in a more general -way, with differences in rainfall. A fuller discussion of the nature -and amount of the variation in color is given on page 51. - -Temperature seems not to be an important factor in directly limiting -the distribution of weasels, since _M. frenata_ occurs from the hottest -to some of the coldest parts of the Americas. Do _M. erminea_ and _M. -rixosa_ range no farther south, than they do at present, because high -temperatures constitute a barrier? No evidence is known to me which -provides an answer, one way or the other, to this question. Granting -that temperature is unimportant in limiting the distribution of -weasels, it seems to cause geographic variation. Increase in mean -annual temperature is correlated with decreased size in _M. erminea_ -and with increased size in _M. rixosa_. Temperature, it seems, causes -the hair to vary; the pelage is harsher and sparser in weasels from -tropical regions than in those from boreal regions. Difference in -number of hairs is especially well shown on the soles of the feet. In -the weasels from the far north, the pads are concealed by hair and in -the weasels from the tropical regions the soles are mostly bare. Also, -the hair on the soles of the feet is longer in northern than in -southern weasels. Furthermore there is seasonal change in length of the -hair on the soles of the feet; at a given locality in southern Canada -the hair of the white winter coat is so long on the soles of the feet -as to obscure completely the palmar and plantar pads whereas the hair -of the brown summer coat is shorter and leaves these pads boldly -exposed to view. This seasonal change, as would be expected, is most -marked in animals of northern regions and is not perceptible in those -from the tropics; it is correlated with increase in seasonal change as -the distance from the equator increases. - -Temperature and moisture acting together may cause extensive white -facial markings, that neither alone would cause. In _Mustela frenata_ -these markings occur where there is heavy rainfall and high mean annual -temperature. Where there is heavy rainfall and a low mean annual -temperature they do not occur and where there is high mean annual -temperature and light rainfall the markings are not pure white but are -of the same color as the underparts. Plate I and the description of -color on page 51 may be consulted in this connection. Extremely high -mean annual temperature together with extremely heavy rainfall may -inhibit the development of light facial markings. _M. f. meridana_, -_panamensis_ and _costaricensis_ are cases in point. In either -direction, north or south, from the territory inhabited by these three -subspecies a similar combination of temperature and rainfall is found -and similar light facial markings appear there. - -Considering the delicate response of structure to climate, a person -naturally questions whether or not natural selection accounts for all -of the differences between subspecies. To show that natural selection -determines the color of _Mustela frenata_, it would be necessary to -assume that climate, color, and utility of color are positively -correlated. Although climate (rainfall) and color are correlated in -such a manner that three subspecies of weasel in places as far apart as -New England, Perú, and the state of Washington are colored alike, other -features of the three environments are unlike. Kinds of animals which -the weasel catches for food, and flora in which the weasel finds -concealment, are dissimiliar. If natural selection alone determined the -color, some difference in color would be expected between the weasel -which needed to be obliteratively colored, that is camouflaged, the -better to catch a _Phyllotis_ in Perú and the weasel in Washington -which needed nature's aid in catching _Microtus_. _Mustela frenata -goldmani_ of the highlands of southern México, which is known to attack -the huge pocket gophers, _Orthogeomys_ and _Cratogeomys_, has a weaker -dental armature than _Mustela frenata texensis_ which does not have to -overcome prey so formidable as does _goldmani_. Equally formidable -enemies endanger _M. f. goldmani_ and _texensis_. Examples of this -nature could be multiplied. Without actually proving anything -concerning selection, these examples give reason for us to suppose that -some characters are not determined by natural selection. - -Another question upon which data obtained from a study of _Mustela_ has -some bearing, is this: Where the geographic ranges of two subspecies -meet, why does not the swamping effect of crossbreeding cause one -subspecies to disappear? Although swamping may have occurred in some -instances, it does not occur in the majority of instances. Witness the -long-continued existence of the living subspecies _Mustela frenata -nevadensis_ of which skulls are available from Pleistocene deposits. -Therefore, its distinctive characters, cranially at least, have been -maintained for a long time. Furthermore, these characters are -maintained over a large geographic region more than a thousand miles -across. On the eastern margin of its range, at the eastern base of the -Rocky Mountains in Colorado, _M. f. nevadensis_ intergrades in a -relatively narrow belt with the lighter-colored, longer-tailed and -cranially different _Mustela frenata longicauda_, which has a -geographic range almost equally extensive. _M. f. longicauda_ also is -uniform in its characters over a large area but at approximately 400 -miles east of the base of the Rocky Mountains, it begins to intergrade -with the darker-colored, shorter-tailed and cranially different -_Mustela frenata primulina_ and does so over a belt of 100 miles or -more in width. At any given locality within this wide belt of -intergradation the range of individual variation ordinarily does not -exceed that in animals from a given locality well within the geographic -range of _M. f. longicauda_. In the narrow belt of intergradation along -the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, the range of individual -variation at several places is greater than in animals from a given -locality well within the geographic range of _M. f. longicauda_ or for -that matter from well within the geographic range of _M. f. -nevadensis_. - -Considering the dominance and recessiveness of genes and the genetic -mechanism in general by which characteristics of offspring are -inherited from their parents, it would seem that _M. f. longicauda_ and -for that matter _M. f. nevadensis_ and _M. f. primulina_ would lose -their distinctive characteristics because of the crossbreeding that is -every year going on between _longicauda_ and _nevadensis_ on the one -hand and between _longicauda_ and _primulina_ on the other hand. - -Sumner (1932:84) suggests that homogeneity is prevented by population -pressure. Applying his suggestion to the species _Mustela frenata_ we -could say that the subspecies _longicauda_ pressing westward meets -strong pressure from the subspecies _nevadensis_ pressing eastward and -that the width of the zone of intergradation between the two subspecies -varies inversely with the strength of the population pressure from the -two sides. Sumner recognizes that according to his hypothesis the two -contiguous races would remain distinct only so long as there was a -preponderance of centrifugal movement from both of the centers of -dispersal. Sumner (_op. cit._:85) recognizes that an abrupt change of -environmental conditions could account in part for the boundaries of -the ranges of the two subspecies and finally that his hypothesis does -not certainly answer the question of why crossbreeding does not result -in homogeneity between two subspecies with contiguous geographic -ranges. - -The hypothesis of harmoniously stabilized complexes of genes was -offered by Timofeeff-Ressovsky (1940:124) to explain why the swamping -effect of crossbreeding does not obliterate subspecies. The hypothesis -takes into account that any one of several characters of a subspecies -may be caused by several genes. Some characters of this kind may be -favored by natural selection more than others. In the belt of -intergradation between two subspecies, where two of these favored -characters meet, a "biological tension" as Huxley (1939:415) terms it -"will result, which will produce _partial discontinuity_ between the -two groups. Each group will evolve a gene-complex which is not only -broadly adapted to the external environment of the central area of its -range, but is also harmoniously stabilized, in adaptation to the -internal genetic environment, by the selection of modifiers." Crosses, -that is to say intergrades, between the two subspecies will lack this -stabilization and will therefore be at a selective disadvantage. The -zone of intergradation will therefore remain narrow; intermediates are -constantly being brought into existence there by crossing but are as -constantly being extinguished by selection. - -These two hypotheses are the best that geneticists yet have offered. -Neither has been tested and both, as originally proposed, would hardly -apply everywhere because there are some contradictions. - -I can offer no better explanation--in fact no original one as good--but -would emphasize that under similar climate, weasels remain constant in -character, or at most do not vary beyond certain limits. Crossing at -the margins of ranges of two subspecies does not result in homogeneity -of weasels. There is, therefore, some stabilizing influence, or -influences, that maintain, and even develop, structural characteristics -of weasels in opposition to the contrary tendency of crossing. - -That this influence not only maintains uniform characters over areas of -large extent, but also permitted their development over large -geographic areas, must logically be supposed, for otherwise, -considering the swamping effect of crossing, such variations would not -have made their appearance in more than a few individuals. Also, if the -races had been formed in response to some kind of physiological -differentiation, or other non-climatic cause, the characters of the -population in the belt of intergradation probably would disappear in a -short time. In any event the close correlation between degree of change -in weasels and degree of change in climate, at once makes one suspect -that climate has been the deciding factor. Finally, when one recalls -that in certain parts of the animal, certain characters invariably -appear under similar climates and never under dissimilar climates, the -evidence is almost conclusive that, given long enough time, the animals -vary in response to climate. The variations (characters) may be induced -indirectly, but are no less exactly reproduced than if they can be -shown to be induced directly. - -In considering how the species and subspecies of American weasels were -formed and in attempting to account for some of the individual -characters, it is profitable to view the facts in the light of some of -the theories of species-formation--theories that are accessory to that -of organic descent and that are concerned with the _modus operandi_ of -organic descent. - -In any group of closely related species some of them, by the laws of -chance, are almost certain to be more primitive than others. _Mustela_ -is no exception and the more primitive species closely match, in -several characters, ontogenetic stages passed through by more advanced -species. Jaeckel's (1902) theory of metakinesis, therefore, is to be -considered since it postulates that many cases of epistasis occur; that -is to say, that many sexually adult animals are arrested in -development in early otogenetic stages and undergo no further -development. Although this theory is appealing upon initial -consideration, it is less so when we recall that in _Mustela_ there is -a direct correlation of increasingly primitive structure with -decreasing latitude as one proceeds from the steppe of North America -southward to the equator. It follows that the conditions seen in -_Mustela_ can be explained even better than by metakinesis, by assuming -that the several species have differentiated from a stem form at -different times, have developed at different rates, have developed in -different directions and that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny. - -The theory of Age and Area (see Willis, 1922) holds that the species of -widest distribution are, on the average, the oldest, and that the -species which are distributed over small areas are, in general, of -recent origin. So far as the weasels are concerned, little support is -given to this theory. The same can be said of any one of the teological -theories, including the orthogenesis of post-Darwinian writers. All of -these imply a determinate line of variation controlled by the inherent -qualities of the organism. The idea that the several species of -_Mustela_ result from mutations of large degree and sudden appearance -is contrary to the evidence accumulated. In fact the evidence rather -clearly indicates that the mutations which may have occurred were of -small degree and in most instances owe their preservation to natural -selection. - -The data obtained by the study of weasels accords almost exactly with -the theory of species-forming embodied in Matthew's (1915) "Climate and -Evolution." Although the essential features of this theory were made -out from a study of families and orders and therefore would not be -expected to apply to members of only a genus or subgenus, the facts -known about the present distribution of American _Mustela_, -nevertheless, are strikingly in accord with the ideas advanced by -Matthew. In the first place, climate is an important factor in the -evolution of the weasels. In the second place, the line of migration -seems to have been outward from the holarctic region. In the third -place, the geographic changes necessary to explain the present -distribution of the species of _Mustela_ are not extensive and do not -affect the permanency of oceans as defined by the continental shelf. -These three statements are, almost verbatim, those made in the first -three of the five points of Matthew's (1915:172-173) thesis. The -remaining two points of Matthew's thesis have to do with -generalizations based on evidence obtained from sources outside the -scope of the present study. - -Furthermore, the relative degrees of specialization of the different -species and subspecies in relation to their geographic distribution are -in accord with the ideas elaborated by Matthew. For instance, the most -primitive species is farthest south from the probable center of -dispersal, the holarctic region. Also the full species become -progressively more primitive as one proceeds southward from the -holarctic, or at least from the northern half of the nearctic, region. -Although, in view of the known geological changes that have occurred in -the Caribbean region, we cannot say that the more primitive species owe -their positions entirely to having been pushed farther south from the -center of dispersal by actual and _continuous_ contact and competition -with the more advanced species, this seems to have been the case in a -general way. At any rate the more primitive kinds seem to have been -prevented from pushing northward by the more advanced kinds which -developed there and the latter have actually pushed southward. - -Additionally and in review: There is strong indication that the -American species of weasels were formed by gradual and slow change. -Much of this change probably is the result of natural selection -operating on fortuitous variations of a minor nature, but, also, -particular features of the environment, especially climate, and more -especially amount of rainfall, seem to compel variations that -differentiate subspecies and that characterize full species--compel -some of them without the direct operation of natural selection, or at -least compel them within limits so wide that natural selection exerts -no exact control. - - - - -HISTORY OF CLASSIFICATION - - -In the earlier accounts of American weasels, from the time of Linnaeus -and before, up until 1890, names then in use for European weasels -frequently were applied also to those in North America. For the next 50 -years, and almost without exception after 1896, the American weasels -were regarded as specifically distinct from those in the Old World. In -this 50-year period many new names were proposed, usually as full -species, although now that material from more localities has been -brought together and studied, geographic intergradation is evident -between many of the named kinds and most of these names now therefore -take only subspecific rank. In 1933 Glover M. Allen showed that -_Mustela rixosa_ occurred also in the Old World, and in 1943 I -emphasized that a second American species, _Mustela erminea_, was -circumpolar in distribution. In neither _rixosa_, nor _erminea_, -however, were the subspecies the same in the two continents. To this -general outline of the nomenclature, exception must be made for weasels -of the southwestern United States, México and Central America, and -South America, because as early as 1813 a distinctive name was given to -one of these and weasels from the three areas mentioned were, so far as -I know, never given names of Old World kinds. - -The first paper that could be regarded as revisionary in nature was -"Remarks on the species of the genus Mustela" by the zoölogist and -world-traveler, Charles L. Bonaparte, in Charlesworth's Magazine of -Natural History, for 1838. In that paper three new names, _Mustela -cicognanii_, _M. richardsonii_ and _M. longicauda_, all still valid, -were proposed for American weasels. - -Audubon and Bachman in their "Quadrupeds of North America," which -appeared in parts from 1845 to 1853, recognized 5 species. Actually -they were dealing with only 3 taxonomically valid kinds. For one of -these, _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, they were misled by the -difference in size between males and females, and in the males by the -presence of a brown coat in some and a white coat in others. The male -that was white in winter they regarded as _Putorius ermineus_ of the -Old World; the male that was brown in winter they designated by their -earlier proposed name _P. fuscus_, and the female they named _P. -agilis_. The ermine, subspecies _M. erminea cicognanii_, they called -_P. pusillus_. Their fifth name, _P. frenatus_, included at least some -animals that today are assigned to the subspecies _M. frenata frenata_. -Each of three and perhaps four of the five names employed by Audubon -and Bachman embraced individuals of more than one species and in that -sense the names were composite. - -Only five years later, in 1858, Professor Spencer Fullerton Baird's -great work, "The Mammals of North America," made it clear that no -American weasel was identical (in the modern subspecific sense) with -any Old World weasel, and he applied most of his names in a correct -zoölogical sense. It is true that he thought that the female weasel of -the eastern United States was specifically different from the male, -misapplied to it the name _richardsonii_, and did not correctly -allocate every one of the few poor specimens available to him of the -little ermine (_M. e. streatori_) of the Pacific Coast; but he did -recognize that the least weasel was a distinct kind and his treatment -in general was excellent. - -After Baird came a period of great confusion in which most writers did -no better than had Audubon and Bachman, ordinarily confusing the two -sexes as different species, and, in 1877 in his "Fur-bearing Animals," -Elliot Coues went rather to the other extreme and allowed only 4 kinds -to all of the Americas, regarding two of these, for purposes of -zoölogical nomenclature, as identical with the European species. - -But, in 1896 Outram Bangs published "A Review of the Weasels of Eastern -North America" in which he correctly recognized eight kinds. Although -some of these were treated by him as full species, whereas the material -accumulated since 1896 has shown that subspecific status is in order, -his names, still in use, were correctly applied in every instance, save -probably one. This was his use of _Putorius richardsonii_ for the -animal now known as _M. e. arctica_. Unlike the earlier, excellent -treatment by Baird, this accurate one by Bangs was heeded and followed -by subsequent writers. For example, Dr. C. Hart Merriam in the same -year, 1896, accepted Bangs' conclusions except for correcting the -application of the name _richardsonii_. The principal contributions of -Merriam's paper "Synopsis of the Weasels of North America" were first, -the wider geographic scope and second, the naming as new of several -kinds outside the geographic area studied by Bangs. Otherwise the work -was not up to Dr. Merriam's usual standard and the internal evidence of -haste in its preparation and the superficial study of some of the -material at his disposal explain why the weasels of North America since -that time have been but little better understood than in 1896. Baird -and Bangs, then, unquestionably did the best systematic work on the -American weasels. - -In 1916 Dr. Joseph A. Allen published a valuable paper on the South -American weasels. The material available to him was inadequate and -prevented a thoroughly satisfactory treatment. There are too few -specimens even today to permit of a thorough treatment of the South -American weasels in the present paper; nevertheless the material today -is more nearly adequate than it was in 1916 and it is hoped that the -systematic arrangement is correspondingly improved. - - -Chronological List (annotated) of Specific and Subspecific Names -Applied to American Weasels - -At least eighty-seven specific and subspecific names have been proposed -for American weasels. Of these sixty-nine are now regarded as valid -designations of recognizable subspecies. The average is 1.2 names per -subspecies. Some names in the following chronological list were a -second time applied wholly or in part to some other kind of weasel. In -general, mention of the second or any other later application is -omitted from the following list but two usages of _agilis_ (1844 and -1853) and of _americana_ (1865) are recorded. - - 1734. =javonica= (_Mustela_) Seba, Locupletissimi Rerum naturalium - Thesauri ..., 1:77, 78, pl. 48, fig. 4. The weasel to which this - name was applied was said to have come from Java. Since no animal - answering to the description has again been found in Java, and - because specimens from Central America or possibly some from - northern India, may do so, it is conceivable that Seba was the - first to distinguish by name an American weasel from those in the - Old World. My attempts to locate the specimen concerned in places - where it might have been preserved along with some of the other - specimens thought to have belonged to Seba have been fruitless. - Since it is impossible positively to link Seba's description with - any known weasel, no further use is made of the name _javonica_ in - the present account. - - 1772. =erminea= (_Mustela_) Forster [= _Mustela erminea - richardsonii_], Philos. Trans., London, 1772:373. Forster's use of - the name is one of the earliest applications of it to American - animals. The name dates from Linnaeus, Syst. Naturae, (10th ed.) - 1:46, 1758, with type locality in Europe. In the subspecific sense - the name applies to the ermine which occurs over most of the - Scandinavian Peninsula, if Miller (1912:387) be followed in - regarding the type locality as Upsala, Sweden. If, instead, - Cabrera (1913A:394-396) be followed in regarding the type locality - as in Switzerland, the name, in the subspecific sense, will apply - to the ermine of continental Europe. As the earliest available - name applied to the circumpolar species concerned, it is used now - as the name of the species in the New World as well as in the Old - World. From the time of Forster until approximately 1890 the name - _erminea_ by many, but not by all, authors was applied to the - American weasels in the belief that they were zoölogically - indistinguishable from those in the Old World. From 1896 to 1943 - the name was not used by American authors at all because the - ermine of America was in 1896 treated nomenclaturally by Merriam - as specifically distinct from the animal in the Old World. Since - 1943 _erminea_ has been used in the specific sense for American - animals in recognition of the circumpolar distribution of the - species. Some of the early allocations of American specimens to - _erminea_ probably resulted in a composite use of the name in that - one or another subspecies of the American species _Mustela - frenata_ may also have been included with individuals truly of the - species _erminea_. - - 1772. =nivalis= (_Mustela_), Forster, Philos. Trans., London, - 1772:373. This is one of the early applications of this name to - American weasels of small size, made in the belief that they were - taxonomically the same in America and Europe. Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. - (12th ed.) 1:69, 1766 is the authority for the name [_Mustela_] - _nivalis_, and the Province of Vesterbotten, Sweden, is regarded - as the type locality. The name is in use today for the common - weasel of Europe and parts of Asia. Animals of the species - _nivalis_ are intermediate in size between _Mustela erminea_ and - _Mustela rixosa_. The name as used for American animals by some - authors who wrote later than Forster did, probably was composite - in that these authors may have applied the name to the small - weasels of North America and thus may have intended it to apply - not only to _Mustela erminea cicognanii_ but also to females of - _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, and conceivably to both sexes of - _Mustela rixosa_ of any American subspecies. - - 1813. =Brasiliensis= (_Mustela_) Sevastianoff, Mem. Acad. Imp. - Sci. St. Petersburg, 4:356-363, table (= plate) 4. This name was - proposed for a weasel brought to St. Petersburg by Capt. - Krusenstern on his return from a voyage around the world. The - animal was said to have come from Brazil, but to judge from the - description, came instead from México, Central America, or west of - the Andes in South America, and was based on some one of the - subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Although the name was in use for - more than 60 years it was shown by Merriam (1896:27) to be - unavailable because it was preoccupied by _Mustela brasiliensis_, - a name earlier used by Gmelin (Syst. Nat., ed. 13, p. 93, 1788) - for a South American otter. - - 1815. =vulgaris= (_Mustela_), Ord, Guthrie's Geography as - reprinted by Rhoads in 1894, vol. 2, p. 291. This use by Ord is - one of the earliest applications of this name to American weasels, - in the belief that the smaller weasels of North America and Europe - were zoölogically the same; [_Mustela_] _vulgaris_ seems - originally to have been proposed in 1777 by Erxleben on p. 471 of - vol. 1 of his Syst. Regni Anim., for the weasel of the temperate - part of Europe and to be a synonym of _Mustela nivalis_ Linnaeus - (1766). Probably the name as used by Ord was composite in the - sense that he may have intended it to apply to females of _Mustela - frenata noveboracensis_ as well as to one or both sexes of - _Mustela erminea cicognanii_ and, if he ever saw them, to the two - sexes of _Mustela rixosa_ (one or several subspecies). - - 1818. =africana= (_Mustela_) Desmarest [= _Mustela africana - africana_], Nouv. Diction, d. Hist. Nat., 19:376. In 1808 E. - Geoffroy St.-Hilaire visited Portugal and was given several - African primates and the specimen of _Mustela_ named by Desmarest - in 1818 who wrongly supposed that it, like most of the primates, - came originally from Africa. After the name had been misapplied - for 95 years Angel Cabrera showed that it pertained instead to the - tropical weasel of Brazil. Of distinctive names applied to - American weasels today, this is the one first proposed. - - 1832. =frenata= (_Mustela_) Lichtenstein [= _Mustela frenata - frenata_], Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Säugethiere, pl. - 42 and corresponding text unpaged. This name is the first one - available for the long-tailed weasel and therefore applies to the - species as a whole. - - 1838. =Cicognanii= (_Mustela_) Bonaparte [= _Mustela erminea - cicognanii_], Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:38. The name - erroneously spelled _Cigognanii_ was correctly spelled on page 39. - For a detailed consideration of this name see the account of the - subspecies _cicognanii_ on page 120. - - 1838. =Richardsonii= (_Mustela_) Bonaparte [= _Mustela erminea - richardsonii_], Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:39. Until 1896 - the name sometimes was applied to the subspecies now known as _M. - e. arctica_ and sometimes to part of the subspecies now designated - as _M. e. cicognanii_ under the principal treatment of which see - (page 120) for a detailed account of the basis of the name - _=richardsonii=_, and the reasons for regarding Fort Franklin as - the type locality. - - 1838. =longicauda= (_Mustela_) Bonaparte [= _=Mustela frenata - longicauda=_], Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:39. The type - locality appears to be Carlton House, Saskatchewan, and the name - always seems to have been applied to the long-tailed weasel of the - Great Plains, although in some earlier accounts the name was used - in a more inclusive sense to refer also to animals now of - subspecies closely allied to _longicauda_. As with the two - preceding names, a detailed consideration of the basis for, and - application of, this name is given on pages 120-123 in the account - of _Mustela erminea cicognanii_. - - 1840. =Noveboracensis= (_Putorius_) Emmons [= _Mustela frenata - noveboracensis_], Quadrupeds of Mass., p. 45. This name was - credited by Emmons to De Kay who in the same year published it in - his report on the "Zoology of New York" but without a description - and De Kay's name is a _nomen nudum_. Emmons' was the first use of - the name accompanied by a recognizable description and therefore - the name must date from Emmons although this obviously was not his - intent since he credited the name to De Kay. - - 1842. =fuscus= (_Putorius_) Audubon and Bachman [= _Mustela - frenata noveboracensis_], Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, 8: - (pt. 2) 288. - - 1842. =pusilla= (_Mustela_) De Kay [= _Mustela erminea - cicognanii_], Nat. Hist. of New York, Zool., Pt. 1, Mammalia, p. - 34. This name was proposed for small weasels of 12 to 13 inches in - length of which the tail amounted to a fourth of the same and - although obviously applying in considerable part to the earlier - named _M. e. cicognanii_ seems to have included some individuals - of the also earlier named _M. f. noveboracensis_. - - 1843. =xanthogenys= (_Mustela_) Gray [= _Mustela frenata - xanthogenys_], Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 11:118, February, 1843, - was applied to all of the long-tailed weasels of California that - had light-colored facial markings. Merriam in 1896 suggested that - San Diego was the type locality and in 1899 Bangs proposed the - name _mundus_ for the California weasel north of San Francisco Bay - thus restricting the application of the name _xanthogenys_. In - 1936 Hall further restricted the application of the name and - applied it to the long-tailed weasel of the big interior valley of - California, pointing out that the name was correctly applied to - this weasel of the big interior valley or possibly instead to the - race named _munda_. - - 1844. =agilis= (_Mustela_) Tschudi [= _Mustela frenata agilis_], - Untersuch. ü. die Fauna Peruana, p. 110, is a name applied today - to the race of weasel of the Temperate Zone of the western Andes - and intermountain valleys of Perú. - - 1851. =nigripes= (_Putorius_) Audubon and Bachman [= _Mustela - nigripes_], Quadr. N. Amer., 2:297, 1851, applies to the - black-footed ferret of North America. - - 1853. =agilis= (_Putorius_) Audubon and Bachman [= _Mustela - frenata noveboracensis_], Viv. Quadrupeds N. Amer., 3:184, pl. - 140. This name was proposed for the female in the mistaken belief - that it was specifically distinct from the larger male for which - several names already were available. Also Tschudi in 1844 had - already used the name _Mustela agilis_ for a South American - weasel. - - 1864. =aureoventris= (_Mustela_) Gray [= _Mustela frenata - aureoventris_], Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, 1864:55, pl. 8, February - 9, 1864, is the name applicable to the dark-colored weasel of the - Pacific coastal region of Ecuador and Columbia. - - 1865. =americana= (_Mustela erminea_ Var. 3) Gray, Proc. Zoöl. - Soc. London, 1865:111. The larger individuals of American weasels - of both _Mustela erminea_ and _Mustela frenata_ from the Atlantic - Coast to as far west as Carlton House, Saskatchewan, were lumped - under this name because Gray desired more information than he then - had before recognizing as different from one another several - species proposed for America up to the time concerned. The name is - unavailable because it is preoccupied by _Mustela americana_ - Turton (1806) the name for the American marten. - - 1865. =americana= (_Mustela vulgaris_ Var.) Gray, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. - London, 1865:113. Under this name the smaller weasels of the - northern and northeastern part of North America were lumped by - Gray but the name is preoccupied and can be ignored. - - 1874. =affinis= (_Mustela_) Gray [= _Mustela frenata affinis_], - Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 14 (ser. 4):375, 1874, from New Granada - [= Colombia], had the type locality restricted to Bogotá, - Colombia, by Allen in 1916, and is applied to the long-tailed - weasel of the tropical and temperate zones of the eastern Andes of - Colombia. - - 1874. =macrura= (_Mustela_) Taczanowski [= _Mustela frenata - macrura_], Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, for 1874, p. 311, pl. 48, May - 19, 1874, applies to the long-tailed weasel of central Perú and - northern Ecuador. - - 1877. =culbertsoni= (_Putorius_) Coues [= _Mustela frenata - longicauda_], Fur-bearing animals ..., p. 136, 1877, is based on - specimens from Fort Laramie, Wyoming. In the past the name has - been regarded as a _nomen nudum_ but there is some reason for - regarding it as having nomenclatural status. In either event it is - here arranged as pertaining to the long-tailed weasel of the Great - Plains which takes the prior name _longicauda_. See the account of - _longicauda_ for a more detailed account of the name - _culbertsoni_. - - 1877. =aequatorialis= (_Putorius_ (_Gale_) _brasiliensis_) Coues - [= _Mustela frenata aureoventris_], Fur-bearing animals ..., p. - 142. Proposed "merely as a substitute for Gray's [supposedly] - preoccupied name," _aureoventris_. - - 1881. =stolzmanni= (_Mustela_) Taczanowski [= _Mustela africana - stolzmanni_], Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, for 1881, p. 835, November - 15, 1881, is applied to the tropical weasel of the Upper Amazon - Basin. - - 1881. =jelskii= (_Mustela_) Taczanowski [= _Mustela frenata - macrura_], Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, for 1881, p. 647, May 17, - 1881, was proposed for the female in the mistaken opinion that it - was specifically distinct from the larger male which the same - author previously had named _macrura_. - - 1891. =arizonensis= (_Putorius_) Mearns [= _Mustela frenata - arizonensis_], Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:234, June 5, 1891, - until 1936 was applied to long-tailed weasels of most of the - western United States west of the Great Plains but by restriction - since 1936 has been applied only to the animals in parts of - Arizona and New Mexico. - - 1894. =peninsulae= (_Putorius_) Rhoads [= _Mustela frenata - peninsulae_], Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1894:152, June - 19, 1894, applies to the weasel of central and southern Florida. - - 1896. =alascensis= (_Putorius richardsonii_) Merriam [= _Mustela - erminea alascensis_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:12, June 30, 1896, with - type locality at Juneau, Alaska, has been used for the ermine of - southeastern Alaska ever since it was proposed. In 1944 separate - subspecific rank was accorded ermines on several of the islands of - southeastern Alaska which proportionately restricted the range - assigned to _alascensis_. - - 1896. =streatori= (_Putorius_) Merriam [= _Mustela erminea - streatori_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:13, June 30, 1896, applies to the - ermine of the Pacific Coast from Puget Sound, Washington, south - nearly to the Golden Gate of California. - - 1896. =arcticus= (_Putorius_) Merriam [= _Mustela erminea - arctica_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:15, June 30, 1896. Ever since it was - proposed, this name has been applied to the subspecies of ermine - of Alaska and the northern parts of Canada. - - 1896. =kadiacensis= ([_Putorius arcticus_]) Merriam [= _Mustela - erminea kadiacensis_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:16, June 30, 1896, is a - valid name applied to the ermine of Kodiak Island, Alaska. - - 1896. =washingtoni= (_Putorius_) Merriam [= _Mustela frenata - washingtoni_], N. Amer. Fauna 11:18, June 30, 1896, applies to the - long-tailed weasel of the southern Cascades of Washington and the - northern Cascades of Oregon. - - 1896. =saturatus= (_Putorius_) Merriam [= _Mustela frenata - saturata_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:21, June 30, 1896, was little used - until 1936 but applies to long-tailed weasel of limited region in - northern California and southern Oregon. - - 1896. =alleni= (_Putorius_) Merriam [= _Mustela frenata alleni_], - N. Amer. Fauna, 11:24, June 30, 1896, applies to weasel of Black - Hills region. - - 1896. =oregonensis= (_Putorius xanthogenys_) Merriam [= _Mustela - frenata oregonensis_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:25, June 30, 1896, - applies to long-tailed weasel of parts of western Oregon and - northern California. - - 1896. =goldmani= (_Putorius frenatus_) Merriam [= _Mustela frenata - goldmani_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:28, June 30, 1896, applies to the - long-tailed weasel of Chiapas, and parts of Guatemala and - Salvador. - - 1896. =leucoparia= (_Putorius frenatus_) Merriam [= _Mustela - frenata leucoparia_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:29, June 30, 1896, - applies to the long-tailed weasel of Michoacán and Nayarit. - - 1896. =tropicalis= (_Putorius_) Merriam [= _Mustela frenata - tropicalis_], N. Amer. Fauna, 11:30, June 30, 1896, applies to the - long-tailed weasel of the Tropical Life-zone of Veracruz. - - 1896. =spadix= (_Putorius longicaudus_) Bangs [= _Mustela frenata - spadix_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:8, February 25, 1896, - applies to the long-tailed weasel of Minnesota and adjoining - areas. - - 1896. =rixosus= (_Putorius_) Bangs [= _Mustela rixosa rixosa_], - Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:21, February 25, 1896, applies to - the least weasel of Saskatchewan and adjoining areas and as the - first available name for the species has been used as the specific - name for the species in America since 1896. - - 1897. =paraensis= (_Putorius (Mustela) braziliensis_) Goeldi [= - _Mustela africana africana_], Zool. Jahrb., abt. f. systematik, - geogr. u. biol., 10:560, pl. 21, September 15, 1897, a synonym for - the weasel of the lower Amazon area. - - 1898. =neomexicanus= (_Putorius frenatus_) Barber and Cockerell [= - _Mustela frenata neomexicana_], Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. - Philadelphia, p. 188, May 3, 1898, applies to the long-tailed - weasel of New Mexico, Arizona, Durango and adjoining areas. - - 1898. =haidarum= (_Putorius_) Preble [= _Mustela erminea - haidarum_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 12:169, August 10, 1898, - applies to the ermine of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British - Columbia. - - 1899. =notius= (_Putorius noveboracensis_) Bangs [= _Mustela - frenata noveboracensis_], Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:53, June - 9, 1899, was applied to the long-tailed weasel of the Carolinas - until 1936 since which time it has been regarded as a synonym of - _noveboracensis_. - - 1899. =occisor= (_Putorius_) Bangs [= _Mustela frenata occisor_], - Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:54, June 9, 1899, applies to the - long-tailed weasel of central and northern Maine. Until 1936, - occisor was ordinarily used as the name of a full species but - since then has been arranged as a subspecific name under _Mustela - frenata_. - - 1899. =mundus= (_Putorius xanthogenys_) Bangs [= _Mustela frenata - munda_], Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:56, June 9, 1899, is now - applied, and generally has been since 1899, to the long-tailed - weasel of the coastal district of California north of San - Francisco Bay. - - 1899. =muricus= (_Putorius (Arctogale)_) Bangs [= _Mustela erminea - muricus_], Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:71, July 31, 1899, - applies to the diminutive ermine, often erroneously designated - least weasel, of the western United States. - - 1899. =oribasus= (_Putorius (Arctogale) longicauda_) Bangs [= - _Mustela frenata oribasus_], Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:81, - December 27, 1899, applies to the long-tailed weasel of the Rocky - Mountains northward from Yellowstone National Park. - - 1900. =eskimo= (_Putorius rixosus_) Stone [= _Mustela rixosa - eskimo_], Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1900:44, March 24, - 1900, is applied to the least weasel of Alaska and adjacent parts - of boreal North America. - - 1901. =allegheniensis= (_Putorius_) Rhoads [= _Mustela rixosa - allegheniensis_], Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1900:75, - March 25, 1901, applies to the least weasel of the eastern United - States. - - 1902. =perdus= (_Putorius tropicalis_) Merriam [= _Mustela frenata - perda_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:67, March 22, 1902, - applies to the long-tailed weasel of the Lower Tropical Life-zone - from southern Veracruz into Guatemala. - - 1903. =microtis= (_Putorius_) Allen [= _Mustela erminea - richardsonii_], Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 19:563, October 10, - 1903, is a name applied to an individual ermine of small size from - Shesley, British Columbia, which Allen thought was specifically - distinct from the ermine of the Hudsonian Life-zone and adjacent - territory. Now the name is arranged as a synonym of - _richardsonii_. - - 1904. =audax= (_Putorius_) Barrett-Hamilton [= _Mustela erminea - arctica_], Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, 13:392, May, 1904. In - the original description the type locality, Discovery Bay, was - erroneously stated to be in Greenland and the name _audax_ until - 1945 was applied to the kind of weasel occurring in northern - Greenland whereas the type specimen was taken instead in northern - Ellesmere Island and because the weasel there is subspecifically - indistinguishable from ermines from farther west, _audax_ is a - synonym of _Putorius arcticus_. - - 1904. =imperii= (_Putorius arcticus_) Barrett-Hamilton [= _Mustela - erminea richardsonii_], Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, 13:392, - May, 1904, based on an animal from Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, - Canada, proves to be inseparable from _richardsonii_ which has - priority. - - 1904. =polaris= (_Putorius arcticus_) Barrett-Hamilton [= _Mustela - erminea polaris_], Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, 13:393, May, - 1904, is the name used for the ermine of eastern Greenland and - since 1945 has been used for the weasel of Greenland as a whole. - - 1905. =macrophonius= (_Putorius_) Elliott [= _Mustela frenata - macrophonius_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 18:235, December 9, - 1905, applies to the long-tailed weasel of the mountains along the - eastern border of Veracruz. - - 1906. =leptus= (_Putorius streatori_) Merriam [= _Mustela erminea - murica_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 16:76, May 29, 1903, until - 1945 was applied to the diminutive ermine of the Rocky Mountains - from Wyoming south to northern New Mexico but proves to be a - synonym of _muricus_ with type locality in the Sierra Nevada of - California. - - 1908. =angustidens= (_Putorius cicognanii_) Brown [= _Mustela - erminea angustidens_], Mem. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 9(pt. 4):181, - pl. 17, is applied to an extinct subspecies known from fossil - remains of Pleistocene age from northern Arkansas. - - 1908. =gracilis= (_Putorius_) Brown [= _Mustela frenata - gracilis_], Mem. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 9(pt. 4):182, 1908, - applies to a Pleistocene weasel known from a single skull from - northern Arkansas. - - 1912. =costaricensis= (_Mustela_) Goldman [= _Mustela frenata - costaricensis_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:9, January 23, - 1912, applies to the long-tailed weasel of Costa Rica. - - 1913. =primulina= (_Mustela_) Jackson [= _Mustela frenata - primulina_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:123, May 21, 1913, - applies to the long-tailed weasel of the central part of the - United States in eastern Kansas and adjoining areas. - - 1913. =campestris= (_Mustela_) Jackson [= _Mustela rixosa - campestris_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:124, May 21, 1913, - applies to the least weasel of the Great Plains region. - - 1913. =olivacea= (_Mustela peninsulae_) Howell [= _Mustela frenata - olivacea_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:139, May 21, 1913, - applies to the long-tailed weasel of the southeastern United - States excepting most of Florida. - - 1914. =meridana= (_Mustela_) Hollister [= _Mustela frenata - meridana_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 27:143, July 10, 1914, - applies to the long-tailed weasel of northern South America. - - 1916. =nicaraguae= (_Mustela tropicalis_) Allen [= _Mustela - frenata nicaraguae_], Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:100, April - 28, 1916, applies to the long-tailed weasel of Nicaragua. - - 1927. =arthuri= (_Mustela noveboracensis_) Hall [= _Mustela - frenata arthuri_], Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 40:193, December - 2, 1927, applies to the long-tailed weasel of Louisiana and - adjoining areas. - - 1932. =semplei= (_Mustela arctica_) Sutton and Hamilton [= - _Mustela erminea semplei_], Ann. Carnegie Mus., 21(2):79, February - 13, 1932, originally was applied to the ermine of Southampton - Island but after 1945 was applied also to the ermine of Baffin - Island, Melville Peninsula and the west side of Hudsons Bay as far - south as Eskimo Point. - - 1932. =panamensis= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 45:139, September 9, 1932, applies to the long-tailed - weasel of Panamá. - - 1932. =anguinae= (_Mustela cicognanii_) Hall [= _Mustela erminea - anguinae_], Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 38:417, November 8, - 1932, applies to the ermine of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. - - 1935. =labiata= (_Mustela arctica_) Degerbøl [= _Mustela erminea - semplei_], Rept. 5th Thule Exped., 1921-1924, vol. 2, no. 4, p. - 25, 1935. When Degerbøl wrote his description and proposed this - name he was unaware that Sutton and Hamilton had three years - before based a new name on weasels from Southampton Island. - Because the two names apply to the same subspecies, Degerbøl's - name, _labiata_, must fall as a synonym of _semplei_ which has - priority. - - 1935. =helleri= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 48:143, August 22, 1935, applies to the long-tailed - weasel of eastern Perú. - - 1936. =nevadensis= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 91, November 20, 1945, applies to - the long-tailed weasel of the western United States. For many - years, animals of this subspecies were referred to _longicauda_ - and from 1891 until 1936 to _arizonensis_. - - 1936. =effera= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 93, November 20, 1945, applies to - the long-tailed weasel of the Blue Mountains region. From 1891 - until 1936 this animal was referred to under the name - _arizonensis_. - - 1936. =altifrontalis= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 94, November 20, 1936, applies to - the long-tailed weasel of the humid coastal district from Puget - Sound southward into Oregon. - - 1936. =nigriauris= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 95, November 20, 1936, applies to - the long-tailed weasel of the coastal district of California from - San Francisco Bay southward to Point Concepcion. Previous to 1936, - _xanthogenys_ was the name applied to this race of weasel. - - 1936. =latirostra= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 96, November 20, 1936, applies to - the long-tailed weasel of southern California which previously had - borne the name _xanthogenys_. - - 1936. =pulchra= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 98, November 20, 1936, is applied to - the long-tailed weasel of the southern end of the San Joaquin - Valley of California. - - 1936. =inyoensis= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 99, November 20, 1936, is applied to - the long-tailed weasel of Owens Valley, California. - - 1936. =texensis= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 99, November 20, 1936, applies to - the long-tailed weasel of central Texas which previously had been - assigned to the subspecies _frenata_. - - 1936. =perotae= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Carnegie Inst. - Washington, publ. no. 473, p. 100, November 20, 1936, applies to - long-tailed weasel of the mountains along the Puebla-México - boundary. - - 1938. =boliviensis= (_Mustela frenata_) Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 51:67, May 18, 1938, applies to the southernmost known - long-tailed weasel which is in the Lake Titicaca region in Perú - and Bolivia. - - 1944. =salva= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 57:35, June 28, 1944, applies to the ermine of - Admiralty Island, southeastern Alaska. - - 1944. =initis= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 57:37, June 28, 1944, applies to the ermine of Baranof - and Chichagof islands, southeastern Alaska. - - 1944. =celenda= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 57:38, June 28, 1944, applies to the ermine of Prince - of Wales, Dall and Long islands, Alaska. - - 1944. =seclusa= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 57:39, June 28, 1944, applies to the ermine of Suemez - Island, southeastern Alaska. - - 1945. =invicta= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Jour. Mamm., 26:75, - February 27, 1945, applies to the ermine of the Rocky Mountains - for several hundred miles both north and south of the United - States-Canadian boundary. - - 1945. =fallenda= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Jour. Mamm., 26:79, - February 27, 1945, applies to the ermine of the coastal mainland - in southern British Columbia and northern Washington. - - 1945. =olympica= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Jour. Mamm., 26:81, - February 27, 1945, applies to the diminutive ermine of the Olympic - Peninsula, state of Washington. - - 1945. =gulosa= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Jour. Mamm., 26:84, - February 27, 1945, applies to the diminutive ermine of the - Cascades in Washington. - - 1945. =bangsi= (_Mustela erminea_) Hall, Jour. Mamm., 26:176, July - 19, 1945, is the name applied today to the ermine of the western - Great Lakes region. - -In 1925 when this study was begun, the American weasels (subgenus -_Mustela_ proper) were arranged as belonging to 47 kinds (including -subspecies) of 29 full species. In the present account a total of 68 -kinds, belonging to 4 full species are recognized in the subgenus -_Mustela_. The increase in number of subspecies and the decrease in -number of species are the nomenclatural results ordinarily obtained in -this decade from a systematic study of a genus of American mammals. - - - - -CHECK-LIST OF AMERICAN SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF THE GENUS MUSTELA - -Subgenus =MUSTELA= Linnaeus - - - PAGE - _Mustela erminea_ 87 - _Mustela erminea arctica_ (Merriam) 96 - _Mustela erminea polaris_ (Barrett-Hamilton) 103 - _Mustela erminea semplei_ Sutton and Hamilton 105 - _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_ (Merriam) 108 - _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ Bonaparte 110 - _Mustela erminea cicognanii_ Bonaparte 118 - _Mustela erminea bangsi_ Hall 124 - _Mustela erminea invicta_ Hall 128 - _Mustela erminea alascensis_ (Merriam) 131 - _Mustela erminea salva_ Hall 135 - _Mustela erminea initis_ Hall 136 - _Mustela erminea celenda_ Hall 139 - _Mustela erminea seclusa_ Hall 141 - _Mustela erminea haidarum_ (Preble) 142 - _Mustela erminea anguinae_ Hall 145 - _Mustela erminea fallenda_ Hall 148 - _Mustela erminea olympica_ Hall 153 - _Mustela erminea streatori_ (Merriam) 155 - _Mustela erminea gulosa_ Hall 159 - _Mustela erminea muricus_ (Bangs) 161 - _Mustela erminea angustidens_ (Brown) 165 - - _Mustela rixosa_ 168 - _Mustela rixosa eskimo_ Stone 181 - _Mustela rixosa rixosa_ Bangs 184 - _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_ Rhoads 187 - _Mustela rixosa campestris_ Jackson 190 - - _Mustela frenata_ 193 - _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ (Emmons) 222 - _Mustela frenata occisor_ (Bangs) 230 - _Mustela frenata primulina_ (Jackson) 232 - _Mustela frenata arthuri_ Hall 241 - _Mustela frenata olivacea_ Howell 244 - _Mustela frenata peninsulae_ Rhoads 250 - _Mustela frenata spadix_ (Bangs) 252 - _Mustela frenata longicauda_ Bonaparte 262 - _Mustela frenata oribasus_ (Bangs) 270 - _Mustela frenata alleni_ (Merriam) 274 - _Mustela frenata arizonensis_ (Mearns) 276 - _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ Hall 280 - _Mustela frenata effera_ Hall 291 - _Mustela frenata washingtoni_ (Merriam) 294 - _Mustela frenata saturata_ (Merriam) 297 - _Mustela frenata altifrontalis_ Hall 300 - _Mustela frenata oregonensis_ (Merriam) 304 - _Mustela frenata munda_ (Bangs) 309 - _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_ Gray 315 - _Mustela frenata nigriauris_ Hall 319 - _Mustela frenata latirostra_ Hall 323 - _Mustela frenata pulchra_ Hall 328 - _Mustela frenata inyoensis_ Hall 331 - _Mustela frenata neomexicana_ (Barber and Cockerell) 333 - _Mustela frenata texensis_ Hall 338 - _Mustela frenata frenata_ Lichtenstein 341 - _Mustela frenata leucoparia_ (Merriam) 347 - _Mustela frenata perotae_ Hall 351 - _Mustela frenata goldmani_ (Merriam) 355 - _Mustela frenata macrophonius_ (Elliot) 360 - _Mustela frenata tropicalis_ (Merriam) 363 - _Mustela frenata perda_ (Merriam) 366 - _Mustela frenata nicaraguae_ Allen 370 - _Mustela frenata costaricensis_ Goldman 372 - _Mustela frenata panamensis_ Hall 375 - _Mustela frenata meridana_ Hollister 379 - _Mustela frenata affinis_ Gray 384 - _Mustela frenata aureoventris_ Gray 387 - _Mustela frenata helleri_ Hall 391 - _Mustela frenata agilis_ Tschudi 393 - _Mustela frenata macrura_ Taczanowski 398 - _Mustela frenata boliviensis_ Hall 402 - _Mustela frenata gracilis_ (Brown) 404 - - -Subgenus =Grammogale= Cabrera - - _Mustela africana_ 406 - _Mustela africana africana_ Desmarest 409 - _Mustela africana stolzmanni_ Taczanowski 413 - - -Subgenus =Putorius= Cuvier - -(Black-footed Ferret--not treated in present work) - - _Mustela nigripes_ (Audubon and Bachman) - - -Subgenus =Lutreola= Wagner - -(Minks--not treated in present work) - - _Mustela vison_ - _Mustela vison vison_ Schreber - _Mustela vison mink_ Peale and Beauvois - _Mustela vison lutensis_ (Bangs) - _Mustela vison evergladensis_ Hamilton - _Mustela vison vulgivaga_ (Bangs) - _Mustela vison letifera_ Hollister - _Mustela vison lacustris_ (Preble) - _Mustela vison energumenos_ (Bangs) - _Mustela vison evagor_ Hall - _Mustela vison aestuarina_ Grinnell - _Mustela vison nesolestes_ (Heller) - _Mustela vison melampelus_ (Elliot) - _Mustela vison ingens_ (Osgood) - _Mustela macrodon_ (Prentiss) - - - - -ARTIFICIAL KEY TO AMERICAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS MUSTELA - - - PAGE - - A Length of upper tooth-rows less than 20 mm. in males and - 17.8 mm. in females. - - B Postglenoid length of skull more than 47 per cent of - condylobasal length. - - C Tail without a black pencil and with at most a few - black hairs at extreme tip; in both sexes mastoid - breadth ordinarily exceeds breadth of braincase, - _Mustela rixosa_, least weasel, p. 168 - - C' Tail with a black pencil; in females mastoid breadth - ordinarily exceeded by breadth of braincase, - _Mustela erminea_, ermine, p. 87 - - B' Postglenoid length of skull less than 47 per cent of - condylobasal length. - - D Tail with distinct black tip; midventral line white, - yellowish, orange, not same color as upper parts; p2 - present; thenar pad on forefoot absent, - _Mustela frenata_, long-tailed weasel, p. 193 - - D' Tail without black tip; midventral line same color - as upper parts; p2 absent; thenar pad on forefoot - present, - _Mustela africana_, tropical weasel, p. 406 - - A' Length of upper tooth-rows more than 20 mm. in males and - 17.8 mm. in females. - - E Abdomen all white; face with blackish mask; m1 lacking - even a trace of a metaconid; distance between upper - canines more than width of basioccipital as measured - between foramina situated midway along medial sides of - tympanic bullae, - _Mustela nigripes_, black-footed ferret. - - E' Abdomen dark brown, like back; face uniformly brown - without blackish mask; m1 with incipient metaconid; - distance between upper canines less than width of - basioccipital as measured between foramina situated - midway along medial sides of tympanic bullae, - _Mustela vison_, mink, American mink. - - - - -DIAGNOSIS OF THE GENUS - -Genus =Mustela= Linnaeus - -Weasels, Ferrets, Polecats, Minks - - -_Genotype._--_Mustela erminea_ Linnaeus. - -_Diagnosis._--Legs short; body relatively long; adults 190 mm. to 700 -mm. in total length; skull ranging in basilar length from 16 to 70 mm.; -facial angle slight; tympanic bullae greatly inflated (moderately in -_Lutreola_), cancellous, and with paroccipital processes closely -appressed to bullae; palate behind upper molars; dental formula: - - I 3 C 1 P 2-3 M 1 - -, -; -, -; -, ---; -, -; inner moiety of M1 larger than outer; P4 - i 3 c 1 p 3-2 m 2 - -with simple deuterocone; in m1 inner moiety of M1 larger than outer; P4 -with simple deuterocone; in m1 trigonid longer than talonid, metaconid -absent (incipiently developed in _Lutreola_), and talonid trenchant. - -For many years prior to 1911, the name _Mustela_ was applied to -martens, and _Putorius_ was regarded as the first available generic -name for the weasels. In 1911 Thomas (1911:139) showed that _M. -erminea_ (_Mustela_ of Gesner) by tautonymy was the type of _Mustela_ -and subsequently the generic name _Mustela_ has been used for the true -weasels which include the American weasels to which we now apply the -specific names _erminea_, _rixosa_ and _frenata_. The mink, _Mustela -(Lutreola) vison_, and the black-footed ferret, _Mustela (Putorius) -nigripes_, since 1911 also have been referred by most American authors -to the genus _Mustela_, the names _Lutreola_ and _Putorius_ being -regarded by these authors as having no more than subgeneric status. -European writers, on the other hand, accord greater taxonomic weight to -the zoölogical differences between ferrets and weasels and, therefore, -accord full generic rank to _Putorius_. Consequently, for the -black-footed ferret, Europeans today write _Putorius nigripes_ and -Americans write _Mustela nigripes_. For the same reasons, the name of -the mink is written by some European zoölogists _Lutreola vison_ and by -American zoölogists _Mustela vison_. - - - - -EXPLANATION OF SYSTEMATIC TREATMENT - - -For each full species there will be found under the account of it the -following information: Type, statement of geographic range, selected -characters for ready recognition, other characters of the species, a -summary of geographic variation, and information on habits, in the -order mentioned. - -For each subspecies, information is presented in the following order: -earliest available zoölogical name, synonyms, type, geographic range, -zoölogical characters for ready recognition, description (mentioning -size, certain external features including color, the skull and teeth) -historical material when warranted, remarks which may elaborate on -points made in preceding paragraphs, and other information thought to -be useful, and finally a list of specimens examined. - -In explanation of certain of these categories it should be said that in -the synonymy no attempt is made to list every published reference to -the subspecies concerned. It is aimed, however, to include at least one -citation to each name-combination that has been applied, to the -subspecies concerned, along with other especially important references. -Mere records of occurrence are not regarded as especially important and -citations to them ordinarily are omitted in the synonymy. No comma is -placed between the zoölogical name and the name of the author who -coined and first used the name in accordance with the rules of -zoölogical nomenclature. Otherwise a comma is interposed between the -zoölogical name and the name of the user (author). When the accepted -(earliest available) name of a subspecies at the head of any one of the -following accounts is combined with a generic name different from that -with which it originally was placed, the authority for the name is set -in parentheses. The same rule is followed with the name of a full -species when it is written without any subspecific name following. -Parentheses in such situations, therefore, denote that for the terminal -part of the scientific name there has been a change in generic name -with which the terminal part of the scientific name is here associated. - -In the paragraph headed "characters for ready recognition," only a few -characters, namely, those regarded as most useful for identification -when the student has limited time, are mentioned. Other features useful -for distinguishing the kind of animal in question from its near -relatives are to be found in the description and comparisons. - -In the description, external measurements, unless otherwise indicated, -are those recorded by the collector on the label attached to the skin. -Total length is the distance from the tip of the pad on the nose to the -tip of the fleshy part of the tail when the relaxed animal is laid out -straight, not stretched. This measurement does not include the hairs -that project beyond the end of the fleshy part of the tail. Length of -tail is the distance from the base of the tail, when it is bent at -right angles to the long axis of the body, to the tip of the fleshy -part of the tail excluding the hairs that project beyond the fleshy -part of the tail. Length of tail and length of tail-vertebrae are -synonymous. Length of hind foot is measured from the proximal end of -the calcaneum to the tip of the longest claw. - -Capitalized color terms, unless otherwise indicated, refer to Ridgway's -(1912) _Color Standards and Color Nomenclature_. Some use is made of -color terms taken from Oberthür and Dauthenay (1905) because those -authors show a much larger number of shades between dark brown and -black than does Ridgway (1912). The colors of the upper parts of most -weasels are some shade or other of dark brown. Color terms that do not -have the initial letter capitalized do not refer to any one standard -and consequently are used in a general sense. - -Relative extents of the color of the upper parts and underparts are -computed from measurements of the circumference of the body at the -place where the color of the underparts is narrowest. Ordinarily this -place is in the lumbar region rather than in the thoracic region. - -An explanation of how cranial measurements were taken is given on page -417. In designating teeth, capital letters are used for teeth in the -upper jaw and lower case letters are used for teeth in the lower jaw. -For example: I2 denotes the second incisor tooth in the upper jaw and -i2 denotes the second incisor tooth in the lower jaw; C1 and c1 refer -to the canine tooth of the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively; P3 -and p3 refer to the third premolar of the upper jaw and lower jaw, -respectively, bearing in mind that the first (anterior) premolar is -absent in the lower jaw and upper jaw of weasels (see fig. 31 on page -416), as also, in some kinds of weasels, is the second premolar; M1 and -m1 refer to the first molar of the upper jaw and lower jaw -respectively. - -In describing the skull and teeth the two sexes are treated separately -because differences in shape as well as size are the rule. Unless -otherwise indicated, the skulls on which descriptions are based are of -adults. Weights of skulls include the weight of the lower jaws. In -general, every second subspecies is described. For a subspecies -geographically next adjacent to the one described, only the -differences between the two are enumerated. This method of description -indicates also likenesses and is more economical of words than some -other methods of description. Also, by use of this method, cross -reference is reduced to one other subspecies. Following this formal -description, there is a comparison of the cranial and dental characters -with those of geographically adjacent subspecies. - -In the paragraph headed "Remarks" the two words "character" and -"structure" frequently appear. The word structure here is used to mean -some part of an animal, as for example, a hair, a muscle, a bone, or an -internal organ. A structure is not a system, as for example, the -digestive system or osseous system. A character is some weight, linear -dimension, volume, shape, color, or other perceptible attribute of a -structure, of a system, or of an entire organism. - -In recording the localities of capture of specimens examined, effort -has been made to be exactly as precise as the locality data on the -labels of the specimens permit. The word "County" is written out in -full when the name of the county is written on the label of each -specimen listed from that county. When one specimen, or more, here -assigned to a given county lacks the name of the county on the label, -then the abbreviation "_Co_." is used. The surprising frequency with -which the same place name is repeated in a given state or province -makes it desirable for the collector to write the name of the county, -or corresponding minor political subdivision, on labels of study -specimens at the time they are prepared. - - - - -SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES - - -=MUSTELA ERMINEA= Linnaeus - -Ermine - -(Synonymy under subspecies) - - _Type._--_Mustela erminea_ Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, 10th ed., p. - 46, 1758. - - _Range._--From the British Isles and Atlantic Coast of Europe - across Eurasia and North America including Greenland, from the - northernmost land, south, in North America, to the lower margin of - the Canadian Life-zone; geographically south to Connecticut, New - York, Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio, southern Michigan, - Wisconsin, northern Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, in the Rocky - Mountains to northern New Mexico, in the Sierra Nevada to Mono - County, California, and on the Pacific Coast to the Golden Gate. - -_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela rixosa_ in -presence of black pencil on tail, tail-vertebrae more than a fourth of -length of head and body, and in regions where the two species occur -together, basilar length of skull more than 32.5 in males and more than -31.0 in females; from _Mustela frenata_, in regions where the two -species occur together, by tail less than 44 per cent of length of head -and body and by postglenoidal length of skull more than 46 per cent of -condylobasal length in males and more than 48 per cent in females. - -_Characters of the species._--Size medium to small (total length 225 to -340 mm. in males and 190 to 290 mm. in females); tail 30 to 45 per cent -of length of head and body, with distinct black pencil; caudal -vertebrae 16 to 19; skull with long braincase and short precranial -portion; postglenoidal length, when expressed as a percentage of the -condylobasal length, more than 48 in females and ordinarily more than -46 in males; upper parts brown; underparts whitish, ordinarily -continuous from chin to inguinal region but in subspecies in the humid -region along the Pacific Coast interrupted in some individuals by brown -of upper parts encircling body in the abdominal region. The soles of -the feet in each of the subspecies are densely haired in winter and -have only a relatively small area of the foot-pads exposed in summer, -the intervening areas being well haired even at that season. The -uniformity throughout the species as regards hairiness of the -foot-soles and also the character of the vibrissae makes it unnecessary -to describe these features in the accounts of the subspecies of -_erminea_. - -_Geographic variation._--In the Old World 16 or more subspecies are -currently recognized and there are 20 in North America. The features in -which geographic variation is especially prominent are: First, size, -as expressed by external measurements and weight, second, color -pattern, depending on the extent, in relation to one another, of the -dark-colored upper parts and light-colored underparts, and third, -breadth and depth of the rostral region of the skull. Except in size, -the variation in the skull is less than in _M. frenata_. Likewise in -tone and shade of upper parts and hue or tint of underparts, _erminea_ -is less variable than _frenata_ and has the face all of one color -without the contrasting color-pattern of the face and head seen in many -subspecies of _frenata_. _M. erminea_ exceeds _frenata_ as regards -variation of the size of the area occupied by the light-colored -underparts. At one extreme is the subspecies _arctica_ in which the -area of the light color extends well up on the sides of the body, down -the insides of the legs, over the feet and far out on the lower side of -the tail whereas at the other extreme are the races _streatori_ and -_olympica_ in which the light-colored underparts are restricted to two -areas, one on the chin, throat and chest, and the other on the inguinal -region. These areas may or may not be connected by a thin line of white -color along the midline of the underparts. In size of animal, _erminea_ -probably exhibits the maximum variation among American species of -weasels; an average-sized male of the race _arctica_ weighs 4 times as -much as one of the race _muricus_, and in the species _frenata_ I doubt -that the difference is quite as great between individuals of the -smallest race, _effera_, on the one hand, and either of the largest -races, _texensis_ or _macrophonius_, on the other hand although actual -weights are not available for these races of _frenata_. As elsewhere -indicated, the small-sized individuals of _M. erminea_ are of the -southern races and the large-sized individuals are of the northern -races. This decrease in size southward occurs both in Asia and in -America. - -_Natural history._--habitat and numbers.--Along the International -Boundary east of the Turtle Mountains, Soper (1946:136) found this -species present only in timbered areas and absent from many untimbered -areas. Of the same species to the westward he comments "so far as I -know at present, there is no evidence to show that any short-tailed -weasels inhabit a broad strip of treeless territory immediately north -of the International Boundary in Canada from southwestern Alberta to -southeastern Saskatchewan." The same author (1942) reports that in the -general area of Wood Buffalo Park, Northwest Territory, south of Great -Slave Lake, the ermine is uncommon on pine-grown sand ridge and rolling -upland and common in lower spruce-aspen parklands, stream-side -coniferous belts, and grassy, semi-wooded swamplands. - -Nine ermines per square mile is the number that Soper (1919:46-47) -estimated at Edmonton on the basis of the numbers that he trapped there -in the winters of 1912-13 and 1913-14 and on the basis of the tracks of -remaining ermines. From corresponding data he estimated the population -in the winter of 1913 on the Hay River, north of Jasper Park, to be -nine per square mile. In each of these instances he estimated ten -weasels per square mile but he inclined to the view that one-tenth of -the animals involved in his counts were long-tailed weasels (_Mustela -frenata_). Osgood (1909B:30) and his field companion in the period July -31 to September 3, 1903, took a series of 42 specimens within a radius -of 500 yards of their camp at the head of Seward Creek, Alaska, all -caught in four traps, in one month. Of the 42 specimens, 28 are males -and 14 are females. - -Fluctuations of a multiannual nature are marked in this species. Bailey -(1929:156) observes that in Sherburne County, Minnesota, when meadow -mice are abundant for two or three years these weasels become abundant -but that when the mice are scarce the weasels also become scarce. -Manning (1943:56), on Southampton Island, noted "that the maximum and -minimum points of the weasel cycle are much more sharply marked than -those of the fox cycle and the increase and decrease are more rapid." - -How far an ermine will travel in a given length of time has seldom been -recorded but Hamilton (1933:293), on March 20, 1932, "followed the -track of a small weasel, presumably a male _cicognanii_, for four miles -in the fresh snow," and Ingles (1942) observed a diminutive ermine of -the subspecies _M. e. muricus_, at Woods Lake, California, 286 yards -from its den. - - -Behavior - -As regards locomotion, Soper (1919:46), in reference to _Mustela -cicognanii_, presumably in Ontario, Canada, writes that in the bounding -gait the hind feet register almost, if not exactly, in the front-foot -impressions, with the right front and hind feet lagging slightly -behind. "The distance normally is about 19 inches, representing a -regular rate of travel. . . . In traversing open spaces they resort to -long, graceful leaps upwards of six feet in length. . . . I measured a -record . . . of 8 feet, 2 inches." - -Of _M. e. arctica_, Dice (1921:22) writes that when it runs "the tail -is carried off the ground usually at an angle of about 45 degrees." -Seton (1929 (2):598) states that "At Carberry [Manitoba] I have often -seen this energetic little creature seeking for Mice in the deep, soft -snow. Its actions are much like those of an Otter pursuing salmon. -Sometimes it gallops along a log, or over an icy part of the drift; -then plunges out of sight in a soft place, to reappear many yards -away. . . ." - -Little is recorded concerning swimming but on this score Seton (1929 -(2):602) does quote J. W. Curran, who in July, 1899, at Lake -Couchiching, Ontario, watched an ermine pursue a chipmunk into the -water and for 100 yards before giving up the chase and wheeling around -and making for shore. In swimming "The Weasel, I think, showed more of -his body, and seemed to exert himself more" than the chipmunk. - -As to voice, Dice (1921:22), at Tanana, Alaska, heard the ermine, when -excited, bark somewhat like a mink but not so loud and Seton (1929 -(2):606) quotes Manley Hardy to the effect that the species has a -purring note. - -Sense of smell was used by an _M. e. muricus_ that Dixon (1931:72) -watched as the ermine followed a three-fourths-grown pika. Concerning -the ermine at Carberry, Manitoba, Seton (1929 (2):598-599) writes that -"The smell of blood must be as far-reaching as it is attractive to -these sanguinary little creatures. I have frequently hung new-killed -Rabbits and partridges temporarily in trees, and, after an absence, in -some cases of a few minutes only, have found an Ermine mauling the -game, though there was no sign of such a visitor when the cache was -made." - - -Enemies - -George Measham, of Winnipeg, found sign in the snow indicating that a -great snowy owl had killed an ermine and T. McIlwraith shot a bald -eagle at Hamilton Bay which had the bleached skull of a weasel -(probably of this species) clinging to the throat (Seton, 1929 -(2):603). - -A. B. Howell (1943:98) likens mustelid mammals to domestic cats in -their manner of crossing roads and thinks that mustelids loiter at the -side of the road until the stimulus of the approaching car causes them -to make a dash whereupon they are caught by the wheels and killed. -Three of four weasels seen to cross the road were killed, one even -having apparently crossed the road before turning back and being killed -under the car. One weasel killed was _Mustela erminea cicognanii_. -Dalquest (1948:190) in writing of this species in the state of -Washington, says "I have seen only one abroad in the daytime. It dashed -from a roadside thicket . . . and was crushed beneath the wheels of a -car." - - -Food - -The killing of prey is described by Hamilton (1933:332) as follows: "A -rapid dash, and the bird or mouse is grabbed over the back of the -skull, the fore legs encircle the animal as though hugging it, and the -hind legs are brought up to scratch wildly at the captive. . . . If -[the prey is] a large animal, as a rat, the weasel usually lies on its -side, while the diminishing struggles of the rodent continue, but if a -mouse or a small bird [is the object of attack], the weasel is apt to -crouch over its prey. Little time is lost over the first [mouse] . . . -if two mice are present [;] a strong bite through the brain case . . . -[is] sufficient. If only one animal is present, the weasel dawdles over -its kill some time after life has departed." - -Hamilton's (1933:333) study of the contents of the digestive tracts of -bodies of ermines obtained from fur trappers and fur buyers in New York -enabled him to publish the following "Frequency Indices of Mammal -Genera in Fall and Winter Food of 191 Mustela cicognanii": _Microtus_, -35.7 per cent; mammals undetermined to genus but principally mice, -16.3; _Blarina_, 15.1; _Peromyscus_, 11.4; _Sylvilagus_, 9.0; _Sorex_, -4.9; _Rattus_, 4.4; _Tamias_, 3.6. Close correspondence is shown by the -following data of Aldous and Manweiler (1942) for the ermine from Lake -of the Woods, Minnesota: mice, 58.7 per cent by number and 54.5 by -volume; shrews 22.5 and 21.8 per cent; birds, 2.7 and 5.0 per cent. Of -the mice in stomachs, 40 per cent were microtines, 15 per cent were -_Peromyscus_ and 45 per cent were unidentified as to kind. Fragments of -a small fish were found in one stomach. Summed up, the dominant winter -foods were mice and shrews. Trapping of the mammal populations was done -to see what the available food was and it was found that the small -mammals were eaten in direct ratio to their relative abundance. -Snowshoe rabbits and red squirrels were not eaten. The Minnesotan data -were from 60 stomachs and 53 intestinal tracts recovered from 129 -weasels trapped by use of scent (not bait) mostly from January 1 to -February 7, 1939, although a few were trapped in 1938. Analyses of -contents from stomachs gave approximately the same results as those -from intestines. In 1939 at Lake of the Woods, weasels were -concentrated where food was abundant but no such concentration was -noted in the following winter. - -Big short-tailed shrew (_Blarina brevicauda_).--In New York State, the -ermine preys on _Blarina_ as shown by Hamilton's (1933:330) seeing one -being carried by a male ermine on May 6, 1931, and another being -carried by a female on May 13, 1932. The same author (1928:249) found -the remains of a _Blarina_ in a small female from Malone, New York. -Kirk (1921) observed, however, that the ermine (_M. e. cicognanii_) -avoided the shrew, _Blarina_, caught in a trap and that _Blarina_ -avoided the weasel caught in a trap. - -Chipmunk (genus _Tamias_).--Remains were found in a male ermine in New -York on May 14, 1932 (Hamilton, 1933:330), and Seton (1929 (2):602) -records a chipmunk at Lake Couchiching, Ontario, that was pursued into -the water by an ermine. - -Deer mice (genus _Peromyscus_).--As shown by Hamilton (1933:33) and -Aldous and Manweiler (1942), _Peromyscus_ was second only to microtines -in numerical abundance among the food items of ermines in New York and -Minnesota. _Peromyscus_ and microtine rodents were brought to a den of -the diminutive _M. e. muricus_ in early August, in Fresno County, -California, according to Ingles (1942). He observed that an Alpine -chipmunk was active under and around the tree and that juncos reared -young 40 feet from the den but that the chipmunk and juncos were -unmolested by the ermines. - -Lemming (genus _Lemmus_).--One was recovered from a female ermine (with -milk in her glands) at Laurier Pass, British Columbia (Sheldon, -1932:201). - -Red-backed mouse (genus _Clethrionomys_).--Criddle and Criddle -(1925:146) record that on "May 31, 1921.--Saw a Bonaparte's weasel -capture a Red-backed Vole after a long hunt during which the pursuer -never once lost track of its victim." - -Meadow mice (genus _Microtus_).--As shown by the data of Hamilton -(1933:333) and Aldous and Manweiler (1942) recorded above, _Microtus_ -is the item of first importance in the diet of the ermine in New York -and Minnesota. Criddle and Criddle (1925:146) write concerning the -vicinity of Treesbank, Manitoba, that "October, 1918.--Following a -severe outbreak of mice in 1916-17, Bonaparte's weasel increased -enormously and very soon reduced the rodents to comparative rarity. -This resulted in a scarcity of food for the weasels, which in their -turn became greatly reduced in numbers." - -Old World rat (_Rattus_).--Bishop (1923) found two headless rats near a -nest of this species in Albany, New York. - -Pika (_Ochotona_).--Dixon (1931:72) at Milner Pass, Colorado, on July -20, 1931, saw an ermine, of the subspecies _muricus_, following a -three-fourths grown pika by scent and outrunning the pika. The pikas -worked a relay system and the weasel abandoned the trail when the -fourth pika became the object of the chase. - -Cottontail (genus _Sylvilagus_).--Hamilton (1933:33), as noted above, -found remains of cottontail in the digestive tracts of ermine that had -been trapped for fur in winter. Possibly these remains were bait that -had been placed at traps. - -Snowshoe rabbit (_Lepus americanus_).--Morse (1939:210) in a study of -predation on hares and grouse in the period of notable decimation of -these two game species in 1935-1936 in the Cloquet Valley State Forest, -in St. Louis County, Minnesota, found that "weasel predation on hares -appeared to be of very low incidence or altogether lacking." - -Wild birds (Class Aves).--Aldous and Manweiler (1942), as noted above, -found that the remains of birds constituted five per cent by volume of -the food of the ermine in winter in Minnesota. - -Chicken (genus _Gallus_).--Criddle and Criddle (1925:145), who -published relatively extensive data on the three species of weasels of -Manitoba, write that: "We have no record of Bonaparte's weasel killing -poultry, and we doubt whether it ever does so." However, Soper -(1919:46) investigated the excited cackling of a hen brooding chicks at -night and found a solitary ermine that had killed three chicks and that -had the remainder under very active scrutiny. - -Leopard frog (_Rana pipiens_).--One frog was found in a male ermine on -November 20, 1931, in New York by Hamilton (1933:300). - -Fish (Class Pisces).--Aldous and Manweiler (1942) found fragments of a -small fish in one of 60 stomachs of ermine from Minnesota. - -Earthworm (Phylum Annelida).--Osgood (1936:64), presumably at Rutland, -Vermont, observed a pair of weasels from 2:15 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., in a -barn and saw the female in that time make many trips for food for her -young. Only earthworms were brought. Fifty traps in an adjacent, swampy -field caught only one bull frog and no mice indicating that mice had -been eliminated from the foraging territory of the ermine. - -In handling food, Dice (1921:22) noted that the Alaskan ermine did not -use the feet but only the mouth. - - -Reproduction - -Litters of 4, 4, 7, 7, and 8, yielding an average of 6 young per litter -have been recorded from the northeastern United States by Hamilton -(1933:327). He (_op. cit._:321-325) described animals one day old from -New York State as being flesh-colored, having the long neck of the -adult and a fine growth of white hair two millimeters in length, on -the dorsal surface of the neck, that foreshadows the mane or pompadour -that is prominent from the 14th to the 21st day of life. Six animals, -when one day old averaged 1.7 grams in weight, which was three per cent -of the weight of an adult female and one and one half per cent of the -weight of an adult male. At two weeks of age the heavy brown mane stood -out in marked contrast to the rest of the scantily, white-furred -animal. The eyes opened on the thirty-fifth day of life. - -[Illustration: FIG. 24. _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, adult female, -Catalogue Number 14866, U. S. Nat. Mus., Fort Chimo, Ungava. × 1/2. - -Ventral view of body of a pregnant female to show details of mastology. -Note the five pairs of mammae characteristic of weasels, and the uneven -arrangement of mammae of the two sides which is also common among -weasels.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 25. Map showing geographic ranges of the subspecies -of _Mustela erminea_ in the New World.] - -For rearing their young, ermines live in burrows. Bishop (1923), in -Albany, New York, found a burrow occupied by four young and a pair of -adults. The burrow had many galleries and contained a nest constructed -of rat fur, fine grass and fragments of leaves. At Woods Lake, Fresno -County, California, in early August, Ingles observed (1942) some young -and at least one adult at their den which was in a burrow beneath a -hollow tree. The ermines used the hollow root and the hollow tree as -well as the burrow beneath. Seton (1929 (2):591) quotes S. Eldon -Percival, of Barretts Rapids, Ontario, as finding the living quarters -of an ermine in unthreshed grain stacked in a barn and says (_op. -cit._:590) that John Burroughs dug out a nest, composed of leaves and -the fur of mice and moles, two or three handfuls in bulk, from a cavity -the size of a hat, arched over with a fine network of tree roots. - -Four instances in which the male as well as the female was present at a -den containing young are cited by Hamilton (1933:328) and he gives some -evidence, although not at all conclusive, that "adults customarily -pair, or at least run together, at times other than the breeding -season." No other writers remark on this matter. I doubt that adult -ermines are associated in pairs for most of the year but such may be -the case. - - -=Mustela erminea arctica= (Merriam) - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 41 - - _Putorius arcticus_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:15, pl. 2, figs. 1, - 1a, and pl. 5, figs. 6, 6a, June 30, 1896. - - _Putorius_ (_Gale_) _erminea_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 109, - 1877 (part). - - _Putorius richardsonii_, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:16, - pl. 1, figs. 3, 3a, pl. 2, figs. 3, 3a, and pl. 3, figs. 6, 6a, - February 25, 1896 (part). - - _Putorius cicognanii alascensis_, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:43, - October 6, 1900. - - _Putorius kadiacensis_, Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 21:69, September - 26, 1901. - - _Putorius audax_ Barrett-Hamilton, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., - 13(ser. 7):392, May, 1904, type from Discovery Bay, Ellesmere - Island. - - _Putorius alascensis_, Heller, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 5:345, - March 5, 1910. - - _Mustela arctica arctica_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:97, - December 31, 1912; Dice, Journ. Mamm., 2:22, February 10, 1921. - - _Mustela arctica_, Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 30:420, - March 19, 1929. - - _Mustela erminea arctica_, Ognev, The mammals of U.S.S.R. and - adjacent countries, 3:31, 1935; Hall, Proc. California Acad. Sci, - 23:559, August 22, 1944; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:179, July 19, - 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 14062/23010, U. S. Nat. - Mus.; Point Barrow, Alaska; July 16, 1883; obtained by John - Murdock, original no. 1672. - - The skull has a fracture, on the dorsal surface, extending from - the anterior nares to the interorbital constriction and another - fracture on the left margin of the nasal bone. The middle of the - left zygomatic arch is broken away. Otherwise the skull is - complete. Right incisor one, above and below, are missing. - Otherwise the teeth are present and entire. The skin is in the - brown summer pelage, well made, in a good state of preservation, - and shows no obvious signs of fading. - - _Range._--Arctic regions of Alaska and western Canada from the - Pacific Ocean to Smith Sound; from the northern limit of land - south approximately to a line from Skagway through Ft. Goodhope, - north shore of Great Bear Lake, south shore of Clinton Colden - Lake, north shore of Baker Lake, west end of Wagner Bay to south - end of Committee Bay. See figure 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. polaris_ - in darker upper parts (Raw Umber rather than Buckthorn Brown) and - less intensely colored underparts that are Sulphur Yellow, - Colonial Buff or Primrose Yellow rather than Buff Yellow; from _M. - e. semplei_, in males, in that hind foot more than 44 and basilar - length more than 41 and in that females average larger, the skulls - of females being only about 11 per cent heavier; from _M. e. - kadiacensis_ in hind foot more than 33 in females, zygomatic - breadth amounting to more, rather than less, than distance between - last upper molar and jugular foramen irrespective of sex; from _M. - e. richardsonii_, _alascensis_, _salva_ and _initis_, both sexes - so far as known, by proximal two-thirds of under side of tail - colored same as underparts rather than same as upper parts, and by - zygomatic breadth amounting to more, rather than less, than - distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - _Description.--Size._--Male: Six adults from Tanana, Alaska, yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 336 - (310-350); length of tail, 93 (84-105); length of hind foot, 49 - (45-51). - - Female: Five adults, one each from Alatna River, mountains near - Eagle, Kamarkak in Alaska, Arctic Red River and Baillie Island in - Canada, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total - length, 285 (272-304); length of tail, 77 (68-95); length of hind - foot, 39 (34-43). - - Weight of 5 subadult males from Tanana is 206 (163-248) grams; - adults would be heavier. - - _Color._--Winter pelage all white except tip of tail. Summer - pelage with upper parts uniform in color and Raw Umber or darker - (16_n_) of Ridgway and about tones 2 to 3 of Chocolate of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, pl. 343, but in autumn some specimens have more - light red than tones 2 or 3. Underparts Sulphur Yellow, Colonial - Buff, or Primrose Yellow, often white on chin and insides of - forelegs; color of underparts extends narrowly over upper lips, - distally on posterior sides of forelegs onto antipalmar surface of - forefeet, onto proximal two-thirds or three-fourths of underside - of tail as length of tail is measured along tail-vertebrae, on - medial sides of hind legs to a point between knee and ankle but - reappears on antiplantar faces of toes and in some individuals is - narrowly continuous onto toes; rim of ear in some specimens with - short, white or pale hairs giving ears distinct whitish border; - least width of color of underparts averaging, in adult males from - Alaska, 65 (46-93) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts. Black tip of tail in 5 males in winter pelage from Tanana - averaging 84 (70-93) mm. which is 91 (75-107) per cent of length - of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 5 adult topotypes): See measurements and - plates 2-4. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight, 3.5 (3.1-3.9) grams; basilar length 42.5 - (41.8-43.3); length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes - averaging more than a third of basilar length; interorbital - breadth more than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior - border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth more than - distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - Female (based on 2 adult topotypes and 2 adults and 4 subadults - from central Alaska): See measurements and plates 9-11. As - described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, - 1.5 (1.2-2.0) grams; basilar length, 35.7 (34.5-37.0); length of - tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum - more than 30 per cent of basilar length; interorbital breadth more - than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of - external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth more than distance - between last upper molar and jugular foramen (except in specimens - from Ellesmere Island where two distances are approximately - equal). - -Cranial differences from _Mustela erminea kaneii_ (which occurs on the -Asiatic side of Bering Strait), in both males and females, are: larger -size relatively as well as actually, broader except in mastoidal region -where relatively (to basilar length) the width is less; preorbital part -of skull broader as well as longer. - -From _kadiacensis_ differences in the skull of the male are: size less; -13 per cent heavier, relatively (to basilar length) narrower across -interorbital region and zygomatic arches; tympanic bullae relatively as -well as actually narrower. Judging by the single available adult female -of _kadiacensis_, the skull of female _arctica_ is larger in all parts -measured, a fourth heavier, has tympanic bullae of almost twice the -volume and the interorbital and preorbital regions, relative to the -braincase, are much reduced in whatever plane measured. - -Differences from _richardsonii_, additional to those noted above in the -formal description of the skull, between the males, are: larger in all -parts measured except length of tympanic bulla which is about the same; -42 per cent heavier; relative to basilar length, skull broader with -preorbital part longer as well as broader; tympanic bullae more -inflated posteriorly. The same differences prevail between females -except that the skull is 36 per cent heavier and in _arctica_ the -length of the bulla is actually more (although relative to the basilar -length less) and its greater inflation posteriorly is hardly -perceptible. Differences from _alascensis_, additional to those -indicated in the formal descriptions of the skulls of the two, in -males, are: larger in every part measured; 95 per cent heavier; -relative to the basilar length, skull broader with preorbital part -longer as well as broader; measured at a point opposite the foramen -lacerum anterius, the width of the pterygoid space is more, rather than -less, than 40 per cent of its length. Excepting this difference in -width of interpterygoid space, the same differences prevail between -females, those of _arctica_ being 56 per cent heavier. - -Comparison with _semplei_ is made in the account of that subspecies. - -Skull indistinguishable from that of _polaris_. - -_Remarks._--The person who studies specimens of this subspecies finds -labels inscribed with the names of naturalists well known to all -readers of literature on the Arctic. Sir John Franklin, R. McFarlane, -R. Kennicott, E. W. Nelson and R. M. Anderson are names which appear -commonly. Of Alaskan specimens prepared according to modern methods, a -large share was obtained by O. J. Murie and L. R. Dice. - -The ermine was observed in the far north by early explorers and was -mentioned in the literature, almost always under the name then used for -the ermine of northern Europe and Asia. In 1896 Bangs misapplied to it -the name _richardsonii_ but Merriam in the same year corrected the -application of this name and proposed as new for this weasel the name -_arctica_, the name in use today. For almost 50 years after Merriam and -Bangs wrote about it, _arctica_ was treated, nominally at least, as a -species distinct from its other relatives in both the Old-and -New-World. The subspecific status of _arctica_ was emphasized in 1944 -(555) by the present writer in reporting in detail upon the specimens, -of _Mustela erminea_, from Eastern Asia which were made available on -loan by Professor B. S. Vinogradov and the late Anatol I. Argyropulo of -the Leningrad Academy of Sciences. Specimens of _Mustela erminea -kaneii_ from the Asiatic side of Bering Strait and _Mustela erminea -arctica_ from the American side are distinguishable by slight cranial -characters but in coloration and external measurements I can detect no -differences. Merriam's (1896:16) mention of more golden-colored upper -parts and darker underparts in American specimens than in _erminea_ was -the result of his comparison of Alaskan and northern European -specimens. When Old World specimens from eastern Siberia, instead of -from Europe, are used the differences mentioned by Merriam do not -apply. Incidentally, many Siberian specimens have the white border, on -the ear, which Merriam (_loc. cit._) noted as a distinguishing feature -of _arctica_. When Merriam named _arctica_ he said (1896:15, 16) -"_Putorius arcticus_ . . . has heretofore been confounded with -_erminea_ or _richardsonii_. . . . It is interesting to find in this -country an Arctic circumpolar weasel which, though specifically -distinct, is strictly the American representative of the Old World -_erminea_." Bearing in mind that Merriam's concept of species and -subspecies (see Merriam, 1919:6) differed from that of nearly all -modern systematists it is clear from his statement quoted above that -he correctly understood the zoölogical relationship obtaining between -the ermines of the Old and New Worlds. - -Ognev (1935:31) seems to have been the first to use the name -combination _Mustela erminea arctica_ for Alaskan specimens. Thereby he -expresses the view adopted here, namely that the American ermine is -subspecifically but not specifically distinct from the Old World -animal. Whether actual intergradation (crossbreeding) ever takes place -across the narrow Bering Strait I do not know. I doubt that -crossbreeding occurs but considering the Diomedes (islands), that might -serve as a half way stopping point, and remembering Mr. Charles -Brower's oral statement to me that he had seen tracks of ermine as far -as 10 miles from the northern shore of Alaska out on the ice, the -possibility must be granted of an occasional individual crossing from -one side to the other of Bering Strait on the ice in winter or of being -carried across when the ice broke up and drifted. If transfers of this -kind occurred often one would expect ermines to occur also on Saint -Lawrence Island where apparently they do not. The one skin (U. S. Nat. -Mus. no. 259046) seen as labeled from there, my friend, Otto William -Geist ascertained was imported as a skin with other furs from Siberia. - -Ognev (_op. cit._) who used the name combination _Mustela erminea -arctica_ for Alaskan specimens, applied it also to animals from -Kamchatka. At the same time he recognized the animal from the eastern -mainland of Siberia (as opposed to the peninsula of Kamchatka) under -the name _Mustela erminea orientalis_ Ognev 1928. Hall (1944:556) -applied the earlier proposed name _Putorius kaneii_ Baird 1857, to the -animal on the eastern mainland of Asia and proposed the new name -_Mustela erminea digna_ for the ermine of Kamchatka. In comparing -material of these two Asiatic races with topotypes and other specimens -of _M. e. arctica_ from Alaska, it seemed to me that the degree of -relationship, one with the other, was about the same. _M. e. digna_ has -a slightly larger preorbital region than _M. e. kaneii_, and the skull -is longer. In both of these particulars _digna_ approaches closer to -_arctica_. _M. e. kaneii_ has longer tympanic bullae and a wider skull -than _digna_ and therein approaches more towards _arctica_ than toward -_digna_. As nearly as I can make out, _digna_ and _kaneii_ show a -nearly equal degree of resemblance to _arctica_. Also the degree of -difference between _digna_ and _kaneii_ is about the same as between -either one of them and _arctica_. In view of the above considerations -the ermines of the New and Old worlds are here regarded as only -subspecifically distinct. - -In the original description of _Putorius audax_ (here regarded as -inseparable from _Putorius arcticus_ Merriam) Barrett-Hamilton -erroneously designated the type locality as "Discovery Bay, North -Greenland" whereas he should have written Grinnell Land [= Ellesmere -Island of modern terminology] in place of Greenland. As reference to -Nares (1877 and 1878) will readily reveal, Discovery Bay is near 65° W -and 81° 40´ N, across Robeson Channel, to the west, from Greenland. The -label on the type specimen and the specimen register in the British -Museum of Natural History each designates the locality for this -specimen, the type of _audax_, as Discovery Bay without mention of -Greenland. The published accounts of Feilden (1878) and Nares (1877 and -1878) state that specimens of ermine were obtained at Discovery Bay. -Probably H. C. Hart is the collector of the specimen; he was the -naturalist attached to H. M. S. Discovery which wintered at Discovery -Bay while H. W. Feilden was the naturalist attached to H. M. S. Alert -which wintered a few miles southeast of Cape Sheridan, also on the -eastern coast of Ellesmere Island. - -It is true that from these ships a trip was made into Greenland and an -ermine (only one individual it seems) was obtained there, but this -individual was the type specimen of _Mustela erminea polaris_, in the -account of which race something of the history of this specimen is -given. - -With the material available--and it is not entirely adequate--I can -detect no features by which animals from the type locality of _audax_ -can be distinguished from typical _arctica_ which latter name has -priority. - -Intergradation with _richardsonii_ probably occurs completely across -the continent. Intergrades here referred to _arctica_ include those -from Fort Goodhope. The one defective specimen from Lake Lebarge, -Yukon, is not certainly identified as _arctica_ and how far west of -Teslin Lake the boundary-line between _arctica_ and _richardsonii_ -should be drawn remains to be ascertained. The one specimen available -from Hinchenbrook Island, no. 912 Mus. Vert. Zoöl., an adult female, is -doubtfully referred to _arctica_ because the damaged tympanic bullae -appear to be no larger than in _alascensis_, and the size of the skull -is more as in _alascensis_ although intermediate between that race and -_arctica_. Shape of the skull is more as in _arctica_. Possibly more -nearly adequate material would show the existence on Hinchenbrook -Island of an insular race differing in about the same degree from -_arctica_ of the mainland as does the insular _kadiacensis_. -Nevertheless, the males from farther south at Cape Yakataga are in all -respects _arctica_ and this argues against near relationship to -_alascensis_ of the animal on Hinchenbrook Island. The three animals -seen from Yakutat Bay are so young as not to display clearly the -cranial characters of the subspecies but the extension of the color of -the underparts onto the underside of the tail in them and also in the -skin without corresponding skull from Glacier Bay, Alaska, is as in -_arctica_, the race to which they are referred, and gives substantial -basis for showing the geographic range of _arctica_ as extending this -far south along the Pacific Coast. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 281, arranged alphabetically - by Districts and from north to south in each District. Unless - otherwise indicated, specimens are in the collection of the United - States National Museum. - - =Alaska.= Point Barrow, 22 (1[1], 1[2], 1[75], 4[1], 7[60], 6[74]); - Flaxman Island, 3; Collinson Point, 1[77]; Salirochet River, - 1[77]; Hulahula River, 1[2]; 69°20´ & 141°, 1; Rampart House, 1; - Yukon River, mouth of Porcupine River, 18; Alatna River, 30 mi. - from mouth, 1; Koyakuk Riv., 16 mi. below Bettles, 4; Shelton, - 1[75]; Kruzamepa, 1[75]; Tanana, 6; Boulder Creek, Chena River, 3; - Fort Reliance, 4; Yukon River, 20 miles above Circle, 2; Mts. near - Eagle, 42 (1[60]); Snake River, Nome, 1[9]; Nulato, 3; - No[e]wikakat Riv., 1; Kantishna, 3; Fairbanks, 5 (1 20 mi. E and 1 - 33 mi. E); Richardson, 1; N. Fk. Kuskokwim R. at base of Mt. - Sischo, 1; N. Fk. Kuskokwim R. at Junction with McKinley Fk., 1; - Nenana Riv., mouth of Maurice Cr., 1; Ober Cr., trib. of Jarvis - Cr., Delta Riv. region, 1; head of Savage Riv., near Jennie Cr., - 1; Wonder Lake, 1[74]; Bear Cr., 3; Unlakleet, 3; St. Michaels, - 11; 125 mi. E and a little N of Knik, Cook Inlet, on S side - Matanuska Range, 1[60]; Hope, Cook Inlet, 1; Iak Lake, 1[68]; head - of Behring Riv., 1; Bethel, 2; Kenai Lake, 8; Kenai Peninsula, 13 - (2[2]); He[i]nchenbrook Island, 1200 ft., 1[74]; Sunshine Point, - Kaliekh River, Yakataga Dist., 1[8]; Cape Yakataga, 3[8]; Yakutat - Bay, 3[74]; Seward, 7; Seldovia, 22 (4[2]); Homer, 1[2]; Cape - Elizabeth, 18; Akchookuk Lake, 1; Lake Weelooluk, 1; Kokwok Riv., - 80 mi. up, 4; Nushagak, 1; Nushagak Riv., 1; Kolukuk, 1; Egooshik - River at mouth, 1; Glacier Bay, 1; Becharof Lake, between Portage - Bay and Becharof Lake, 1; Ugashik Riv., 4; Chignik, 7; East base - Frosty Peak, 1; Pavlov Bay, 1[100]; Mt. Pavlof, 1[75]; Unimak - Island, 2 (1[75]). - - =District of Franklin.= Cape Sheridan, 1[2]; Discovery Bay, - Ellesmere Island, 1[7] (type specimen of _Putorius audax_ - Barrett-Hamilton); Axel Heiberg Island, 1[95]; Bache Peninsula, - Ellesmere Island, 1[77]; Bedford Pims Island, 4[75]; Craig Harbor, - 2[77]; Cape Kellett, Banks Island, 1[77]; Franklin Isthmus, 1[95]; - King William Island, 2[95]. - - =District of Keewatin.= Ualiak, Ogden Bay, 2[95]. - - =District of Mackenzie.= Baillie Island, 1[75]; Franklin Bay, 1; - Langton Bay, arm of Franklin Bay, 15 mi. S of, 1[2]; Cockburn - Point, 69°N, 115°W, 2[77]; Dolphin and Union Strait, 1[77]; - Bernard Harbor, 2[77]; Kent Peninsula, 4[95]; Horton Riv., near - Fort Anderson, 1; Fort Anderson, 6; Anderson River, 3; Barry - Island, Bathurst Inlet, 1[77]; Fort McPherson, 1; Peels River, 2; - Arctic Red River, 8[75]; Fort Good Hope, 6; Clinton Colden, 1[2]. - - =Yukon.= Kamarkak, 1[77]; Herschel Island, 1[75]; Lapierres House, - 2; Forty Mile, L. T. Coal Cr., 4[74]; head of Coal Cr., 1; - Macmillan River, Forks, 1; 20 mi. W. Ft. Selkirk, 1; Slims River, - near Kluane, 1[75]; head of Lake Lebarge, 1. - - -=Mustela erminea polaris= (Barrett-Hamilton) - -Ermine - - _Putorius arcticus polaris_ Barrett-Hamilton, Ann. and Mag. Nat. - Hist., 13 (ser. 7):393, May, 1904. - - _Mustela erminea_, Manniche, Meddelelser on Grønland, 45:80-85, 1 - fig., 1910. - - _Mustela arctica polaris_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:97, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela erminea polaris_, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:179, July 19, - 1945. - - _Type._--Probably female, skin only; no. 78. 6. 19. 11, Brit. Mus. - Nat. Hist.; Gap Valley, 7-1/4 miles northeast Cape Brevoort, 82° - N, 59° 20´ W, Northwestern Greenland; June 15 or 16, 1876; - obtained by Lewis A. Beaumont. - - The skin is in full, fresh summer pelage, fairly well stuffed - except for the tail which is unstuffed; the whole is in a good - state of preservation. - - _Range._--North coast, and east coast as far south as Turner Sound - (between 69 and 70 degrees) of Greenland. See figure 25 on page - 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. arctica_ - in lighter upper parts (near [_j_] Buckthorn Brown rather than Raw - Umber or darker) and more intensely-colored underparts that are - Buff Yellow rather than Sulphur Yellow, Colonial Buff, or Primrose - Yellow; from _M. e. semplei_ in color in same fashion as from - _arctica_ and in larger size of skull. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: One subadult and two adults (one - ad. from Scøresby Sound and other two from Ymer Island) measure as - follows, the average being given first: Total length, 318 (301, - 320, 315); length of tail, 72 (69, 70, 73); length of hind foot, - 46.5 (44, 46, 47). - - Female: No measurements taken in the flesh available but hind - foot, measuring 33.5 in the dried state and therefore - approximately 35 in life. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea arctica_ except that - upper parts in summer near (_j_) Buckthorn Brown and tone 4 of - Dark Fawn of plate 307 to tone 1 of Raw Umber of plate 301 of - Oberthür and Dauthenay. Underparts Buff-Yellow. Least width of - color of underparts averaging, in 3 males, 66 (57-72) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same - males averaging 71 (70-72) mm. which is 99 (99-104) per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - The lighter-colored upper parts and more intensely yellow - underparts are the distinguishing features of the subspecies - _polaris_ in comparison with other races of American _M. erminea_. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 5 adults from eastern Greenland): See - measurements. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ - except that: Weight more (not recorded); basilar length, 41.3 - (39.0-42.4); length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes - averaging more than a third of basilar length; interorbital - breadth more than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior - border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth more than - distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - Female (based on 2 adults, Turner Sund and Kap Hoeg): See - measurements. As described in _Mustela erminea arctica_ except - that basilar length 36.8 (35.9, 37.8), and length of tooth-rows - not more than length of tympanic bulla. Skulls of females not in - hand when this comparison is written; only the recorded - measurements are available. - -To me the skull of _polaris_ is indistinguishable from that of -_arctica_. Therefore the comparisons made of the skull of _arctica_ -with those of other subspecies will apply also for _polaris_. - -_Remarks._--In view of the heretofore erroneous assignment of the type -locality of _Mustela erminea audax_ to Greenland, pains were taken to -verify the statement by Barrett-Hamilton (1904:393) relative to the -type specimen of _polaris_. Taking pains thus seemed the more -worthwhile because in the specimen register at the British Museum of -Natural History, there is written to the right of catalogue numbers -78-6 = 19 nos. 1-11, "Discovery Bay Presented by Mr. Hart Arctic -Collection." This refers to no. 78.6.19.1. There are no ditto marks -below but by implication this data applies also to nos. 1-11, which -include the holotype of _polaris_. A label attached to the specimen -does however give the locality as "Hall Land" "N Greenland" and another -label has on it "Ermine, procured by Mr. Beaumont Greenland Lat 89° -Long W 59-20." The 89° is obviously a mistake (on the label or in my -transcription of it) for 82°. - -Reference to Nares (1877:385) reveals that Lieutenant Lewis A. -Beaumont, under date of June 15 and 16, 1876, wrote in his field -journal as follows: "I shot an ermine." In the daily accounts of his -journey from Discovery Bay on Grinnell Land [= Ellesmere Island], -across Robeson Channel and along the north coast of Greenland to the -west base of Mount Farragut near 50° 30´ W he mentions the ermine only -this once. For several other kinds of animals, Beaumont mentions -individuals seen or shot, often with the notation that this is the -second, or third seen. This mention of a kind of animal whenever seen -was in accordance with orders. On page 39 of the Discovery Report (_op. -cit._, 1877) in "General orders to sledging parties" by Captain G. S. -Nares, Commanding the Expedition, we find ". . . note daily: IV State -the animals seen and those shot." Reference to the map facing page 358 -of the (_op. cit._) report reveals that on the 15th and 16th, camps -were made by Beaumont in Gap Valley, each 7-3/4 miles northeast of Cape -Brevoort, one camp on either side of the 82° line, and separated from -each other by a distance of only 2-1/4 air line miles or 4-1/2 miles -march according to his journal. - -These several data, then, are the bases for designating the type -locality of _M. e. polaris_, in the way that I have stated it at the -beginning of this account of the subspecies. - -The light-colored upper parts and more intensely yellow underparts well -differentiate this subspecies from _arctica_ or _semplei_. -Intergradation is suggested by a skin, no. 1462, Copenhagen Zoological -Museum, from Axel Heibergs Land, the color of the underparts of which -agrees with that of specimens from Greenland. Also the color of the -upper parts is decidedly nearer that of animals from Greenland than to -that of specimens from Ponds Inlet, Tulican and Gifford River. No other -specimens west or south of Greenland suggest intergradation. In -Greenland itself, one adult, a female from Turner Sund, East Greenland, -has the underparts no more yellowish than in some specimens from -Melville Peninsula. This female is darker on the back than any one of -the other 10 specimens from Greenland in summer pelage examined at the -same time, but even so is not so dark colored as animals from Baffin -Island or other islands to the west of Greenland. - -The final summation of information about this subspecies would have -been more precise if I had been able to have actually in hand, at the -time of writing, specimens preserved in the Copenhagen Zoological -Museum. The war made it impractical to secure the loan of these as -previously planned. Even so, the measurements and notes on color that I -obtained from this material, in 1937, in Copenhagen, suffice to prove -that the subspecies _polaris_ is well set off in color from the other -American subspecies of _Mustela erminea_. - -The best material of this subspecies is in the University Zoological -Museum at Copenhagen, Denmark. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 35, arranged by locality from - the western end of the north coast of Greenland, eastward and then - southward down the east coast. Unless otherwise indicated, - specimens are in the Universitetets Zoologisk Museum, Købnhavn, - Danmark. - - Gap Valley, 7-1/4 mi. NE Cape Brevoort, 82 N, 59 20´ W, 1 (British - Mus.); Dragon Point, 1; Danmarks Havn (Fjeldene ved Baadskjeret, - 1; lille Fjeld, 1; Lyservig, 1; harefjeldets, 4; Rypefjeldet, 1; - Baadskjeret, 1; Danmarkshavn, 3) 12; Christians Havn, 1 (not found - on map); Shannon Island, 4; Germania Havn, 2; Claveringoen, 1; - Carls Havn, 1; Myggbukta, 2 (British Mus.); Ymer[s] Island, 2 - (Mus. Comp. Zool.); Kap Hoegh, Jamesonsland, 1 (Berlin Zool. - Mus.); Scoresby Sund, 3; Turner Sund, 4. - - -=Mustela erminea semplei= Sutton and Hamilton - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 - - _Mustela arctica semplei_ Sutton and Hamilton, Ann. Carnegie Mus., - 21:79, February 13, 1932. - - _Mustela arctica labiata_ Degerbøl, Rept. 5th Thule Exped., 2 (no. - 4):25, 1935, type from Malugsitaq, Melville Peninsula, Canada. - - _Mustela erminea semplei_, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:179, July 19, - 1945. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 6470, Carnegie Mus.; - Coral Inlet, South Bay, Southampton Island, Canada; October 8, - 1929; obtained by George Miksch Sutton, original no. 3M. - - The skull has two holes in it: one is immediately above the left - canine, and the other (2 × 5.5 mm.) is 3 millimeters to the left - of the median line at the juncture of the frontal and parietal - bones. From this last mentioned hole a fracture extends back - halfway to the lambdoidal crest. The tip of the left upper canine - is broken off. Otherwise the skull is complete, and the teeth all - are present and entire. The skin is well made and in fresh white - winter pelage except for a trace of the old brown summer pelage on - the back, on the tail, on the anterior borders of the ears, and in - a spot 11 mm. long and 8 mm. wide on the nose. - - _Range._--Baffin and Southampton islands, Melville Peninsula and - west side of Hudsons Bay as far south as Eskimo Point. See figure - 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. arctica_, - in that, in males, hind foot less than 44 and basilar length less - than 41 and in that females average smaller, their skulls being - only about 10 per cent lighter; from _M. e. polaris_ in darker - upper parts (Raw Umber rather than Buckthorn Brown) and - less-intensely-colored underparts that are Sulphur Yellow, - Colonial Buff or Primrose Yellow rather than Buff Yellow, and in - lesser size in the same fashion as from _arctica_; from _M. e. - richardsonii_, of both sexes, in that proximal two-thirds of under - side of tail colored same as underparts rather than same as upper - parts and by least interorbital breadth amounting to more, instead - of less, than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border - of external auditory meatus. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Ten adults and subadults, from - Southampton Island, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 282 (267-318); length of tail, 77 (59-87); - length of hind foot, 40 (38-43). - - Female: Four subadults from Southampton Island yield average and - extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 271 (256-288); - length of tail, 71 (69-74); length of hind foot, 35 (33-38). - - _Color._--As described in _M. e. arctica_ except that least width - of color of underparts averaging, in 7 males, 59 (45-81) per cent - of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in 19 - male topotypes averaging 72 (64-83) mm. which is 91 (75-122) per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 2 adults and 10 subadults from - Southampton Island): See measurements and plates 2-4. As described - in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 2.0 (in one - subadult) grams; basilar length, 37.5 (35.7-39.9); length of - tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum - more than a third of basilar length; interorbital breadth more - than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of - external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth more than distance - between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - Female (based on 1 adult and 4 subadults from Southampton Island): - See measurements and plates 9-11. As described in _Mustela erminea - richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 1.35 (in one adult) grams; - basilar length, 34.2; breadth of rostrum more than 30 per cent of - basilar length; interorbital breadth more than distance between - glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; - zygomatic breadth more or less than (approximately same as) - distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - -In comparison with _richardsonii_, the skulls of males averaged smaller -in every measurement taken except breadth of rostrum and interorbital -breadth which are more, and zygomatic breadth and length of inner lobe -of M1 which are approximately the same; skull about 20 per cent -lighter; in relation to basilar length, preorbital region longer and -broader in every part measured. Female averages larger, in every part -measured; 23 per cent heavier; in relation to basilar length, every -other measurement more. It is noteworthy that the skull of the male is -smaller and the skull of the female larger than in _richardsonii_. - -Differences from _arctica_ are: Size less, in each sex; males about 40 -per cent and females 10 per cent lighter; in males, skull more rounded -in outline as viewed from above because zygomatic arches arise less -abruptly from skull; in males tympanic bullae do not project so far -ventrally from squamosal floor of braincase; with these exceptions, -skull of _semplei_ can be said to be a smaller edition of that of -_arctica_. - -From _polaris_, _semplei_ differs, cranially, in the same way as from -_arctica_. - -_Remarks._--There is a slight increase in size of ermines toward the -north which probably is the result of intergradation between _semplei_ -and _arctica_. Specimens from the northern part of Baffin Island are -larger than those from farther south. Specimens from the mainland west -of Southampton Island may owe their smaller (than in _arctica_) size to -intergradation with _richardsonii_ almost as much as to intergradation -with _semplei_. - -Degerbøl's name _Mustela arctica labiata_ was applied to specimens, -which to me are indistinguishable from topotypes of _Mustela arctica -semplei_, which latter name has three years priority. Degerbøl -(1935:34) states that Malugsitaq, Melville Peninsula, is the type -locality. He did not designate a type specimen. Reference to his -account (_op. cit._:26) shows that he lists five specimens from the -type locality, or more precisely as "Malugsitaq, Lyon Inlet. 5 summer -skins. [M] [M] June-July 1922. P. F., CN. 2262-2266." On labels -attached to these specimens, "Lyon Inlet" is replaced with "Melville -Peninsula." On July 28, 1937, Degerbøl and I together examined these -specimens in his laboratory. Because no. 2262 is first mentioned I -regard it as the type. It is a juvenal male, skull and skin, no. 2262 -(20.5 1931.8), Univ. Zool. Mus. Copenhagen, obtained in June or July of -1922 by Peter Freuchen whose original number was / s 2324. The specimen -is one of 5 males taken at the same locality by the same collector and -they bear identical data as to date. They look to be of the same -litter for all are roughly of the same size and each retains milk -teeth. - -Additional females, with external measurements carefully taken, are -much needed from Southampton Island, because the available females are -insufficient to show the degree of sexual dimorphism. If the meager -data available be accepted, the difference in size between the two -sexes is less than in other subspecies. My own feeling is that a better -sample of females would show the secondary sexual difference in size to -be more than available data indicate. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 183, arranged from north to - south by islands, or regions attached to the mainland, and from - north to south in each region or island. Unless otherwise - indicated, specimens are in the Zoological Museum, University of - Copenhagen, Denmark. - - =Baffin Island.= Pond[s] Inlet, 8; (5[77]); Tulukan (sometimes - spelled Tulukat), 6; Cape Eglinton, 1[7]; Gifford River, 2; Clyde, - 3[86]; head of Cumberland Sound, 1[91]; Pangnirtung, 2[77]; - Kingnait Fiord, 1[91]; Kikkulin Island, Cumberland Sound, 1[7]; - Blacklead Island, Cumberland Gulf, 1; merely Cumberland Gulf, - 1[7]; merely east Baffin Island, 34[7]; Cape Dorset, 2[2]; SW - coast of Baffin Island, 1[75]. - - =Melville Peninsula.= Iglulik, 3; Pingerqalik, 2; Kingadjuaq, - Amitsog, 3; Rae Isthmus, 3; Lyons Inlet, 13(9[2]); M[N?] - alugsitaq, Lyon Inlet, 5; Itibdjeriang, 2; Repulse Bay, 27 (22[2], - 2[19]); Drichetts Cove, Hurd Channel, 1[2]; Gore Bay, 1; Haviland - Bay, 1; Cleveland Harbor, Frozen Strait, 1. - - =Southampton Island and adjacent islands.= Danish Island, 11; - Vansittart Island, 4. Southampton Island: Coral Inlet, 19 (1[77], - 18[9]); Prairie Point, 1[9]; Munnimunnek Point, South Bay, 5[9]; - Native Point, 1[9]; Ranger Rim, 1[9]; Koodloatok (not found on - map), 1[77]; merely Southampton Island, 1[77]; Gore Bay, 1[2]; Fox - Channel, 2[2]. - - =Mainland to west of Southampton Island.= Cape Fullerton, 3 - (1[77], 2[2]); Chesterfield Inlet, 4 (1[77], 1[9]); Tavane, 1[77]; - N of Wagner Inlet, 1; Eskimo Point, 1[86]. - - -=Mustela erminea kadiacensis= (Merriam) - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 - - [_Putorius arcticus_] subspecies _kadiacensis_ Merriam, N. Amer. - Fauna, 11:16, June 30, 1896. - - _Putorius kadiacensis_, Preble, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 12:169, August 10, 1898. - - _Mustela kadiacensis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:97, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:179, July 19, - 1945. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 65290, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Kodiak Island, Alaska; April 25, 1894; - obtained by B. J. Bretherton, original no. 304. - - The skull lacks the basioccipital, part of the basiphenoid, the - occipital region on the right side and the posterior part of the - right tympanic bulla. The third, upper, left incisor is missing. - Otherwise the teeth all are present and entire. - - The white, winter skin is only moderately well stuffed but in a - good state of preservation. The spring coat is appearing along the - back. This coat is visible at only two places unless the hair be - parted when the new brown pelage, which is coming in, can be seen - all along the midline of the back. - - _Range._--Kodiak Island, Alaska. See figure 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. arctica_ - in hind foot less than 33 in females and in zygomatic breadth - amounting to less, instead of more, than distance between last - upper molar and jugular foramen irrespective of sex. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: One adult and 3 subadults yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 341 - (318-360); length of tail, 93 (86-102); length of hind foot, 47 - (44-49). - - Female: An adult measures: Total length, 258; length of tail, 70; - length of hind foot, 31. - - _Color._--As described in _M. e. arctica_, except that least width - of color of underparts averaging 54 (40-83) per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in 3 males in - summer pelage averaging 80 (70-90) mm. which is 85 (69-96) per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 2 adults): See measurements and plates - 2-4. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: - Weight 3.1 grams; basilar length, 42.6 (42.1-43.2); length of - tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum - measured across lacrimal processes averaging more than a third of - basilar length; interorbital breadth more than distance between - glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus. - - Female (based on one adult, no. 98042): See measurements and - plates 9-11. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight, 1.2 grams; basilar length, 33.0; length of - tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla. - -Comparison with _arctica_ has been made in the account of that -subspecies. Although _richardsonii_ and _kadiacensis_ are described as -having the zygomatic breadth less than the distance between the last -upper molar and jugular foramen, the zygomatic breadth is considerably -more in _kadiacensis_ than in _richardsonii_; consequently the two -dimensions are more nearly equal than in _richardsonii_. Except for -being slightly narrower, the skull of _kadiacensis_ is only a slightly -smaller edition of that of _arctica_. - -_Remarks._--When naming the weasel from the mainland of Alaska as new, -under the name _Putorius arcticus_, Merriam (1896:16) wrote: "A small -form of _arcticus_ occurs on Kadiak Island. . . . It is probably worthy -of recognition as subspecies _kadiacensis_." The informality of this -description possibly was in part due to the describer's recognition of -the fact that the degree of difference between _arcticus_ and the -insular _kadiacensis_ was slight. Specimens collected after Merriam -proposed the name for the weasel of Kodiak Island show the animal there -to be less different from _arctica_ of the adjacent mainland than he -thought; small size is the most pronounced distinction of -_kadiacensis_ and Merriam's male type specimen is smaller than any of -the five additional males saved from Kodiak Island since that time. -Even so the differences fully warrant subspecific recognition, in my -opinion, although _kadiacensis_ is not a strongly differentiated race. -More adult females are needed to ascertain the norm of form and size -for that sex. If the one female known is typical, the difference from -_arctica_ is more pronounced in females than in males. The lesser size -of _kadiacensis_ can hardly be credited entirely to the effect of -insularity, for animals from the southern part of the mainland, on -Kenai Peninsula for example, are smaller than those from central and -northern Alaska and provide evidence of intergradation of a sort -between _kadiacensis_ and _arctica_. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 9, all from Kodiak Island, - Alaska, and unless otherwise indicated in the U. S. National - Museum. - - Karluk, 1 (Stanford Univ.); Kodiak, 7; Kodiak Island, 1 (Field - Mus. Nat. Hist.). - - -=Mustela erminea richardsonii= Bonaparte - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 - - _Mustela richardsonii_ Bonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., - 2:38, 1838. - - _Putorius cicognanii_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858 (part). - - _Putorius richardsonii_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 164, 1858 - (part-Halifax, N. S.). - - _Putorius_ (_Gale_) _erminea_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 109, - 1877 (part). - - _Putorius richardsoni_, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:16, - February 25, 1896. - - _Putorius cicognani richardsoni_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:11, - June 30, 1896. - - _Putorius (Arctogale) cicognanii cicognanii_, Bangs, Proc. New - England Zoöl. Club, 1:18, February 28, 1899. - - _Putorius microtis_ Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 19:563, - October 10, 1903. Type from Shesley, British Columbia. - - _Putorius arcticus imperii_ Barrett-Hamilton, Ann. and Mag. Nat. - Hist., 13(ser. 7):392, May, 1904. Type from Fort Simpson, - Mackenzie, Canada. - - _Putorius cicognanii richardsoni_, Preble, N. Amer. Fauna, 27:231, - October 26, 1908. - - _Mustela microtis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, December - 31, 1912. - - _Mustela cicognanii mortigena_ Bangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., - 54:511, July, 1913. Type from Bay St. George, Newfoundland. - - _Mustela cicognanii_, Sheldon, Journ. Mamm., 13:201, August 9, - 1932. - - _Mustela cicognanii richardsonii_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:95, December 31, 1912; Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., - 40:368, November 5, 1934. - - _Mustela cicognanii cicognanii_, Hall, Canadian Field-Nat., 52:108, - October, 1938. - - _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:77, February - 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, age unknown, skin; no. 43.3.3.4, British Museum of - Natural History; probably from Fort Franklin, Canada; presented to - British Museum on or before March 3, 1843; may be the type. - - In September, 1937, when I searched in the British Museum for the - skull, I found no trace of it nor mention of it in catalogues. The - skin is in white, winter pelage, mounted on a pedestal. See under - remarks for _Mustela e. cicognanii_ for reasons for and reasons - against regarding this specimen as the holotype. - - _Range._--Hudsonian and Canadian life-zones of the greater part of - Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. See figure 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. arctica_, - _polaris_, _semplei_ and _haidarum_, in both sexes, by proximal - two-thirds of under side of tail colored same as upper parts - rather than same as underparts, and interorbital breadth less, - rather than not less, than distance between glenoid fossa and - posterior border of external auditory meatus; from _M. e. bangsi_, - in that, in both sexes, least width of color of underparts - averages two-fifths rather than about a third of greatest width of - color of upper parts, and in that skulls of males are a fourth - heavier, basilar length averaging more than 40; from _M. e. - cicognanii_, in both sexes, in that least width of color of - underparts averages two-fifths instead of less than a third of - greatest width of color of upper parts, in females by 20 per cent - heavier skull (1.1 versus 0.92), in males by skull more, rather - than less, than 1.9 grams, and basilar length more, instead of - less, than 38; from _M. e. invicta_, in males, by skull more, - instead of less, than 1.9 grams; mastoid breadth more, instead of - less, than 19.9 mm.; depth of skull at anterior margin of - braincase more, instead of less, than 12.4 mm.; in females, by - same measurement of depth more, instead of less, than 10.1, and - weight of skull averaging more, instead of less, than one gram; - from _M. e. fallenda_ in both sexes upper lips white rather than - brown, in males, hind foot more than 41, basilar length more than - 38.3, in females hind foot more than 29, basilar length more than - 31.4, and breadth of rostrum amounting to less, instead of more, - than 30 per cent of basilar length; from _M. e. alascensis_ in - males in that black tip of tail more than 43, total length more - than 320, tympanic bullae more than 14 and longer than tooth-row - rather than less than 14 mm. and sometimes shorter than tooth-row, - females not individually distinguishable. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Four adults (Fort Franklin, Fort - Simpson, Mts. W Fort Nelson, and Govt. Hay Camp, Wood Buffalo - Park) yield average and respective measurements as follows: Total - length, 331 average (340, 325, 330, 328); length of tail, 93 (102, - 91, 93, 87); length of hind foot, 45 (48, 43, 45, 44). Weight of 4 - adults from the Belcher Islands is 175 (135-180) grams. Of 10 - subadults from Belcher Islands it is 119 (92-137) grams. - - Female: Three adults from Great Slave Lake (Willow River, - Fairchild Point, and Fort Resolution) yield average and respective - measurements as follows: Total length, 252 (237, 238, 282); length - of tail, 69 (63, 60, 85); length of hind foot, 32 (31, 32, 34). - Corresponding, average measurements for three adults from Glacier - Lake are 240, 60, 32 and for 3 adults from the Athabasca Delta, - 243, 65, 30. Weight of 8 subadults from the Belcher Islands is 69 - (64-78) grams. Weight of adults would be more. - - _Color._--Winter pelage all white except tip of tail. Summer - pelage with upper parts uniform in color and darker (16_n_) than - Raw Umber, and about tones 3 to 4 of Chocolate of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, pl. 343. Underparts Sulphur Yellow, Colonial Buff, or - Primrose Yellow, often nearly white on chin and insides of - forelegs; color of underparts extends narrowly over upper lips, - distally on posterior sides of forelegs onto antipalmar faces of - toes and sometimes over most of antipalmar surfaces of forefeet, - on medial sides of hind legs to a point between knee and ankle but - reappears on antiplantar faces of toes and in some individuals is - narrowly continuous onto toes. Least width of color of underparts - averaging, in a series of 12 males from the Athabasca Lake Region, - 40 (25-54) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. - Black tip of tail averaging 56 (45-63) mm. in 5 adult males from - same region and thus 60 (48-70) per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - From _arctica_, _polaris_, _semplei_ and _kadiacensis_, - _richardsonii_ differs in: Color darker; ventral side of tail same - color as upper parts; light-colored underparts a fifth narrower; - black tip of tail by actual measurement a fifth shorter and - averaging less than two-thirds rather than more than four-fifths - of length of tail-vertebrae. From _cicognanii_, _richardsonii_ - differs in that the underparts are a fourth wider and in some - specimens more brightly colored. The width of the underparts is - likewise a fourth more than in _bangsi_. In _invicta_ the - underparts are not so brightly colored as in some specimens of - _richardsonii_. From _fallenda_, _richardsonii_ differs in that - the upper parts often are lighter colored, upper lips white rather - than colored like upper parts, and underparts as wide again. In - comparison with _alascensis_, the black tip of the tail averages - three-fifths rather than a half of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 6 adults from 3 miles south of Big - Island, Great Slave Lake): See measurements and plates 2-4; - weight, 2.5 (2.1-2.9) grams; basilar length, 40.9 (39.6-43.7); - length of tooth-rows less than length of tympanic bulla; breadth - of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes less than a third of - basilar length; interorbital breadth less than distance between - glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; - zygomatic breadth less than distance between last upper molar and - jugular foramen. - - Female (based on 4 adults: from Willow River, 1; Fort Resolution, - 1; Athabasca Delta, 2; and 2 subadults, one from 3 mi. S Big - Island and one from 15 mi. above Smith Landing): See measurements - and plates 9-11; weight, 1.1 (0.9-1.4) grams; basilar length, 33.1 - (31.5-34.2); length of tooth-rows less than length of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum less than 30 per cent of basilar length; - interorbital breadth less than distance between glenoid fossa and - posterior border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth - less than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - The skull of the female averages 56 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -Comparison of the skull with that of _arctica_, _polaris_, _semplei_, -_kadiacensis_, _haidarum_, _cicognanii_, _bangsi_, _invicta_, -_fallenda_, and _alascensis_ is made in the accounts of those -subspecies. - -_Remarks._--_M. e. richardsonii_ has the most extensive geographic -range of any American race of _erminea_, is centrally located with -respect to the other races, is more abundantly represented by study -specimens in zoölogical collections than any other race, and is a sort -of average for the species as a whole in most structural features. -Therefore _richardsonii_ is used as a standard of comparison and -accordingly is more fully described than any one of the other races -each of which by reference to _richardsonii_ is described in -comparative fashion. This comparative description has the virtue of -more clearly indicating differences between subspecies and also makes -for brevity. - -John Richardson, Bernard R. Ross, and names of their companions, as -written on the labels of the older specimens recall to the student's -mind early explorations of the north country. Edward A. Preble obtained -important specimens at several places and in recent years J. Kenneth -Doutt and G. G. Goodwin have made the reviser's work easier by -preparing specimens in series from areas not previously well -represented. - -The nomenclatural history of this subspecies begins with references in -the literature that identify the animal as the Old World species, -_Mustela erminea_--an identification which the study here reported upon -shows to have been correct in the specific, although not in the -subspecific, sense. Richardson, for example, in his "Fauna -Boreali-Americana" published in 1829 so identified the animal. In 1838, -Bonaparte, basing his description on Richardson's account of 1829, -proposed the new name _richardsonii_. Richardson himself, the following -year in the "Zoology of Beechey's Voyage," accepted Bonaparte's name -and it has been applied to the animal in the central part of the -northern timber-belt of North America ever since, except as authors -used the name _Mustela erminea_ in the belief that _richardsonii_ was -not distinct from _erminea_. - -The north and south boundaries of the range assigned to _richardsonii_ -varied according to the notions of the particular writer who was -employing the name. Until Merriam in 1896 named _arctica_ as distinct, -animals from the far north were generally included under the name -_richardsonii_ along with populations to which the latter name now is -applied. Because _richardsonii_ grades gradually into the smaller -_cicognanii_ of more southern occurrence the boundary between the two -has been set farther north by one writer and farther south by another, -depending probably upon what the writer felt was the halfway point in -size. This point of course depended upon the samples selected as -typical of _richardsonii_ on the north and _cicognanii_ on the south. -Because Bangs, in 1896, took as representative of _richardsonii_ the -far northern and hence large-sized animals (now separated as _M. e. -arctica_), his halfway point in size between them and the small -_cicognanii_ of New England naturally fell farther north than it would -have had he used as representative of _richardsonii_ specimens from -places south of the range of _arctica_. - -In 1903 J. A. Allen proposed the name _Putorius microtis_ for a -specimen from Shesley, northwestern British Columbia, a place -approximately 50 miles northwest of Telegraph Creek. Considering the -great disparity in size between this one specimen and the other larger -specimens of normal size, from the general region, available to Allen -at that time, it is not surprising that he thought two full species -were represented. In 1943 when G. G. Goodwin called to my attention two -males, as small as the type of _microtis_ and taken by him -approximately 300 miles east of Shesley, in the valley between the -Musqwa and Prophet rivers, I for a second time examined all available -specimens and data with the possibility in mind that _microtis_ was a -species or subspecies distinct from _M. e. richardsonii_, but again -concluded that only one subspecies was involved because no character -except size was found to distinguish the large from the small -individuals of a given sex and there are, preserved from northern -British Columbia, individuals of intermediate size. _Putorius microtis_ -Allen seems to have been based on an individual of _M. e. richardsonii_ -near the lower limit of size for that subspecies and _microtis_ is -regarded as a synonym. - -Barrett-Hamilton in 1904 named the animal at "Fort Simpson, British -Columbia" _Putorius arcticus imperii_. Preble (1908:232) pointed out -that Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie undoubtedly was the place intended, -and arranged _imperii_ as a synonym of _M. e. richardsonii_. The type -specimen of _imperii_ was stated to have been received from B. M. Ross -who is known to have collected specimens, including specimens of this -species (now in U. S. Nat. Mus.), at Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie. I -know of no Fort Simpson in British Columbia. If, as seems improbable, -Port Simpson, British Columbia, was the place that Barrett-Hamilton -intended to designate (where so far as I know Ross did not collect), -the name _imperii_ still would seem to be a synonym of _richardsonii_ -because _richardsonii_ seems to be the race of weasel at Port Simpson. -In proposing the name _Putorius arcticus imperii_, Barrett-Hamilton -stressed that the weasel, which he was naming, was a subspecies of _P. -arcticus_, gave characters which applied perfectly to _richardsonii_ -but made no reference to _richardsonii_. Barrett-Hamilton did not refer -to _richardsonii_ possibly because he relied on Merriam's -classification of 1896 wherein _richardsonii_ is treated as a species -distinct from _arctica_. Merriam, it will be remembered, held that -slight degree of morphological difference rather than intergradation -was the criterion for subspecies. Although I have no record of having -examined the type specimen of _imperii_ I have but little hesitancy in -treating it as a synonym, and would have no hesitancy at all in so -doing if the type was certainly known to have been obtained at Fort -Simpson on the Mackenzie. - -The name _Mustela cicognanii mortigena_ Bangs, 1913, proposed for the -ermine of Newfoundland, is placed as a synonym of _richardsonii_ only -after repeated, detailed comparisons. In advance of study I supposed -that the isolation of the ermine, in Newfoundland, had contributed to -its differentiation, which, however, the original describer, Bangs, -indicated was slight. Bangs was a careful worker and I am confident -that the differences he described really existed between his specimens. -Material more nearly adequate than he had from the mainland, shows the -males, so far as my measurements and comparisons go, to be in nowise -different from those in Newfoundland. Females in Newfoundland may have, -on the average, slightly longer hind feet than on the opposite mainland -but I am not certain that they do and even if there is a slight -difference in this regard as suggested by available data, I think it -insufficient basis, alone, for according subspecific status to the -insular animal. - -The name _richardsonii_ was based by Bonaparte on Richardson's -description which in turn was drawn from a specimen taken at Fort -Franklin, that thus becomes the type locality. It is fortunate that -Preble, in 1903, succeeded in taking specimens there because the place -is near the belt of intergradation between _arctica_ and -_richardsonii_. Of Preble's two adult males (see Preble, 1908:232) I -have examined no. 133847, which is in transitional pelage and therefore -gives no clue in so far as coloration is concerned, as to affinities -with _arctica_ versus _richardsonii_. Specimens in the summer pelage -are much to be desired from Fort Franklin. Regardless of what their -coloration may be, specimen no. 133847, in external measurements and -most certainly in cranial features is of the race to the south and not -the race that Merriam named _arctica_. Because all specimens from -localities to the south of Fort Franklin likewise differ from _arctica_ -of the barren grounds, considerable additional confidence is felt in -allocating the name _richardsonii_ to the animal which ranges from Fort -Franklin southward rather than to the one, here designated _arctica_, -that occurs to the northward of Fort Franklin. - -Although in most structural features _richardsonii_ is a sort of -average for the American races of the species, it is the extreme in -high degree of sexual dimorphism. The difference in size between the -males and females is greater than in any other race except possibly _M. -e. kadiacensis_ in which so little is known of the female that the -difference between the two sexes cannot be accurately judged. It will -aid in understanding the high degree of secondary sexual difference in -_richardsonii_ to visualize two kinds of weasels distributed over the -northern half of the continent, thinking now of the geographic area in -America occupied by the whole species _Mustela erminea_ of which the -subspecies _richardsonii_ is only a part. One of the two kinds of -weasel is the male ermine and the other the female. The decrease in -size of the male, as measured by the weight of the skull, is in the -ratio of 7 in the north to 2 in the south. This decrease is gradual -whereas the corresponding decrease from 3 to 1 in the female is not -gradual; half of the decrease in the female occurs in the short north -to south distance comprised in the belt of intergradation, along the -northern boundary of _richardsonii_, between it and _arctica_. As a -result _richardsonii_ is composed of females with medium sized skulls -and males with relatively large skulls, the ratio by weight being -approximately 5 to 2. The disproportion in races of ermines both to the -north and to the south is less. Actually in the north (_arctica_) the -approximate ratio by weight is 2-1/3:1; in _richardsonii_, 2-1/2:1; in -the south (_muricus_), 1-2/5:1. Indicated in still another way in -_richardsonii_ the skull of the female is 56 per cent lighter than that -of the male and the skull of the male is 127 per cent heavier than that -of the female. Intergradation with races whose ranges border on that of -_richardsonii_ is complete. On the northern boundary of the range of -_richardsonii_ along the western shore of Hudsons Bay for perhaps a -hundred miles north of Eskimo Point, there are intergrades with -_arctica_. As judged by their lesser size, individuals of this -population are influenced by the _semplei_-stock. Otherwise, -intergradation on the northern boundary, with _arctica_, is abrupt -whereas intergradation at the south, between _richardsonii_ and -_cicognanii_, is gradual. Intergradation is similarly gradual between -_richardsonii_ on the one hand and _bangsi_ and _invicta_ on the other. -By speaking of the intergradation as abrupt, it is intended, in this -instance, to indicate that in a relatively narrow belt, between the -geographic ranges of _arctica_ and _richardsonii_, ermines intermediate -in color-pattern, shape of skull, and size, bridge the gap between the -ermine of the tundra (_arctica_) and that in the forest belt -(_richardsonii_). It may be added that the degree of difference between -the two subspecies just mentioned is approximately twice as much as -between _richardsonii_ and _cicognanii_. The intergradation between -_cicognanii_ and _richardsonii_ is gradual. By gradual it is meant that -the change from one kind to the other is achieved in a wider area where -ermines from locality A do not differ appreciably from those taken at, -say, locality B, 50 miles farther south, although ermines from A and -those from a third locality, C, say, 130 miles south, clearly show -differences indicative of geographic variation. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 1035, as follows. Arranged - alphabetically by provinces and districts and from north to south - in each province or district. Unless otherwise indicated, - specimens are in the United States National Museum. - - =Alberta.= 15 mi. above Smith Landing, 2; Fort Smith, 2 (1[77]); - Smith Landing, 2; LaButte, Fitzgerald, 1[77]; Egg Lake, 15 mi. NW - Ft. Chippewyan, 4 (2[75]); Lobstick Island, near Ft. Chippewyan, - 1; Athabasca Delta, 9 mi. above mouth of main branch, 1; Athabasca - Delta, Long Creek, 1 mi. W of main branch, 2; Ft. Chippewyan, 1; - Peace Point, 1[75]; 18 mi. below Peace Point, 1; Embarass River, 7 - (4[75]); Athabasca River, 1[2]; Ft. McMurray, 1; Athabasca River, - Middle Rapid, 2; 60 mi. above Grand Rapids, 1; Boiler Rapid, 1; - Entrance, 3[2]; St. Albert, 2. - - =British Columbia.= Fort Halket, 1; Shesley, 1[2]; Dorothy Lake, - Mts. W of Ft. Nelson, 4000 ft., 3[2]; valley between Musqwa and - Prophet rivers, 3800 ft., SW of Ft. Nelson, 2[2]; Sikanni Chief - Riv., 1; Telegraph Creek, 7 (6[2]); head of Bad River, 2350 ft., - on lake, 1; Six Mile, 5[74]; Tuchodi Lake, 2[2]; Iskoot River, - 2[14]; Level Mtn., 1[2]; head of Tatletuey Lake, 12 mi. W Thudade - Lake, 2; Robb Lake District, 5[2]; Ft. Grahame, 12 (2[77]); Sustut - Mts., on trib. Sustu Riv., 25 mi. SE Thudade Lake, 2; Laurier - Pass, 1; Omineca Mts., 1[85]; Point Creek and Clearwater River, 2; - Kispiox Valley, 23 mi. N Hazelton, 5[74]; Hazelton, 3[77]; NW arm - Tacla Lake, 7; N end Babine Lake, 1; Pt. Simpson, 1; Metlakatla, - 1; Stuart Lake, 27; S Fk. Salmon Riv., 1[77]; mouth Salmon Riv., - 1[77]; Vanderhoof, 4[77]; Wistaria P. O., near Burns Lake, 1[77]; - Kruger Lake, 9[74]; Indianpoint Lake, 23[74]; Quesnel, 1; Ahbau - Lake, 3[74]; Isaacs Lake, 6[74]; Beaver Pass, 56[74]; Lightning - Creek, 54[74]; LaFontaine, 16[74]; Barkerville, 1[74]; Barkerville - District, 34[74]; Swift River, 27[74]; Cunningham Creek, 34[74]; - Itcha Mts., 1[31]; Anahim Lake, 1[74]; Chezacut Lake, 8[31]; - Kleena Kleene, 18[74]; 158 mi. House (Cariboo on labels), 3[60]; - Rivers Inlet, 6 (5[94]; 1[77]); Horse Lake, 4[22]; Kingcome Inlet, - 8[77]; Loughborough Inlet, 7[77]; McGillivary Creek, 1; Camel - Back, Pemberton Meadows, 1[31]; Arrow Rapids, mainland opposite - Stuart Island, 1[77]; Butte Inlet, 9[77]; Green Lake, 1[31]; Mt. - Whistler, 1[86]; Alta Lake, 2 (1[31]; 1[21]); Mons, 1[31]. - - =Keewatin.= Foot of Baker Lake, 1. - - =Labrador.= Okak, 3[75]; Nain, 22 (11[75]; 11[60]); Hopedale, - 24[75]; Kippokak Bay, 7[75]; Ailik, 1; Makkovik, 26[75]; Labrador, - 55° N, 3; Hamilton Inlet, 2[75]; NW River Post, interior Labrador, - 5[1]; Cartwright, 5; Paradise, 12; Sandwich Bay (Muddy Bay, 6; - North River, 6), 12; Battle Harbor, 1[7]; St. Marys River, 3[7]; - Black Bay, 16 (15[75]; 1[76]); Lanceau Loup, 17 (1[75]). - - =Mackenzie.= Ft. Franklin, 1[2]; Ft. Rae, 12; Fairchild Point, - 6[9]; Fort Simpson, 10 (2[2]); Hot Springs (61°, 125°), 1[2]; - Willow River, near Ft. Providence, 1; 35 mi. N Big Island, 7; Big - Island, 9; 3 mi. S Big Island, 7; Ft. Resolution, 9; 100 mi. N Ft. - Smith, 2; 75 mi. NW Ft. Smith, 1; Ft. Liard, 2; Sucker Creek, - 4[77]; Govt. Hay Camp, Wood Buffalo Park, 2[77]. - - =Manitoba.= Egg Is., Rabbit Point, 1; Ft. Churchill, 1; Ft. York, - W Hudsons Bay 57° N, 1[7]; Oxford House, 11; Gypsumville, 1[86]; - Lake St. Martin. - - =New Brunswick.= _Restigouche County_: Bird Bait, north Camp, 6 - mi. NE Nictau Lake, 2[59]; Red Brook, Tobique River, 1[59]. - _Victoria County_: Trousers Lake, 3[2]. _Glouchester County_: - Youghall, 1[77]; Miramichi Road, 15 mi. from Bathurst, 13[77]. - _York County_: Scotch Lake, 2. - - =Newfoundland.= Nicholsville, 3[75]; Bay St. George, 48 (26[75]; - 2[7]; 1[9]); Codroy, 9 (7[75]; 2[60]). - - =Nova Scotia.= _Victoria County_: Cape North, 2[77]. _Inverness - County_: Fizzleton, 3[77]. _Richmond County_: St. Peters, 1[77]. - _Pictou County_: Glengary, 1[4]. _Guysborough County_: East Roman - Valley, 5[77]. _Kings County_: Wolfville, 5 (3[74], 2[77]); near - Wolfville, 1[77]. _Halifax County_: Hammond Plains, 1. _Annapolis - County_: Annapolis Royal, 1. _Digby County_: Digby, 3. No locality - more definite than Nova Scotia, 3. - - =Ontario.= Severn River, 1[77]; R. C. Mission, Yellow Creek, near - mouth of Albany, 2[86]; Ft. Albany, 4; Charlton Island, 1; Moose - Factory, 10 (7[9]; 3[77]); Abitibi, 1[4]. - - =Quebec.= Fort Chimo, 10[77]; Ungava Forks, 1; Belcher Islands, - Hudsons Bay (Tukarak Island, 29; Eskimo Harbor, 2; Innetalling - Island, 1; S tip Gibson Peninsula, 2; Flaherty Island, 1), 35[9]; - Cairn Island, Richmond Gulf, 2[9]; Manitounuk Sound, 4[9]; about - 15 mi. S Great Whale River, 1[9]; Ft. George, 1[9]; Charlton - Island, 1[9]; Waswonaby Post, 1[77]; Mistassinnay Post, 3[77]; - Godbout, 36; Mt. Albert, 7 (4[78]; 3[2]); St. Anne River, 1500 - ft., 1[77]; Ste. Anne des Monts, 3[2]; "Federal Mine," 1[77]; - Berry Mountain Camp, 1[77]; Berry Mountain Brook, 1[2]; Cascapedia - River (Middle Camp, 2; Tracadie, 2; Square Forks, 1), 5[2]. - - =Saskatchewan.= Poplar Point, Athabasca Lake, 1[75]; Fair Point, - Athabasca Lake, 1[75]; Emma Lake, 1[74]; Harper Lake, 2[77]; - Livelong, 3[55]; Fairholme, 2[74]; Touchwood Hills, 2[7]; Indian - Head, 1[86]. - - =Yukon.= Hoole Canyon, 1; Teslin Lake (30 mi. N of, 1; Lake - itself, 1; "near" the lake, 1; Mts. "near," 2; Snowden Mts., 2; - Teslin Post, 2; Eagle Bay, 1; Morley Bay, 2; Nisutlin River, 1; - Nisutlin Flats, 2; Wolf River, 1; Wolf Lake, 5), 21[77]. - - -=Mustela erminea cicognanii= Bonaparte - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 - - _Mustela cigognanii_ [_sic._] Bonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. - Hist., 2:37, 1838. - - _Putorius vulgaris_, Emmons, Quadrupeds of Massachusetts, p. 44, - 1840. - - _Mustela pusilla_ DeKay, Zool. of New York, Pt. 1, Mammalia, p. 34, - pl. 14, fig. 1, 1842. Type from New York State. - - _Putorius pusillus_, Audubon and Bachman, Vivip. Quadrupeds of N. - Amer., 2:100, pl. 64, 1851 (pl. 1846) and erroneously labeled - _Mustela fusea_, as pointed out on p. 102 of text. - - _Putorius cicognanii_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858. - - _Putorius richardsoni cicognani_, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 10; 18, figs. 4, 4a of pls. 1 and 2, and pl. 3, figs. - 2, 2a, February 25, 1896 (part). - - _Putorius cicognani_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:10, pl. 2, figs. - 3, 3a, 4, 4a and pl. 5, figs. 2, 2a, June 30, 1896. - - _Mustela cicognanii cicognanii_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:95, December 31, 1912; Bishop, Journ. Mamm., 4:26, February 9, - 1923. - - _Mustela cicognanii_, Jackson, Journ. Mamm., 3:15, February 8, - 1922. - - _Mustela erminea cicognanii_, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:77, February - 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--No type specimen designated; type locality, eastern - United States. - - The restriction of the type locality from the general region of - northeastern North America, as given by Merriam (1896:10) to the - less inclusive area of the eastern United States as earlier given - by Bangs (1896:18) is supported by Bonaparte's remarks in - connection with the proposal of the name _cicognanii_. He says - (1838:37-38) "During my stay in the United States, I only saw a - small species of _Mustela_, very common throughout the - Union . . . ." This animal constituted basis for the name - _cicognanii_ which name, he points out, is bestowed in order that - the Americans ". . . should have constantly under their eye, this - very common little animal, as the perpetual memorial . . ." to the - Italian Governmental representative ". . . who, for upwards of - fourteen years had served, in diplomatic and commercial - concerns, . . . two countries, . . . so different . . . as the - Roman and the United States. . . ." Clearly he had in mind - principally, if not exclusively, the animal of the United States. - - _Range._--Transition and higher life-zones of northeastern United - States south to Connecticut, central Pennsylvania and extreme - northeastern Ohio; in Quebec and Ontario westward from the - latitude of central Maine to Lake Nipigon and Lake of the Woods. - See figure 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. - richardsonii_ of both sexes, in that least width of color of - underparts averages less than a third rather than two-fifths of - greatest width of color of upper parts, in males skull less, - instead of more, than 1.9 grams and basilar length less than 38, - in females by 16 per cent lighter skull (0.92 versus 1.1 grams); - from _M. e. bangsi_, in males hind foot less instead of more than - 40, linear measurements of skull averaging 11 per cent less (depth - of skull at plane of molars 10.0 versus 11.4), in females - averaging smaller, hind foot 30 versus 32 and depth of skull at - plane of molars 8.6 versus 9.1. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male. Seven adults and subadults from New - York and Pennsylvania, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 266 (240-295); length of tail, 74 (66-80); - length of hind foot, 36 (33-39). Hamilton (1933:294) gives the - weight of 31 adults from New York as 81 (66-105) grams. - - Female: Twelve adults and subadults from Maine and the area south - to central Pennsylvania, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 243 (225-260); length of tail, 63 (55-72); - length of hind foot, 29.8 (26-32). Hamilton (1933:294) gives the - weight of 15 adults from New York as 54 (45-71) grams. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that underparts in summer Marguerite Yellow or even more whitish; - least width of color of underparts averaging, in adult males from - New York and Pennsylvania, 29 (27-32) per cent of greatest width - of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series - averaging 42 (30-51) mm. which is 57 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (illustrated by 4 adults in table of cranial - measurements, which see): See plates 2-4. As described in _Mustela - erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 1.5 (1.2-1.7) grams; - basilar length, 35.7 (33.8-37.6). - - Female (illustrated by adult and subadults recorded in table of - cranial measurements, which see): See plates 9-11. As described in - _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight of 2 subadults, - 0.92 (0.86-0.98) grams; basilar length, 32.4 (31.4-33.3). - -The skull of the male, in linear measurements, is approximately 13 -(12-16) per cent smaller and 40 per cent lighter than in _M. e. -richardsonii_. In relation to the basilar length, the skull averages -slightly narrower, slightly shallower as measured in the vertical plane -touching the posterior borders of the last upper molars, and the -preorbital part is slightly longer. In skulls of females of -_cicognanii_, linear measurements average 3 (0-6) per cent less, the -weight is 16 per cent less and the teeth are 5 per cent shorter. In -relation to the basilar length, measurements of the skull are -approximately the same or slightly less in _cicognanii_. - -In comparison with _bangsi_, the male sex in linear measurements of the -skull and teeth averages 11 per cent less than in _bangsi_ from Aitkin, -Minn., and 6 per cent less than in _bangsi_ from Elk River, but in -relation to the basilar length the preorbital region is larger. The -weight is approximately a fourth less. In females the measurements -average less, some being the same, and in relation to the basilar -length, the bullae are shorter and the skull is shallower. The weight -is about the same. - -_Remarks._--In January, 1838, in Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural -History, C. L. Bonaparte proposed for three kinds of American weasels -the names _Mustela cicognanii_, _Mustela richardsonii_ and _Mustela -longicauda_. - -In this paper Bonaparte indicates that he previously had written (for -his Iconografia della Fauna Italica ...) an account of _Mustela -cicognanii_ using this same name. Fasciola XXII of the Iconogr. d. -Fauna Italica, presenting his account of _Mustela_, like the English -paper was published in the year 1838. In his article in Charlesworth's -Magazine, Bonaparte refers to his book published [used the past tense] -in Rome but whether it actually appeared first I am unable to determine -and hence am uncertain which of the two constitutes the original -description. - -Reference to the Italian account suggests as basis for the name _M. -cicognanii_, (1) specimens possibly seen in the United States by -Bonaparte, or (2) Godman's published account of the animal. - -In the English publication, however, Bonaparte actually says that (1) -he saw the small species in the Union [= United States]. Also, he (2) -mentions his earlier written Italian account, (3) mentions that "all -the [American?] naturalists" used the name _M. vulgaris_ for this -animal, (4) incidentally mentions Godman's account, and (5) in naming -two other American species cites accounts of them by Richardson. Also, -Bonaparte in this English article makes clear that when he wrote [not -necessarily published] his Italian paper he did not know of the -existence of two of the three American species. - -In the register of mammals at the British Museum of Natural History, -there appears: - - 43.3.3.3 Mustela longicauda _Bonap_ N amer presented - by Dr. J. Richardson - 4 Mustela Richardsonii Bonap " - 5 " Cicognanii Bonap " - -To the right of these entries there appears, in three lines, the -notation: "The three specimens examined by Prince Canino on which he -established the three species." - -Every part of each of the above entries is in the hand writing of J. E. -Gray, in charge of the collections from 1824 to 1840 and associated -with them as Keeper until 1875. The three specimens are in good -condition considering their age. The catalogue or register number -shows, among other things, that they were entered in the register on -March 3, 1843. - -Questions which might occur to anyone are: - -(1) Was there a type specimen of _Mustela Cicognanii_ Bonaparte? If so -is it no. 43.3.3.5? - -(2) If there was no type specimen was there a type locality? If so what -is it? - -Among other things that may have bearing on these questions, are these: -Bonaparte in Charlesworth's Magazine appears to base the two names -_Mustela Richardsonii_ and _Mustela longicauda_ on Richardson's -published account of _Mustela erminea_. At any rate immediately -following each of the two names, Bonaparte writes "Nob. (_M. erminea_ -Rich. F. Bor. Amer.)." Bonaparte's other, first newly proposed name, -_Mustela Cicognanii_, in Charlesworth's Magazine has following it only -"Nob. North America," although in a paragraph above he did point out -that this was the animal which all naturalists, at the time he was in -America, considered as _M. vulgaris_. - -Turning to Richardson's account (Fauna Boreali Americana, ... -Quadrupeds, pp. 45-47. 1829) one finds that he recognized two species, -_M. vulgaris_ and _M. erminea_. Of the first he gives measurements "of -an old female killed at Carlton House." Of the second species he -distinguishes two varieties, the first represented by a specimen, of -which he gives measurements, "killed at Fort Franklin, Great Bear Lake" -and, the second variety "of a larger size, having a longer tail and -longer fore-claws" he indicates the size of by giving measurements of -a specimen taken "in the neighborhood of Carlton House." - -The last variety is clearly the basis of Bonaparte's _M. longicauda_. -The specimen from which Richardson took his measurements I have been -unable to locate [no. 43.3.3.3 in the British Museum, appears to be -another specimen, although of the same subspecies and provided by -Richardson]. - -The first variety of Richardson's _Mustela erminea_, clearly is the -basis of Bonaparte's _M. Richardsonii_. The specimen from which -Richardson took his measurements may well be no. 43.3.3.4 now preserved -in the British Museum of Natural History, but I could not be certain -about this. - -Richardson's _M. vulgaris_ is accompanied by measurements of a female -which I have ascertained to my full satisfaction is the identical -specimen now bearing catalogue number 43.3.3.5 said by Gray to be the -specimen on which Bonaparte based his name _Mustela cicognanii_. - -Gray probably saw his guest, Bonaparte, at work on these weasels and -Gray's own written indication perhaps should be accepted at its face -value. I found only 4 Richardson specimens of North American weasel in -the British Museum in 1937 and it is conceivable that Bonaparte, 100 -years before, actually had at hand only one specimen each of two kinds -and 2 specimens of the third. This I think is not an important -consideration, though, for Gray says just which specimens did serve as -basis for Bonaparte's names and there is only one specimen for each -name according to Gray. - -But I wonder if a type specimen can be _made_ in this way? That is to -say, after a name is published in a manner which makes it available, -and if two or more specimens of the kind of animal involved, were, or -may have been, available to the describer, can a person, even the -author, himself, _make_ a type specimen by saying that one particular -specimen is beyond doubt the specimen on which a given name was -established even though no particular specimen was designated in the -original description? I incline to the view that a specimen so -designated would at most be only a lectotype, unless it were a cotype. - -However, if a holotype can be _made_ by action such as Gray took, then -(1) is no. 43.3.3.3 the type specimen of _Mustela longicauda_ Bonaparte -and, (2) is no. 43.3.3.4 the type specimen of _Mustela Richardsonii_ -Bonaparte? - -Incidentally, _Mustela longicauda_ Bonaparte whether based on no. -43.3.3.3 or on Richardson's account will continue in its present -application. The same is true of _Mustela richardsonii_. If the basis -of _Mustela cicognanii_ Bonaparte [the diagnosis in the Iconografia d. -Fauna Italica ... makes it clear that the name applies to the -_short-tailed_ species] was a weasel from the eastern United States or -a description of a weasel or weasels from there, the name will continue -in its present application. If, instead, the name is based on no. -43.3.3.3 (from Carlton House, Saskatchewan) or on Richardson's account -of _M. vulgaris_, the name will apply to a different subspecies (now -called _richardsonii_ and _richardsonii_ will fall as a synonym of -_cicognanii_) and the ermine of the eastern United States will take the -next available name. Bonaparte probably named (in manuscript at least) -_cicognanii_ before he ever saw the specimen in the British Museum. -This is indicated by his statement in Charlesworth's Magazine (1838:37) -that "I have _now_ [Italics mine] found two [other] American -species. . . ." Whereas the names _richardsonii_ and _longicauda_ are -based on Richardson, the name _cicognanii_, even if it dates from the -account in Charlesworth's Magazine, appears to have a composite basis -composed at the very least of (1) animals seen by Bonaparte in the -United States, and (2) those called _vulgaris_ by some other authors. -Conceivably the specimen no. 43.3.3.3 in the British Museum, was part -of the basis. From the nature of the case it can be argued that there -could be no type and that if someone should bring to light a specimen -in, say, Philadelphia, bearing the notation "this is the specimen seen -in the United States by Bonaparte" it would immediately become as -important as the one in London. Any American weasel or weasels (then -alive or preserved in a zoölogical collection) that Bonaparte saw in -the United States probably were of the eastern United States. Bangs -(1896:18-21), for one, previous to the present consideration of the -name _cicognanii_, restricted it to the ermine of the eastern United -States. Consequently, the name _cicognanii_, in the present account is -applied to the ermine of the eastern United States. In my opinion there -was and is no type. Almost certainly there was no type if the Fauna -Italica appeared before the account in Charlesworth's Magazine did. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 172, arranged alphabetically - by provinces and states, then (except where indication is given to - the contrary) by counties from north to south within each state or - province. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the U. S. - National Museum. - - =Connecticut.= _Windham County_: S. Woodstock, Woodstock Lake, - 1[2]. _Hartford County_: Windsor, 1[5]. _New London County_: - Liberty Hill, 3[75]. - - =Maine.= _Aroostook County_: Quimby, 1[75]; Ashland 2[75]. - _Piscataquis County_: tableland on top of Mt. Katahdin, 1; Chimney - Pond, 3; T. 5, R. 13, 3[5]; "vicinity of Chesnucook," 1[5]; T. 4, - R. 13, 1[5]; Moosehead Lake, 7[75]; Grenville, 10[75]; Barnard, 3 - (1[86]). _Penobscot County_: South Twin Lake, 1[2]; Lincoln, 11 - (7[1], 2[14], 2[50]). _Franklin County_: Seven Pond Township, - 7[75]. _Oxford County_: Umbago Lake, 1[75]; Upton, 4[86]; Bethel, - 1[75]. _Hancock County_: Bucksport, 17[75]; Naskeag, 1. _Lincoln - County_: Booth Bay, 1[5]. - - =Massachusetts.= _Middlesex County_: Wilmington, 2; Burlington, 6 - (1[75]); _Worcester County_: Cambridge, 5 (1[5], 3[75]); Sterling, - 1[5]. _Plymouth County_: Middleboro, 7 (1[75]). - - =New Hampshire.= _Carroll County_: Ossipee, 5. _Rockingham - County_: Greenland, 1[76]. _Cheshire County_: Dublin, 1. - - =New York.= _St. Lawrence County_: Ogdensburg, 1[74]. _Franklin - County_: Malone, 1[58]. _Lewis County_: Locust Grove, 1. _Warren - County_: Lake George, 1. _Montgomery County_: Amsterdam, 1. - _Albany County_: Albany, 1[80]. _Rensselaer County_: Berlin, 2[2]; - Schoharie, 1[2]. _Thompkins County_: Cascadilla Creek, Ithaca, - 1[58]. _Allegany County_: Ford Brook, Wellsville, 1[58]. _Ontario - County_: Phelps, 1[50]. _Cattaraugus County_: Cattaraugus, 1[5]. - - =Ontario= (localities locally north to south, then west to east). - _Thunder Bay Dist._: Grand Bay, Lake Nipigon, 5[86]; Macdiarmid, - 2[86]; Oscar, 2[14]; 20 mi. SW Fort Williams, 1[76]; Michipicoten - Island, 3[104]. _Algoma Dist._: Michipicoten, 1; Franz, 1[74]; - Pancake Bay, 2[77]. _Parry Sound Dist._: French River, Georgia - Bay, 1[2]; Seguin Falls, Twp. Montieth, 1[86]. _Sudbury Dist._: - Casselman, Rathbun Twp., 1[86]. _Nipissing Dist._: Smoky Falls, - near Kapuskasing, 4[86]; Franks Bay, Lake Nipissing, 1[86]. - _Haliburton County_: Gooderham, 1[60]. _Simcoe County_: Orillia, - 1[2]; no locality more definite than county, 1[60]. _Carleton - County_: Britannia, 5 mi. W Ottawa, 1[77]; Ottawa, 1[77]; Constant - Bay, NE? of Ottawa, 1[77]. _Wellington County_: Mt. Forest, 2[75]; - Guelph, 1[31]. _Addington County_: Buckshot Lake, Abinger Twp., - 1[86]. _Fontenac County_: Clear Lake, Arden, 1[77]. - - =Pennsylvania= (by counties from west to east). _Crawford County_: - North Shenango Township, Pymatuning Swamp, 2[9]; Linesville (3 mi. - NW, 1; 3-1/2 mi. W, 2; 3 mi. W, 1; 2 mi. SW, 1; 7-1/2 mi. SW, 1) - 6[9]. _Potter County_: Cherry Springs Farm, Abbott Township, 1; 3 - mi. S Inez, South Fork Sinnamahoning Creek, 1[9]. _Sullivan - County_: Lopez, 1[74]. _Lackawanna County_: Scranton, 1[1]. _Wayne - County_: Waymart, 1. - - =Quebec= (west to east). _Labelle County_: Kamika [= Kiamika] - Lake, 2[77]; Lacoste, 2[77]; Trout Lake, probably in this county, - 2[77]. _Megantic County_: Black Lake, 1[77]. - - =Rhode Island.= _Newport County_: Middletown, 2[5]. - - =Vermont.= _Lamoille County_: Mt. Mansfield, 1. _Windsor County_: - Barnard, 1[5]. - - -=Mustela erminea bangsi= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 - - _Mustela erminea bangsi_ Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:176, July 19, 1945. - - [_Putorius_] _cicognani_, Mearns, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 3:235, June 5, 1891. - - _Putorius richardsoni cicognani_, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 10:18, February 25, 1896 (part). - - _Putorius cicognanii_, Cory, Mamm. Illinois and Wisconsin, p. 375, - 1912. - - _Mustela cicognanii_, Aldous and Manweiler, Journ. Mamm., 23:250, - August 13, 1942. - - _Mustela cicognanii cicognanii_, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 49:169, - January 8, 1927; Leraas, Journ. Mamm., 23:344, August 13, 1942. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 11541, D. R. Dickey - Coll.; Elk River, Sherburne County, Minnesota; November 1, 1925; - obtained by Bernard Bailey, original no. A 606. - - The skull is complete and the teeth all are present and entire. - The skin is well made and in a good state of preservation. - - _Range._--Southern Manitoba, northeastern North Dakota, the whole - of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan and northern Iowa. See figure - 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. - richardsonii_, in that, in both sexes, least width of color of - underparts averages about a third, instead of two-fifths, of - greatest width of color of upper parts, and in that skulls of - males are a fifth or more lighter, basilar length averaging less - than 40; from _M. e. cicognanii_, in that hind foot more than 40 - in males, averaging 32 versus 30 in females, and in larger skull, - depth of skull at plane of molars being 11.4 versus 10.0 in males - and 9.1 versus 8.6 in females. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Twelve adult and subadult males - from Aitkin, Minnesota, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 316 (291-341); length of tail, 87 (70-101); - length of hind foot, 43 (40-44). Two adults from Aitkin each weigh - 170 grams. - - Four adult and subadult females from Elk River and Fort Snelling, - Minnesota, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: - Total length, 249 (240-260); length of tail, 61 (55-65); length of - hind foot, 32 (30-33). - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that, least width of color of underparts averaging, in males from - Minnesota, 32 (19-51) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts. Black tip of tail in 12 male topotypes in white winter - pelage averaging 52 (45-58) mm. which is 60 (53-66) per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on adults from Aitkin): See measurements and - plates 2-4. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight of 2 adults from Aitkin, 2.2, 2.3 grams (9 subadults - from T. 61 N, R. 26 W, average 1.95 grams); basilar length, 39.7 - (38.5-40.7); length of tooth-rows rarely more (usually less) than - length of tympanic bulla. - - Female (based on adults from Minnesota as listed in table of - cranial measurements, which see): See plates 9-11. As described in - _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, of a subadult - from T. 61 N, R. 26 W, 0.91 grams; basilar length, 32.8 - (31.8-33.6); breadth of rostrum rarely equal to as much as 30 per - cent of basilar length. - -From _richardsonii_, topotypes of _bangsi_ differ in that cranial -measurements in males are approximately 7 (5-9) per cent less, linear -measurements of teeth are 10 (9-11) per cent less and the skull is a -fifth lighter. In relation to basilar length the tympanic bullae of -_bangsi_ are longer. Skulls of females are individually -indistinguishable, those of _bangsi_ averaging approximately 1 per cent -less in linear measurements. Comparison with the smaller cicognanii is -made in the account of that subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Before the subspecific name _bangsi_ was proposed, -individuals of this subspecies ordinarily were recorded in the -literature as _Mustela cicognanii_. The best single lot of material is -in the zoölogical collection of the University of Wisconsin. The late -naturalist Albert Lano preserved a large share of the material from -Minnesota. The large series from Elk River of that same state was -mostly collected by Bernard Bailey although his Aunt, Anna (Bailey) -Mills, and her brother the late Vernon Bailey, at an earlier time saved -some specimens from Elk River. The name _bangsi_ was proposed in -recognition of the superior work done on American weasels by the late -Outram Bangs. - -From the range of _M. e. invicta_ in the Rocky Mountains, that of -_bangsi_ is separated by the Great Plains from a large part of which -region the species is unknown. _M. e. bangsi_ differs from _invicta_ in -greater degree of sexual dimorphism in size, and in each sex by larger -size, narrower light-colored underparts, and deeper braincase as -measured at the anterior margin of the basioccipital. In _bangsi_ the -braincase is deeper relative to the length of the skull as well as, of -course, actually deeper. - -Of the two subspecies whose ranges do meet that of _bangsi_, it more -closely resembles _richardsonii_ than _cicognanii_. From -_richardsonii_, especially from southeastern populations of the same in -which the skull is of the same size as in _bangsi_, the latter differs -in longer hind feet. This is an average difference and by one -interpretation the animals here referred to _bangsi_ might be lumped -with some of the populations from the southeastern part of the range of -_richardsonii_ and the whole lot treated as intergrades between -_richardsonii_ and _cicognanii_. Nevertheless, the animals here -referred to bangsi are not geographically intermediate between -_richardsonii_ and _cicognanii_ and this consideration had much to do -with the decision to recognize as a separate subspecies the animals -here named _bangsi_. - -Within the range of the subspecies there is some geographic variation; -the hind feet of animals from Iowa average slightly shorter than those -of animals from Minnesota and Wisconsin but are nowhere nearly so short -as in _cicognanii_ at the same latitude in the eastern United States. - -It is noteworthy that the few specimens seen from Isle Royal have the -long hind feet of _bangsi_ and not the short hind feet of _cicognanii_ -which occurs all along the northern mainland. - -Because an oft cited record of occurrence even though erroneous, has a -way of being repeated in later works, attention is here called to the -alleged occurrence of this ermine in northwestern Ohio at New Bremen. -Henninger (1921:239) published the original account of the supposed -occurrence but as I pointed out in 1937 (p. 304), the specimen -concerned proved upon examination to be a female of _Mustela frenata -noveboracensis_. Henninger was misled probably by the short tail; the -end of the tail had been lost and healed over before the animal's -death. The present study has revealed that _M. erminea_ everywhere east -of the Cascade Mountains assumes a white winter coat. Had this been -known when Henninger obtained his specimen he probably would not have -wrongly identified the animal from New Bremen which was in the brown, -winter pelage. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 222, arranged alphabetically - by provinces and states and, arranged from north to south, by - counties in each state. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are - in the University of Wisconsin Museum of Zoölogy. - - =Iowa.= _Dickinson County_: W side Lake Okobogie, 1[48]. - _Winnebago County_: Lake Mills, 7[65]. _Worth County_: Northwood, - 1[65]. _Clay County_: "Dewey's Pasture, near Ruthven," 1[76]. - - =Manitoba.= Aweme, 4[47]; Red River Settlement, 1[91]. - - =Michigan.= _Isle Royal_: Tobin Harbor, 1[76]; Bell Isle, 1[76]; - Washington Harbor, 3[76]. _Ontonagon County_: Ontonagon, 2 (1[76], - 1[14]); T. 51N, R. 43W, S. 17, Porcupine Mts., 1[76]. _Gogebic - County_: Little Girls Point, 5[76]; Ironwood, 1[76]. _Iron - County_: no locality more definite than county, 1[76]. _Luce - County_: Tahquamenon River Falls, 1[91]. _Chippewa County_: Sault - Ste. Marie, 2[76]. _Emmet County_: Wilderness State Park, 2[76]. - _Cheboygan County_: Univ. Mich. Biol. Station, 1[76]. _Washtenaw - County_: Ann Arbor, 1[76]. - - =Minnesota.= _Kittson County_: no locality more definite than - county, 1[2]. _Roseau County_: Deer Township, 1[14]; Falun - Township, 2[14]. _Marshall County_?: Moose River, 5[93]; Warren, - definitely in Marshall County, 1[93]. _Cook County_: Grand Marais, - 3 (2[76], 1[14]). _St. Louis County_: 2 mi E Babbitt, 14[93]; - Burntside [= Burnside] Lake, 1[91]. _Itasca County_: T. 61N, R. - 26W, 23. _Clay County_: Moorhead, 3[9]. _Aitkin County_: Aitkin, - 13 (11[60], 1[7], 1[4]). _Otter Tail County_: Arthur, 3[60]; Ten - Mile Lake, 1[76]; Parkers Prairie, 2[75]. _Chisago County_: North - Branch, 1[60]. _Sherburne County_: Elk River, 42 (16[91], 5[14], - 20[59], 1[74]). _Hennepin County_: Lake Minnetonka, 1[75]; - Minneapolis, 1[91]; Fort Snelling, 5 (4[2], 1[60]). - - =North Dakota.= _Pembina County_: Walhalla, 1[91]. _Nelson - County_: Stump Lake, 1[91]. _Eddy County_: Brantford, 2[76]. - - =Wisconsin.= _Douglas County_: T. 44N, R. 13W, 1; Gordon, 1. - _Bayfield County_: Brinks Camp, Washburn, 1[2]; "near Cable," 1. - _Ashland County_: Bear Lake, 2. _Iron County_: Fisher Lake, 4; - Mercer, 5. _Vilas County_: Mamie Lake, 16[91]; Ox Bow Lake, 1[91]. - _Oneida County_: Tomahawk Lake, 1[60]. _Langlade County_: T. 34N, - R. 11E, 3. _Rush County_: Ladysmith, 1. _Dunn County_: Colfax, 2. - _Door County_: Mink River, Ellison Bay, 1[76]. _Dodge County_: Fox - Lake, 1[50]; Beaver Dam, 12[50]. - - -=Mustela erminea invicta= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 41 - - _Mustela erminea invicta_ Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:75, February 27, - 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945. - - _Putorius cicognanii_, Preble, N. Amer. Fauna, 27:230, October 26, - 1908. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 101122, Mus. Vert. - Zoöl.; Benewah, Benewah County, Idaho; October 24, 1926; obtained - by William T. Shaw. - - The skull has a hole in the right squamosal bone on the floor of - the braincase, and lacks the hamular process of the left - pterygoid. The postmolar part of the right lower jaw is missing. - The teeth all are present and entire. The skin is in white, winter - pelage, well made, and in a good state of preservation. - - _Range._--Central Rocky Mountain region from Jasper Park south - over Alberta, southeastern British Columbia, Washington east of - the Cascades, and north and central Idaho and northwestern - Montana. See figure 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. - richardsonii_, in males, by skull lighter than 1.9 grams, mastoid - breadth less than 19.9, depth of skull at anterior margin of - basioccipital less than 12.4, in females by corresponding - measurement of depth less than 10.1, and weight of skull less than - one gram; from _M. e. fallenda_, in both sexes, by upper lips - white (not brown), in males by skull averaging longer (37.0 versus - 35.7), in females by breadth of rostrum less, instead of more, - than 30 per cent of basilar length; from _M. e. streatori_, - _gulosa_, and _muricus_ by hind foot more than 36 and basilar - length more than 35 in males and by hind foot more than 29.5 and - basilar length more than 30.5 in females; further distinguished - from _streatori_ by white (not brown) upper lips and from _gulosa_ - by black tip of tail more than half length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Ten adults and subadults from - central Idaho County yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 291 (272-328); length of tail, 86 (75-100); - length of hind foot, 39.9 (38-44). - - Female: Five adults and subadults from the same locality yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 255 - (245-270); length of tail, 71 (68-76); length of hind foot, 32.3 - (32-33). - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that underparts in summer Marguerite Yellow or more whitish; least - width of color of underparts averaging, in four females from Idaho - and Montana, 38 (33-43) per cent of greatest width of color of - upper parts. Black tip of tail in same specimens 38 (31-42) mm. - which is 57 (52-65) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (5 adults from Idaho County): See measurements and - plates 2-4. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight, 1.5 (1.4-1.7) grams; basilar length, 37.0 - (35.8-39.8). - - Female (illustrated by adult and 4 subadults in table of cranial - measurements, which see): See plates 9-11. As described in - _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 0.72 (0.7-0.9) - grams; basilar length, 32.2 (31.6-32.8). - -From _fallenda_, _invicta_ differs in that the skull of the male has a -relatively narrower rostrum and relatively shallower braincase. Females -show the same differences but the degree of difference is about as -great again as in males. The teeth are almost exactly the same size in -the two subspecies. The weight is the same in males but in females -_invicta_ is 18 per cent heavier. - -From _streatori_, _invicta_ differs in that males average larger in -every measurement taken except that the anteroposterior diameter of the -inner moiety of M1 is less; 36 per cent heavier; linear measurements of -the skull are about 5 per cent larger and those of the teeth, with the -one exception noted, about 6 per cent larger; relative to the basilar -length the tympanic bullae are longer and the rostrum is relatively -narrower. In females, measurements of the skull average 8 per cent more -and those of the teeth 7 per cent more except that, as in males, the -inner lobe of M1 is actually shorter. Females of _invicta_ are 12 per -cent heavier; relative to the basilar length the skull is narrower -throughout and the tooth-rows are shorter than in _streatori_. - -From _gulosa_, _invicta_ differs in that males average larger (about 12 -per cent) in every measurement taken, excepting the anteroposterior -diameter of M1 which is the same; 50 per cent heavier; relative to the -basilar length the length of the tooth-rows and interorbital breadth -are less. In females the inner lobe of M1 is smaller but every other -measurement taken of the skull and teeth is more, _invicta_ averaging -about 8 per cent larger and 22 per cent heavier; relative to the -basilar length, the tooth-rows are shorter and the skull is narrower -interorbitally, through the rostrum and across the zygomata. - -From _murica_, _invicta_ of corresponding sex differs in being larger -in every measurement taken; males average 17 per cent larger in cranial -measurements, 13 per cent larger in dental measurements and are 83 per -cent heavier; corresponding percentages for females are 11, 9 and 20. -Exception must again be made for the anteroposterior diameter of the -inner lobe of the last upper molar which is less in females, and only -slightly more in males. In males of _invicta_ the tympanic bullae are -longer in relation to the basilar length. - -From the geographically remote _cicognanii_, skulls of both males and -females of _invicta_ are to me individually indistinguishable. There -is, nevertheless, an average difference not apparent to the eye between -skulls of males. If the length of the tooth-rows be taken as a standard -(100 per cent), the rostrum, of _invicta_, as measured across the -lacrimal processes is broader (89 rather than 84 per cent) but the -width across the fourth upper premolars is less, 94 rather than 97 per -cent of the length of the tooth-rows. - -Since the skull of _invicta_ closely resembles that of _cicognanii_, it -follows that _invicta_ differs from _richardsonii_ and _bangsi_ in -about the manner described in the account of _cicognanii_. - -_Remarks._--Animals of this subspecies in advance of the present study -generally were recorded in the literature under the name _Mustela -cicognanii_. The difficulty in distinguishing individual specimens of -_invicta_ on morphological grounds from those of the geographically -remote _M. e. cicognanii_ should not be taken to indicate that the -populations do not differ appreciably. Actually they differ in several -characters although in no one of these is the degree of difference -sufficient to allow of using it alone as a certain means of diagnosis. -In _invicta_, as compared with _cicognanii_, the light-colored -underparts are wider in relation to the dark-colored upper parts and -the tail is longer by 4 per cent relative to the head and body. Given a -population of each of the two subspecies, in which the skull is of the -same mass, the hind feet are longer in _invicta_, there is more sexual -dimorphism in size, and the anterior part of the skull differs in some -particulars as just described in the comparison of the skull of -_invicta_ with other forms. Nevertheless, each of these differences is -of an average sort. Therefore, and because overall size is about the -same in the two subspecies concerned, one or a few specimens from, say, -central Idaho, can be distinguished from animals from western -Pennsylvania only with difficulty, if at all. The close resemblance of -skulls of _invicta_ and _cicognanii_ may be a function of their living -at approximately the same latitudinal position in a climate that has -marked seasonal variation. - -Intergradation with _richardsonii_ is complete and gradual; in one -sense _invicta_ is but little more than a small _richardsonii_. -Intergradation with _fallenda_ is shown by several specimens. These two -races differ in large degree in color, and in size and shape of the -skull of females. Although the geographic area where intergradation in -color occurs is fairly wide, the area in which intergradation in -cranial characters in females occurs, appears, from the inadequate -material available, to be much narrower. Intergradation occurs freely -in Washington with _streatori_ but with _muricus_ so far as known only -in the Bitterroot and nearby mountains of northwestern Montana. The -Snake River Plains and low country along much of the Columbia River -appears to be uninhabited by weasels of the species _erminea_ and hence -there is opportunity for intergradation only in the mentioned area of -Montana. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 177, as follows. Arranged - alphabetically by provinces and states then by localities from - north to south in each province and by counties from north to - south in each state. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in - the United States National Museum. - - =Alberta.= Jasper House, 4[77]; Shovel Pass, 2[77]; Jasper Park, - 10[77]; head of Smoky River, 9; Henry House, 2 (1[77]); Blindman - River, 1[2]; forks of Blindman River and Red Deer River, 2 (1[60], - 1[75]); "near Red Deer, Red Deer River," 1[77]; Red Deer River, 2 - (1[2], 1[60]); Red Deer, 2[60]; Rosebud, 2[77]; Prairie, 3000 ft., - 1; Didsbury, Little Red Deer River, 1; Canadian Nat'l Park, 1[60]; - Canmore, 1; Banff, 1[60]; High River, 1[86]; "Waterton Lake Park" - in Alberta, 6[77]. - - =British Columbia.= Grand Forks of Fraser River, 1; Canoe River, - 1[77]; Field, 1; Glacier, 1[58]; E side Beaverfoot Range, - 4000-4500 ft., 6 mi. SE Fraser Creek, 8[74]; Wentworth Lake, - 1[31]; Revelstoke, 2 (1[77], 1[60]); Spillimacheen[e]en River, - 2[2]; Sicamous, 2; Albert River, 7000 ft., 1[2]; Lumby, Creighton - Valley, 1[31]; Okanagan, 4 (2[75], 1[94], 1[2]); Kettle River - Lake, Gold Range, 4000 ft., 1; Crows Nest Station, 1[74]; Yale - District, 3; Fort Hope, 1; Chilliwack Lake, 1[77]; Skagit, 2 - (1[77], 1[31]); Skagit Valley, 1[77]; Skagit Summit, 1[77]; - Lightning Lakes, 2 mi. N International Boundary, 3; - Osoyoos-Bridesville Summit, 2; Westbridge, 1[77]; Rossland, 5[77]; - Creston, mouth Goat Creek, 3[77]; Yahk, 4[77]. - - =Idaho.= _Bonner County_: Coolin, 4. _Benewah County_: Benewah, - 1[55]. _Idaho County_: "Pete Kings, Lochsa River," 1[97]; 2 mi. - SSE Selway Falls, 1900 ft., 1[8]; 4 mi. SW Selway Falls, 5800 ft., - 3[8]; Newsome Cr., 12 mi. above jct. with S Fk. Clearwater River, - 2[74]; Iron Mt., to 14 mi. W thereof, 24[74]; Pilot Cr., 3/4 to - 2-1/2 mi. above Newsome Cr., 4[74]; Sawmill Cr., 1-1/4 mi. W - Newsome, 1[74]; between Selway River and S. Fk. Clearwater R., - 4[74]. - - =Montana.= _Teton County_ (of old arrangement of counties): Many - Glacier, 4900 ft., 1[74]; Duck Lake, 6 mi. NE St. Marys Lake, 1; - St. Marys, Glacier Park, 1[76]; Lower St. Marys Lake, 1[2]. - _Flathead County_: Stanton Lake, 5. _County_ in question: Bitter - Root Mts., 1. _Ravalli County_: Tin Cup District, 1[74]; Bass - Creek, 6800 ft., NW of Stevensville, 1; Capitan Peak, 7000 ft., 1; - Darby, 2[74]; Girds Creek, 1[74]; Charlos Heights, 2[74]. - - =Washington.= _Whatcom County_: Twin Lakes, Winchester Mts., 3 - (1[10]); Chilliwack River, 2600 ft., 2; Cooper Creek, near head, - 4500 ft., Hannegan Pass, 1; Cooper Cr., 4300 ft., Hannegan Pass, - 1[10]; Beaver Creek (2500 ft., and at McMillan Ranch, 1700 ft.), - 2; Barron, Bornite Mine, 5000 ft., 1. _Okanogan County_: Tungsten - Mine, 6800 ft., Bauerman Ridge, 4; Hidden Lakes, 4100 ft., 1; West - Fork Pasayten River, 4700 ft., 1. _Stevens County_: Orin, 1[51]. - _Pend Oreille County_: Ione, 2[51]. _Chelan County_: Lake Chelan, - 1[46]. - - -=Mustela erminea alascensis= (Merriam) - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 - - _Putorius richardsoni alascensis_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:12, - pl. 2, figs. 2, 2a, June 30, 1896. - - _Putorius cicognanii alascensis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:96, December 31, 1912; Swarth, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., - 7:140, January 12, 1911. - - _Mustela erminea alascensis_, Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 57:36, June 28, 1944; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 74423, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; Juneau, Alaska; August 22, 1895; obtained by - Clark P. Streator, original no. 4806. - - The skull shows malformation of the frontal sinuses due to - parasites and lacks osseous tissue where the parasitic infestation - was localized. The left exoccipital condyle and adjacent region is - less developed than the right and the posterior part of the skull - is bent slightly to the left. Otherwise the skull is unbroken. The - teeth all are present and entire. The skin is in the brown summer - coat, fairly well made and in a good state of preservation. A few - white hairs persist where the proximal line of the black hair of - the tip of the tail meets the distal line of the brown hair. - - _Range._--Mainland of southeastern Alaska from Lynn Canal south to - include Mitkof, Zarembo, Wrangel and Revillagigedo islands. See - figures 25, 26 on pages 95 and 134. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. arctica_ - and _haidarum_, in both sexes, by proximal two-thirds of under - side of tail colored same as upper parts rather than same as - underparts and interorbital breadth less, instead of more, than - distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external - auditory meatus; from _M. e. salva_, in males, by overall depth of - braincase including tympanic bullae less than 89 per cent of - orbitonasal length, females not individually distinguishable but - averaging shallower through the braincase; from _M. e. initis_, - _celenda_ and _seclusa_ by interorbital breadth less than distance - between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory - meatus (females of _initis_, _celenda_ and _seclusa_ unknown); - further from _initis_ by total length less than 317 and black tip - of tail less than 57 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae; further - from _celenda_ by chest white, not mostly covered by brown patch. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Eight adults from Windham, Alaska, - yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, - 298 (288-315); length of tail, 88 (84-94); length of hind foot, - 41.3 (37-44). - - Female: Two adults from Juneau and Helm Bay measure, respectively, - as follows: Total length, 258, 258; length of tail,----, 76; - length of hind foot, 32, 34. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that least width of color of underparts averaging, in five - females, 42 (35-53) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts. Black tip of tail in same specimens averaging 36 (30-40) - mm. which is 49 (48-53) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 8 adults from Windham): See measurements - and plates, 2-4. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ - except that: Weight, 1.8 (1.5-2.6) grams; basilar length, 37.5 - (36.5-38.9); length of tooth-rows more or less than (about same - as) length of tympanic bulla. - - Female (based on 5 adults, from localities listed in the table of - cranial measurements): See measurements and plates 9-11. As - described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, - 0.96 (0.7-1.1) grams; basilar length, 32.7 (31.9-33.2); breadth of - rostrum more or less than (about equal to) 30 per cent of basilar - length. - -From _richardsonii_, _alascensis_ differs in that the skull of the male -averages smaller in every measurement taken and is 28 per cent -lighter. Relative to the basilar length, the orbitonasal length is more -and the braincase is shallower as measured at the anterior end of the -basioccipital. The four adult females seen of _alascensis_ are more -variable than those of _richardsonii_ and average smaller in some -measurements and larger in others but give no proof of any consistent -difference. - -From _haidarum_, _alascensis_ differs in that the rostrum and entire -preorbital part of the skull is actually as well as relatively much -smaller in both sexes. In males of _alascensis_ the length of the -skull, and other cranial measurements of length, is more. In males, the -mastoid breadth and zygomatic breadth are about the same as in -_haidarum_, as also is the weight. M1 is larger but m1 and P4 are -smaller. In females the anteroposterior extent of the inner moiety of -M1 and length of tympanic bulla are about the same in the two -subspecies but all other cranial and dental measurements in -_alascensis_ are less. It is 29 per cent lighter. The difference in the -preorbital region is of about the same degree as in the males. - -Comparisons of the skull with those of _arctica_, _salva_, _initis_, -_celenda_, and _seclusa_ are made in the accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--The relatively few specimens known of this race seem always -to have been referred to in the literature by the name _alascensis_ and -the nomenclatural history is therefore simple. The original materials -were obtained by the collector Clark P. Streator and the additional -series of skeletons, one with skin, from Windham were procured by -Stanton Price, a resident there. - -The subspecies is well differentiated from both _arctica_ and -_richardsonii_. Although actual intergrades are lacking between -_alascensis_ and the two races just mentioned I have no doubt that -intergradation occurs with _richardsonii_ and think it probably does -also with _arctica_. - -The assignment of the three females from Mitkof Island, Zarembo Island, -and Loring on Revillagigedo Island, is tentative because each is so -young as not to show diagnostic cranial characters. The two other -specimens from Revillagigedo Island (Carroll Inlet), labeled as males, -are in white winter pelage. Only one, no. 136358, a subadult, is -accompanied by a skull. The small size of each specimen, and its -cranial characters which are intermediate between those of males and -females of _alascensis_ of the adjacent mainland, indicate the -existence of a distinct race of weasel on Revillagigedo Island. On the -chance that the one specimen with a skull is a dwarf, or is wrongly -sexed as seems improbable, the population is tentatively referred to -_alascensis_. - -[Illustration: FIG. 26. Map showing known occurrences and probable -geographic ranges of the subspecies of _Mustela erminea_ in -southeastern Alaska.] - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 24, arranged by localities - from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in - the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy, University of California. - - =Alaska.= Juneau, 5[91]; Taku River, 1; Windham, 9; Mitkof Island, - 1; St. John Harbor, Zarembo Island, 1; Wrangel, 1[91]; Helm Bay, - Cleveland Peninsula, 1; Cleveland Peninsula, 2[91]; Revillagigedo - Island, Carroll Inlet, 2[91]; Loring, 1[91]. - - -=Mustela erminea salva= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 - - _Mustela erminea salva_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 57:35, - June 28, 1944; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull only; no. 74641, Mus. Vert. Zoöl.; - Mole Harbor, Admiralty Island, Alaska, December 27, 1936; obtained - by A. Hasselborg. - - The skull (plates 2-4) shows malformation of the frontal sinuses - owing to parasites and lacks osseous tissue where the parasitic - infestation was localized. The skull is unbroken. The teeth all - are present and entire. - - _Range._--Admiralty Island, Alaska. See figures 25, 26 on pages - 95, 134. - - _Characters for ready recognition_ (known only from - skulls).--Differs from males of _M. e. alascensis_ in overall - depth of braincase which is more than 89 per cent of orbitonasal - length; from _M. e. initis_, in males, in that orbitonasal length - and mastoid breadth total less than 35 mm., weight of skull and - lower jaws less than 2.1 grams; from _M. e. celenda_, in males, in - that breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes less - than a third of basilar length. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: An adult from Gambier Bay measures: - Total length, 320; length of tail, 95; length of hind foot, 45 (41 - in dry skin). - - Female: A subadult from Hawk Inlet, measures: Total length, 250; - length of tail, 70; length of hind foot, 33. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that least width of color of underparts in four individuals 40 - (38-43) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black - tip of tail, in two individuals for which external measurements - are given, amounting to 50 and 40 mm. respectively which is 53 and - 57 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (type and 4 adult topotypes): See measurements and - plates 2-4. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight, 1.7 (1.5-1.9) grams; basilar length, 37.8 - (36.4-39.5, extremes are in subadults); length of tooth-rows more - or less (usually more) than length of tympanic bulla; interorbital - breadth rarely more than distance between glenoid fossa and - posterior border of external auditory meatus. - - Female (2 ad. and 1 ad.-sad. topotypes): See measurements, and - plates 9-11. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight, 0.9 (0.8-1.0) grams; basilar length, 33.0 - (32.0-33.6); length of tooth rows approximately same as length of - tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum approximately 30 per cent of - basilar length. - -From _alascensis_, _salva_ differs in that males have the preorbital -region slightly wider in relation to the length of the tympanic bulla; -also the braincase is smaller, actually as well as in comparison with -the preorbital part of the skull. The tympanic bullae do not project so -far below the squamosals and the braincase itself is shallower, in -adults averaging only 11.5 mm. as against 12.5 mm. The overall depth of -the braincase, including the tympanic bullae, when divided into the -orbitonasal length gives an average of 93 (90-97) per cent whereas in -_alascensis_ the figure is only 85 (78-88) per cent. On this basis -alone, everyone of the adult skulls of the two races can be -distinguished. The females and subadult males show the same tendency to -reduction in depth of braincase but not every individual among them can -be surely distinguished. By weight the skull of _salva_ of -corresponding sex is only about 6 per cent smaller. Comparisons with -_initis_ and _celenda_ are made in the accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Most of the specimens seen were collected by Allen E. -Hasselborg, resident on Admiralty Island. On the basis of skulls--few -skins, and measurements taken in the flesh, are available--_salva_ more -closely resembles _alascensis_ than does any other subspecies so far -known from southeastern Alaska. The race on Admiralty Island is only -slightly differentiated from _alascensis_ of the adjacent mainland. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 26, all from Admiralty - Island, Alaska, arranged in general by localities from north to - south, and unless otherwise indicated in the Museum of Vertebrate - Zoölogy, University of California. - - =Alaska.= Admiralty Island: Hawk Inlet, 2; Seymour Canal, 4; Mole - Harbor, 18 (skulls only); Gambier Bay, 1; no locality more - definite than Admiralty Island, 4 (1 in U. S. Nat. Mus.). - - -=Mustela erminea initis= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 4, 5 and 6 - - _Mustela erminea initis_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 57:37, - June 28, 1944; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 289, Mus. Vert. Zoöl.; - Saook Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska; October 9, 1907; obtained by A. - Hasselborg, original no. 4. - - The top of the skull is fractured on the left side from the - anterior nares posteriorly through the postorbital process to the - posterior root of the zygomatic arch. On the left lower jaw the - canine and three incisors are missing; otherwise the teeth all are - present and entire. - - The skin is in process of molt, approximately nine-tenths of the - incoming white pelage being in place. The skin is well made and in - a good state of preservation. - - _Range._--Chichagof and Baranof islands, Alaska. See figures 25, - 26 on pages 95, 134. - - _Characters for ready recognition_ (only males known).--Differs - from _M. e. arctica_, in that proximal two-thirds of under side of - tail colored same as upper parts rather than same as underparts, - zygomatic breadth less than distance between last upper molar and - jugular foramen; from _M. e. salva_ in that orbitonasal length and - mastoid breadth total more than 35 mm., weight of skull and lower - jaws more than 2.1 grams; from _M. e. alascensis_, by total length - more than 317, black tip of tail more than 57 per cent of length - of tail-vertebrae, interorbital breadth more than 10.3 and equal - to, instead of less than, distance between glenoid fossa and - posterior border of external auditory meatus; from _M. e. celenda_ - by chest white (not mostly covered by brown patch), breadth of - rostrum measured across lacrimal processes less than a third of - basilar length; from _M. e. seclusa_ in zygomatic breadth more - than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The type and an adult topotype - measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 330, 320; length - of tail, 95, 95; length of hind foot, 45, 45. - - Female: No external measurements available. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that least width of color of underparts averages, in two young - female topotypes, 50 (49, 50) per cent of greatest width of color - of upper parts. Black tip of tail in three young female topotypes - averaging 54 (52-55) mm. which is 67 (63-69) per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (illustrated by type and 1 ad. topotype): See - measurements and plates 4-6. As described in _Mustela erminea - richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 2.3 and 2.5 grams; basilar - length, 39.6, and 40.5; interorbital breadth equal to distance - between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory - meatus. - - Female: No adults available. - -From _salva_, _initis_ differs in that skulls of males average larger -in every measurement taken, being 41 per cent heavier. Relative to the -basilar length, the interorbital and preorbital parts of the skull are -larger; the relatively greater interorbital and mastoid breadths are -particularly noticeable. Although the depth of the braincase, including -the tympanic bullae, is both relatively as well as actually more than -in _salva_, the depth is relatively less than in _alascensis_ which -otherwise differs from initis in about the same way that _salva_ -differs from _initis_. Whereas the interorbital breadth in _initis_ is -about equal to the distance between the glenoid fossa and the posterior -border of the external auditory meatus, the interorbital breadth is -uniformly less than this distance in both _salva_ and _alascensis_. In -comparison with _seclusa_ the teeth are of the same size but all -measurements of the skull are larger. The skull of _initis_ is 25 per -cent heavier. In relation to the basilar length, the interorbital and -preorbital parts of the skull are much less in _initis_. The preorbital -and interorbital regions in _initis_ are relatively smaller in -comparison also with _arctica_. The one measurement of interorbital -breadth in _initis_ is greater in relation to the basilar length than -in _kadiacensis_ but the rostral region, and all that part of the skull -anterior to the braincase, is relatively smaller in _initis_. - -_Remarks._--The two adult males, nos. 286 and 289 from Saook Bay, -provide convincing evidence of the existence of a distinct race of -weasel on Baranof Island. Three other young specimens, almost subadult, -from the same place are labeled as males although the basilar lengths -of these skulls are only 35.5, 35.9 and 37.3 millimeters as against -39.6 and 40.5 in the two adult males. The difference in size is too -great to be age-variation. The fact that 3 are definitely of one -category and 2 of the other makes it doubtful that individual variation -accounts for the differences. The small size of these 3 specimens and -the fact that in each the anterior margin of the tympanic bulla is -flush with the squamosal rather than protruded from the braincase, -suggests that the three are females. If they are females, the amount of -secondary sexual variation is rather less than would be expected by -analogy with the amount obtaining in _alascensis_ on the mainland and -in _salva_ on Admiralty Island. Another possibility that I can not -disprove is that two stocks of weasels persist on Baranof Island, the -two larger specimens being descendants of the stock which first became -established on the island and the three smaller specimens being -descendants of an individual ermine, or of ermines, that were rafted or -otherwise transported to the island at a considerably later date. -Assuming for the moment that there are two stocks, it must be admitted -that each one differs from any stock known from elsewhere. Therefore, -each stock would be presumed to have been long resident on the island. -But--two stocks as closely related as the two in question would not be -expected to persist for long in an area as small as that of Baranof -Island because competition would give one the ascendancy. Therefore, -the first suggestion, namely that the three smaller animals are really -females, seems the more probable. The feasible way to clear up the -present uncertainty is, of course, to obtain additional specimens, -carefully labeled as to sex. Yet another reason why additional -collecting is desirable in this area is to ascertain whether there is -subspecific differentiation between the ermines of Baranof and -Chichagof islands. The one specimen available from the latter island, -although in general like the three smaller animals from Baranof Island, -differs in the fuller (less scooped out) medial side of the tympanic -bulla and to a slight degree in each of some other features. This -specimen from Chichagof Island is labeled as a male also. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 6, arranged by localities - from north to south, and in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy, - University of California. - - =Alaska.= Chichagof Island, Freshwater Bay, 1. Baranof Island, - Saook Bay, 5. - - -=Mustela erminea celenda= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6 and 7 - - _Mustela erminea celenda_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 57:38, - June 28, 1944; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 130987, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; Kasaan Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska; - June 16, 1903; obtained by Cyrus Catt; original no. 4407X. - - The skull has a piece 1.5 mm. long broken out of the left - zygomatic arch. P2 is absent on both sides. The right I1, and the - left I1 and I2 are missing. The skin, in summer pelage, is fairly - well made. A scrotal pouch attests to the correctness of the sex - recorded on the label. The rostral part of the skull is smaller - than in average-sized males of corresponding age. - - _Range._--Prince of Wales, Dall, and Long islands, Alaska. See - figures 25, 26 on pages 95, 134. - - _Characters for ready recognition_ (only males known).--Differs - from _M. e. alascensis_ and _initis_ in chest mostly covered by - brown patch, not white, and breadth of rostrum measured across - lacrimal processes more than a third of basilar length, which - cranial character serves to distinguish also _salva_; from _M. e. - seclusa_ in zygomatic breadth less than distance between last - upper molar and jugular foramen; from _M. e. haidarum_ in chest - white (not mostly covered by brown patch), proximal two-thirds of - underside of tail colored like upper parts rather than underparts, - basilar length more than 38.2 mm. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Seven adults and subadults from - Prince of Wales Island, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 286 (277-304); length of tail, 77 (74-85); - length of hind foot, 36 (35.5-40.5). - - Female: No specimen available. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that upper parts about tone 3 of dark Chocolate Brown of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, pl. 342; lower throat and chest covered by a large - patch of same color as upper parts; color of underparts extending - to toes but in interrupted fashion on both fore-and hind-feet; - least width of color of underparts averaging, in four males from - Prince of Wales Island, 41 (38-49) per cent of greatest width of - color of upper parts. Black tip of tail averaging, in 8 males in - winter pelage, 65 (59-78) mm. which is 84 (69-92) per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - From its geographic neighbors _alascensis_ and _initis_, _celenda_ - differs in darker color of upper parts, presence rather than - absence of patch of dark color on lower throat and chest, and - longer black tip on tail. From _haidarum_, _celenda_ differs in - darker color of upper parts, presence rather than absence of - patch of dark color on lower throat and chest, narrower - light-colored under parts, black tip of tail averaging less rather - than more than nine-tenths of length of tail-vertebrae and ventral - face of tail colored like upper parts rather than like underparts. - - _Skull._--Male (illustrated by 5 adults): See measurements and - plates 5-7. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight, 2.3 (2.2-2.5) grams; basilar length, 39.5 - (38.9-40.7) mm.; length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes more - than a third of basilar length; interorbital breadth more than - distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external - auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth more or less than (about equal - to) distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - Female.--Complete skull of adult unavailable. - -Differences from _richardsonii_ are indicated in the formal description -just given. Additional to differences therein noted, _celenda_ differs -from _initis_ in larger interorbital and preorbital parts of the skull -although dimensions of other parts of the skull and the teeth are about -the same or even less. From _salva_, _celenda_ differs in larger -average size in every measurement taken, except for the inner moiety of -M1 which is about the same. The skull of _celenda_ is 35 per cent -heavier. In relation to the basilar length the skull of _celenda_ is -wider, especially in the interorbital and preorbital regions. In -comparison with _alascensis_ the tympanic bullae are of approximately -the same length; otherwise essentially the same differences obtain as -are noted in comparison with _salva_ and the zygomatic breadth is -relatively more in _celenda_. From _seclusa_, in which the teeth are of -comparable size, _celenda_ differs in that every cranial measurement is -more and the skull is 28 per cent heavier. Because the skull of -_celenda_ is so much longer, its dimensions in other planes are less in -relation to the length than in _seclusa_. _M. e. celenda_ is larger in -every part measured than _haidarum_, 21 per cent heavier, and in -relation to the basilar length the interorbital, and preorbital, parts -of the skull are smaller, the braincase is shallower, and the skull is -relatively wider across the zygomata and mastoid processes. In -comparison with _kadiacensis_, differences are: 26 per cent lighter, -skull shorter; in relation to the basilar length, braincase shallower -as measured at the anterior end of the basioccipital, tooth-rows -shorter but orbitonasal length more. In comparison with _arctica_ all -parts measured of the teeth and skull of _celenda_ are smaller and its -skull is 34 per cent lighter. In relation to the basilar length, the -interorbital breadth of _celenda_ is only slightly less but its skull -is narrower across the rostrum and zygomata, the tooth-rows are -shorter, and the braincase is shallower. - -_Remarks._--The late George Willett in the course of his work in Alaska -collected most of the known specimens of this strongly differentiated -subspecies. In both coloration and cranial characters the -distinguishing features are so well marked that the zoölogist could -with reason accord full specific rank to _celenda_. Nevertheless it -obviously is an ermine. Also, races from other islands of southeastern -Alaska tend to bridge the gap, as regards cranial features, between -_celenda_ and the mainland ermine. The specimen from Dall Island agrees -in all respects with topotypes. The specimen from Howkan on Long Island -is in white winter pelage and the skull has suffered shrinkage from -some chemical solution; the reference of this specimen to _celenda_ is -tentative. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 25, as follows: Arranged by - localities from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, in U. - S. National Museum. - - =Alaska.= Prince of Wales Island: Craig, 18 (10 in Mus. Vert. - Zoöl., and 8 in Los Angeles Mus. Hist. Art and Sci.); Kasaan Bay, - 2; no locality more definite than the Island itself, 3; Dall - Island, Otter Harbor, 1 (Los Angeles Mus. Hist. Art and Sci.). - Long Island, Howkan, 1 (Field Mus. Nat. Hist.). - - -=Mustela erminea seclusa= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6 and 7 - - _Mustela erminea seclusa_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 57:39, - June 28, 1944; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull alone; no. 31232, Mus. Vert. Zoöl.; - Port Santa Cruz, Suemez Island, Alaska; March 24, 1920; obtained - by George Willett. - - The skull (plates 5-7) is complete and unbroken. Of the upper - incisors only right I3 is present. Otherwise the teeth are present - and unbroken. - - _Range._--Known only from the type locality. See figures 25, 26 on - pages 95, 134. - - _Characters for ready recognition_ (only the male known).--Differs - from _M. e. celenda_ in basilar length less than 38.2, from _M. e. - salva_, _initis_ and _haidarum_ in zygomatic breadth more than - distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - _Description.--Size_ and _Color._--No external measurements or - skins available. - - Skull.--Male: See measurements and plates 5-7. As described in - _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 1.8 grams; - basilar length, 34.3; length of tooth-rows about the same as - length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across - lacrimal processes more than a third of basilar length; - interorbital breadth more than distance between glenoid fossa and - posterior margin of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth - more than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - Female.--Skull not available. - -From _alascensis_ and _salva_, _seclusa_ differs in larger teeth, -shorter skull, much larger preorbital and interorbital regions, -actually as well as in relation to basilar length. Excepting the teeth, -which are of about the same size, the same general differences obtain -in comparison with _initis_ which, however, is 29 per cent heavier. - -From _celenda_, _seclusa_ differs in smaller skull in all parts -measured, being 22 per cent lighter. The teeth are about the same size. -In relation to its length the skull of _seclusa_ is much broader and -deeper. From _haidarum_, _seclusa_ differs in: teeth larger; skull -shorter and more convex in dorsal outline along median longitudinal -axis; in relation to basilar length, skull broader, deeper and -braincase relatively shorter. - -_Remarks._--The characters shown in the one available skull are far -outside the limits of individual variation for other known subspecies. -Other specimens are much to be desired to ascertain what the "average" -individual is like and to learn the characters of the female. - - _Specimen examined._--One, the holotype. - - -=Mustela erminea haidarum= (Preble) - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13 - - _Putorius haidarum_ Preble, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 12:169, - August 10, 1898. - - _Mustela haidarum_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:97, December - 31, 1912. - - _Mustela erminea haidarum_, Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 57:38, June 28, 1944; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull, skeleton and skin; no. 94430, U. S. - Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Massett, Queen Charlotte Islands, - British Columbia; March 17, 1898; obtained by J. H. Keen; original - no. 1800x. - - The skull is unbroken and complete except for osseous tissue - destroyed in the region of each postorbital process; this is the - result of infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites. The - skeleton is complete down to the distal ends of the tibiae; the - more distal bones are in the skin. The first, right, upper incisor - is missing. Otherwise the teeth all are present and entire. - - The skin is in the white, winter pelage but the new under fur is - visible along the back and on the head although mostly covered - with white hair. - - _Range._--Queen Charlotte Islands. See figure 25, page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. celenda_ - in chest white (not mostly covered by brown patch), proximal - two-thirds of under side of tail colored like underparts instead - of upper parts, in males basilar length less than 38.2; from _M. - e. seclusa_, in male, in zygomatic breadth less than distance - between last upper molar and jugular foramen; from _M. e. - richardsonii_ and _alascensis_, in both sexes, in proximal - two-thirds of under side of tail colored like underparts instead - of upper parts, interorbital breadth not less than distance from - glenoid fossa to posterior margin of external auditory meatus; - from _M. e. anguinae_ and _fallenda_, in both sexes, in - light-colored underparts more than half the width of dark-colored - upper parts, proximal two-thirds of under surface of tail colored - like underparts instead of upper parts, interorbital breadth equal - to or more than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior - margin of external auditory meatus. - - _Description.--Size._--Male: Two adults, U.S.N.M., no. 100622, - from Cumsheva Inlet, and Amer. Mus. N. H., no. 37411, and the - type, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 283, 290, - 275; length of tail, 70, 75, 60; length of hind foot, 39, 40, 37. - - Female: Corresponding measurements of an adult, no. 100624, and a - young individual, no. 100623, each from Cumsheva Inlet, are: 252, - 250; 63, 61; 31, 32. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that underparts not Sulphur Yellow but ranging from near (_e_) - Colonial Buff through Marguerite Yellow to almost pure white; - color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of - forelegs and onto toes but in many specimens interrupted at wrist - by color of upper parts; color of underparts extends onto proximal - three-fourths of under side of tail as length of tail is measured - along tail-vertebrae; least width of color of underparts - averaging, in 5 males, 79 (66-130) per cent of greatest width of - color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same males averaging 62 - (60-70) mm. which is 92 (83-115) per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - The close correspondence in color-pattern of this weasel with the - Arctic races, _arctica_, _polaris_, _semplei_ and _kadiacensis_ is - noteworthy, and distinguishes it from weasels on the adjacent - mainland and adjoining islands to the north and south. The color - of the upper parts is darker than in the four Arctic races named. - - _Skull._--Male (7 adults): See measurements and plates 5-7. As - described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, - 1.9 (1.7-2.0) grams; basilar length, 36.7 (35.6-37.5); length of - tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bullae; breadth of rostrum - measured across lacrimal processes more than a third of basilar - length; interorbital breadth more than distance between glenoid - fossa and posterior margin of external auditory meatus; zygomatic - breadth barely less than distance between last upper molar and - jugular foramen. - - Female (2 adults): See measurements and plates 11-13. As described - in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 1.3 and 1.4 - grams; basilar length, 34.2; length of tooth-rows more or less - than (about equal to) length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum - more than 30 per cent of basilar length; interorbital breadth not - less than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior margin of - external auditory meatus. - -From _richardsonii_, _haidarum_ differs in that skull of the male is -actually larger in its anterior part (breadth of rostrum, interorbital -breadth and orbitonasal length) but all measurements of other parts -average less. In relation to the basilar length, the tympanic bulla is -shorter but all other measurements are more. In the skull of the -female, which is 23 per cent heavier, the width of the tympanic bulla -and anteroposterior extent of the inner lobe of M1 are the same; in all -other measurements the female of _haidarum_ is larger, and in relation -to the basilar length all measurements are more except the depth of the -skull at the anterior margin of the basioccipital and the width of the -tympanic bulla, which are less. By actual weight the skull of the male -is 25 per cent lighter and the skull of the female 24 per cent heavier -than in _richardsonii_. From _fallenda_ and _anguinae_, _haidarum_ -differs in that measurements of the skulls of both sexes either average -more, or are uniformly more, with two exceptions. These are the lesser -length and breadth of the tympanic bulla, in comparison with males of -_fallenda_, and the dimensions of M1 which are about the same in all -three races concerned. The pre-and interorbital parts are larger in -relation to the remainder of the skull. The postorbital breadth is -actually a third more than in _fallenda_. In relation to the basilar -length, the tympanic bulla is shorter and the braincase deeper than in -males of _anguinae_. The skull of the male is 27 per cent heavier than -that of _fallenda_ and 58 per cent heavier than that of _anguinae_. The -skull of the female is 59 and 50 per cent heavier than those of -_fallenda_ and _anguinae_, respectively. Comparison of the skull with -those of _alascensis_, _celenda_ and _seclusa_ has been made in the -accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--The available specimens of this ermine were obtained by J. -H. Keen in 1898, Wilfred H. Osgood and E. A. Lewis in 1900, W. W. Brown -in 1914, J. A. Munro in 1917 and 1918, and Allan Brooks in 1920. _M. e. -haidarum_ has more claim to full specific status than any other race of -ermine because the diagnostic structural features are numerous and -individually of relatively great degree. Indeed, individual variation -appears not to bridge the gap between any population of _haidarum_ and -other subspecies and strong reasons could be advanced for according -_haidarum_ the status of a full species. It differs from the subspecies -of _erminea_ on the adjoining mainland and adjoining islands to the -north and south and agrees with the Arctic races (_arctica_, _polaris_, -_semplei_ and _kadiacensis_) in great extent of the color of the -underparts, extension of this color onto the underneath side of the -tail, long black tip of the tail and general form of the skull -including the relatively heavy preorbital region. The color although -darker than in the Arctic subspecies, is lighter than in the insular -races immediately to the north and south. In combination, the features -mentioned could be taken as indication that _haidarum_ is a relict -population from a former glacial period. Assuming that it is a relict -population, the color may have become slightly darker since that period -but the main response appears to have been a decrease in size for this -is a much smaller animal than the Arctic ermines. The size is about -what would be expected if one were to judge by the slightly larger -ermines on the islands of southeastern Alaska to the north and the -smaller ermine on Vancouver Island to the south. - -The ermines of the islands of southeastern Alaska, excepting possibly -the incompletely known _seclusa_, have fewer characters of the Arctic -races and more characters of the races of the adjoining mainland. -Therefore, a possible inference is that the distinctive characters of -ermines of the Alaskan islands developed with the aid of isolation from -stocks which reached the islands after the glacial period. _M. e. -haidarum_ may have found its way to the Queen Charlotte Islands in the -glacial period. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 17, as follows. Arranged by - locality from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, - specimens are in the U. S. National Museum. - - =British Columbia.= Queen Charlotte Islands. Masset, 7 (4[74], - 1[2], 1[59]); Skidegate, 1; Graham Island, 5 (2[94], 1[77], 1[2]); - Cumsheva Inlet, 3; no locality more definite than Queen Charlotte - Islands, 1[2]. - - -=Mustela erminea anguinae= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13 - - _Mustela cicognanii anguinae_ Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., - 38:417, November 8, 1932. - - _Putorius cicognanii_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858 (part). - - _Putorius streatori_, Swarth, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 10:102, - February 13, 1912. - - _Mustela erminea anguinae_ Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:79, February 27, - 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, adult, complete skeleton (no skin); no. 12482, Mus. - Vert. Zoöl., French Creek, Vancouver Island, British Columbia; - found as a desiccated carcass on May 1, 1910; obtained by Harry S. - Swarth. - - _Range._--Vancouver Island, British Columbia. See figures 25, 27 - pages 95, 149. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. - haidarum_, in both sexes, in light-colored underparts less than - half the width of dark-colored upper parts, proximal two-thirds of - under surface of tail colored like upper parts instead of - underparts, interorbital breadth less than distance between - glenoid fossa and posterior margin of external auditory meatus; - from _M. e. fallenda_, in both sexes, anterior margin of tympanic - bullae flush with squamosal rather than projecting from floor of - braincase, in males by sagittal crest absent, in females by total - length more than 238 and tooth-rows about same length as, instead - of longer than, tympanic bulla; from _M. e. streatori_, in male, - by sagittal crest absent and hind foot ordinarily more than 33.5, - in female by hind foot more than 27.5, basilar length more than - 30.2; from _M. e. olympica_, in males, by greater average size, - hind foot ordinarily more than 33.4 and interorbital breadth - ordinarily more than 8.5, in females by larger size, total length - more than 235, tail more than 65, hind foot more than 27.5, - basilar length more than 30.2. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Sixteen adults and subadults yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 272 - (261-284) mm.; length of tail, 81 (74-86); length of hind foot, - 35.0 (33.5-36). - - Female: Five adults and subadults have corresponding measurements - as follows: 247 (241-257); 69 (66-73); 30.0 (28.0-32.0). - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea streatori_ except that: - occasionally white in winter; upper parts about tone 2 of Dark - Chocolate of Oberthür and Dauthenay; least width of color of - underparts averaging, in 7 adult males, 6 (0-15) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same - series averaging 37 (26-46) mm. which is 46 (32-54) per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 13 adults): See measurements and plates - 5-7. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: - Weight, 1.2 (1.0-1.3) grams; basilar length, 34.0 (32.5-35.6); - length of tooth-rows more or less (usually less) than length of - tympanic bulla. - - Female (based on 5 adults): See measurements and plates 11-13. As - described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight - 0.9 (0.77-1.06) grams; basilar length, 31.5 (30.9-31.8) grams; - length of tooth-rows more or less than (approximately same as) - length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum more than 30 per cent - of basilar length. - -The sexual dimorphism in the skull is slight, the skull of the male -being only a third heavier than that of the female. In _fallenda_ of -the adjacent mainland to the east the male is three-fourths heavier -than the female. In comparison with _fallenda_, males are smaller, -averaging less in every cranial and dental measurement taken and by -weight are a fifth lighter; sagittal crest absent rather than present; -tympanic bullae flush with squamosal rather than projecting below floor -of braincase; in relation to basilar length, tympanic bullae smaller, -braincase deeper and broader, skull wider interorbitally and across -zygomata. Females are larger than in _fallenda_, and with one exception -average larger in every cranial and dental measurement taken, being 6 -per cent heavier. The one exception mentioned is the lesser actual -length of the tympanic bulla in _anguinae_, in which the length of the -tooth-rows is about the same as, rather than less than, the length of -the tympanic bulla. The postorbital breadth is greater than in -_fallenda_ and the anterior edges of the tympanic bullae are flush with -the squamosals rather than projecting below the floor of braincase. In -relation to the skull as a whole the preorbital and interorbital parts -are larger. - -In comparison with _streatori_, skulls of males are of about the same -size, _anguinae_ being only 9 per cent heavier. The length of the -tooth-rows is ordinarily less than, rather than about equal to, the -length of the tympanic bulla; sagittal crest wanting rather than -present since in _anguinae_ the temporal muscles meet usually only at -the posterior end of the braincase instead of all along the midline on -its top; tympanic bullae narrower and more nearly flush with squamosal -(less protruded from braincase). Relative to the basilar length, the -zygomatic breadth is more, the tympanic bullae are narrower, and the -braincase is deeper at the anterior end of the basioccipital. The -female is 41 per cent heavier than _streatori_, there being no overlap -in most cranial and dental measurements. M1, however, is approximately -the same size in each subspecies. The tooth-rows and tympanic bulla are -of almost equal length whereas in _streatori_ the length of the -tooth-rows is less than that of the bulla. - -Differences from _olympica_, in males, are: M1 shorter; all other -measurements of teeth and parts of skull averaging larger; skull 20 per -cent heavier; tooth-rows averaging shorter than tympanic bulla rather -than about the same; relative to basilar length, braincase deeper at -anterior end of basioccipital and tooth-rows shorter. The skull of the -female is 64 per cent heavier, larger in every measurement taken -without overlap; temporal ridges meeting, rather than separated, at -lambdoidal crest; length of tooth-rows about equal to, rather than -shorter than, tympanic bulla; in relation to basilar length, skull -deeper, orbitonasal length more, mastoid and zygomatic breadths more, -and tympanic bullae shorter. - -_Remarks._--References in the literature to this insular race mostly -were under the name _streatori_ until 1932 when in the course of the -present study the name _anguinae_ was proposed. A few specimens have -been taken by nearly every student of small mammals who has collected -on Vancouver Island. Arthur Peake and Herbert Laing have probably -collected more specimens than any other two zoölogists. - -_M. c. anguinae_ is noteworthy for the slight secondary sexual -variation in size; the disparity between the two sexes is less than in -any other American subspecies of _erminea_. By linear measurement the -body of the female is only 7 per cent shorter than in the male (178 -versus 191 mm.). Linear measurements and weights of the skulls of the -two sexes are further indicative of this approximation in size. By -weight the skull of the female is only a fourth lighter than that of -the male, or, stated in another way, the male's skull is only a third -heavier (1.2 versus 0.9 grams). - -No geographic variation has been detected between lots of specimens -from different parts of Vancouver Island. The one specimen available -from Salt Spring Island presents no obvious differences from selected -individuals from Vancouver Island. - -The winter pelage is more often brown than white. Of 17 specimens seen -in winter pelage or in transition pelage, only 6 are white. These 6 are -from Comox, Stamp River, Hilliers, Jeune Landing and Port Alice. Of the -34 specimens in brown pelage, 7 have the dark color of the upper parts -meeting on the abdomen. Six of the 34 have brown color on the pectoral -region. In two, this is a separate patch but in the other four the dark -color is a continuation of the upper parts and extends in front of each -foreleg over part of the pectoral region, but the two extensions, one -from either side, do not meet on the underparts. The color of the lips -was recorded in 22 individuals: one had both the upper and lower-lips -white; 7 had the upper lips brown and the lower lips white; in 14 both -the upper and lower-lips were brown. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 40, listed by localities from - north to south as follows. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens - are in the National Museum of Canada. - - =British Columbia.= Vancouver Island: Cape Scott, 4; Shushartie, - 1; Quatsino, 1[74]; Jeune Landing, 1[74]; Port Alice, 5[15]; - Marble Creek, Quatsino Sound, 1[22]; Port Hardy, 5; Sayward, 2; - Bear Lake, 4; Bear River, 1; Comox, 4(3[85]); Stamp River, - Alberni, 1[31]; Errington, 1[74]; French Creek, 1[74]; Hilliers, - 1[74]; Craigs Crossing, 1[74]; Nanaimo, 2[22]; Cowichan Lake, - 1[22]; Duncan, 2[85]; Salt Spring Island, 1[85]. - - -=Mustela erminea fallenda= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13 - - _Mustela erminea fallenda_ Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:79, February 27, - 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Putorius streatori_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:13, June 30, 1896 - (part-Sumas). - -[Illustration: FIG. 27. Map showing known occurrences and probable -geographic ranges of the subspecies of _Mustela erminea_ in Washington -and parts of British Columbia and Oregon.] - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 7096, Nat. Mus. Canada; - Huntingdon, British Columbia; May 21, 1927; obtained by C. H. - Young, original no. 317. - - The brown summer skin is well made. The skull (plates 5-7) is - complete. Right p2 has the crown broken away; otherwise the teeth - all are present and entire. - - _Range._--On mainland in immediate vicinity of coast from probably - opposite Texada Island, British Columbia, south to Lake Whatcom, - Washington, and east to Mount Baker Range on International - boundary. See figures 25, 27 on pages 95, 149. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. - haidarum_, in both sexes, in light-colored underparts less than - half the width of dark-colored upper parts, proximal two-thirds of - under surface of tail colored like upper parts instead of - underparts, interorbital breadth less than distance between - glenoid fossa and posterior margin of external auditory meatus; - from _M. e. richardsonii_ in both sexes, by upper lips brown - rather than white, in males hind foot less than 41 and basilar - length less than 38.3, in females hind foot less than 29, basilar - length less than 31.4 and breadth of rostrum more, instead of - less, than 30 per cent of basilar length; from _M. e. invicta_, in - both sexes, by upper lips brown (not white); in males by skull - averaging shorter (basilar length 35.7 versus 37.0); in females by - breadth of rostrum more, instead of less, than 30 per cent of - basilar length; from _M. e. anguinae_, in both sexes, by anterior - margin of tympanic bulla projecting from floor of braincase rather - than flush with squamosal (the difference is slight in females), - in males by sagittal crest present, in females by total length - less than 238 and tooth-rows longer than, instead of about same - length as, tympanic bulla; from _M. e. streatori_, in both sexes, - by black tip of tail more than half of length of tail-vertebrae, - in males hind foot more than 33.7, tympanic bulla longer than, - instead of about same length as, upper tooth-rows; weight of skull - more than 1-1/4 grams, in females weight of skull more than 0.7 - grams, length of lateral side of P4, 4 mm. or more; from _M. e. - olympica_, in males, length of hind foot more than 33, black tip - of tail more than 36.5 mm., weight of skull more than 1.2 grams, - basilar length more than 33.5, in females length of hind foot more - than 25.5, weight of skull more than 0.66 grams, basilar length - more than 28.4; from _M. e. gulosa_, in both sexes, by anterior - margin of tympanic bulla projecting below floor of braincase - rather than flush with squamosal (the difference is slight in - females), in males hind foot more than 33.5, weight of skull more - than 1-1/4 grams, basilar length more than 33.9, in females by - total length more than 222, hind foot longer than 26, weight of - skull more than 0.7 grams, basilar length more than 29. - - _Description.--Size._--Male: Seven adult topotypes yield average - and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 278 (249-305); - length of tail, 77 (69-81); length of hind foot, 36.5 (34-40). A - male topotype of unknown age weighed 113 grams. - - Female: Two adult topotypes, with actual measurements in - parentheses, average as follows: Total length, 232 (228-236); - length of tail, 60 (57-62); length of hind foot, 27 (27-27). An - adult from Morovitz Guard Station, Wash., weighed 54 grams. - - _Color._--Winter pelage rarely white, brown pelage - indistinguishable from summer pelage except for slightly more - smoky tinge in winter in specimens from some localities; otherwise - as described in _Mustela erminea streatori_ except that least - width of color of underparts averaging, in seven adult topotypes, - 18 (0-37) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. - Black tip of tail averaging, in same series, 45 (38-52) mm. which - is 58 (53-65) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - In comparison with _richardsonii_ and _invicta_, _fallenda_ - differs in darker color of upper parts and their extension at the - expense of the light-colored underparts which are narrower by a - half. In correlation with this restriction in area of the - light-colored underparts, the upper lips are brown instead of - white. In comparison with _anguinae_, _olympica_ and _streatori_, - the longer black tip on the tail is the principal difference in - color. From _gulosa_, _fallenda_ differs in slightly darker color - of upper parts and in narrow underparts, the width of the same - being only about a fifth instead of a third of the width of the - dark-colored upper parts. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 7 adults): See measurements and plates - 5-7. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: - Weight, 1.5 (1.3-1.7) grams; basilar length, 35.7 (34.3-38.2). - - Female (based on 6 ads.): See measurements and plates 11-13. As - described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, - 0.85 (0.73-1.0) grams; basilar length, 30.6 (29.4-31.7); breadth - of rostrum more than 30 per cent of basilar length. - -In comparison with _richardsonii_, skulls of males differ as follows: -averaging smaller in every measurement taken with no overlap in several -dimensions; 40 per cent lighter; in relation to basilar length, rostrum -(orbitonasal length) longer and skull slightly broader interorbitally. -Females average smaller in every cranial and dental measurement taken -with no overlap in basilar length, length of tooth-rows and length of -tympanic bulla; 22 per cent lighter; breadth of rostrum more, rather -than less, than 30 per cent of basilar length; in relation to basilar -length, pre-and interorbital parts of skull larger, and mastoid breadth -more. - -Differences from males of _olympica_ are: size larger with no overlap -in most measurements; 50 per cent heavier; tympanic bullae longer than -upper tooth-rows rather than of about equal length; in relation to -basilar length, rostrum shorter, braincase wider and deeper, zygomata -more expanded. Females are larger with no overlap in most measurements; -35 per cent heavier; in relation to basilar length, pre-and -interorbital regions narrower, braincase deeper and wider across -mastoids. - -Differences from _streatori_, in males, are: skull averaging larger in -every cranial and dental measurement taken; 36 per cent heavier; -tympanic bulla longer than, instead of about same length as, -upper tooth-rows. In females the inner lobe of M1 is shorter -anteroposteriorly; otherwise all measurements of _fallenda_ average -larger and it is 33 per cent heavier; rostrum and interorbital region -broader in relation to remainder of skull. - -In comparison with _gulosa_, skulls of males differ as follows: -averaging larger in every measurement taken with no overlap in several -dimensions; 50 per cent heavier; tympanic bullae with anterior margins -projecting slightly below squamosals rather than flush with same; -length of bulla more than, rather than about same as, that of upper -tooth-rows. Considering the great difference in size, the relative -proportions are remarkably alike. In females, length of inner lobe of -M1 about the same; otherwise averaging larger in every measurement -taken; 44 per cent lighter; relative to basilar length, tooth-rows -longer, skull wider across zygomata and mastoids, rostrum and -interorbital regions slightly narrower, skull shallower in plane of -last upper molars. - -Comparisons with _haidarum_, _invicta_ and _anguinae_ are made in -accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Until the name _fallenda_ was proposed in the course of the -present study, most of the specimens of this race were assigned to -_streatori_. - -Intergradation with _streatori_ is complete as it is also with -_invicta_ and _richardsonii_, in other words with each of the -subspecies whose ranges meet that of _fallenda_. In color and in size -the difference is least between _streatori_ and _fallenda_. As between -_fallenda_ and _invicta_ the size is not greatly different and the -intergradation in color is gradual. Between _fallenda_ and -_richardsonii_ intergradation is somewhat different and to fully -appreciate its nature we should remember that the color of _fallenda_ -resembles that of the saturate coastal races, _streatori_, _anguinae_ -and _olympica_ although the black tip of the tail is longer. In this -latter feature and in several cranial details, as well as in greater -degree of secondary sexual variation in size, _fallenda_ resembles -_richardsonii_. Because the two differ more than do most subspecies of -ermine whose ranges meet, some of the intergrades at first inspection -appear to be widely different from either parent stock. For example, -specimens from Alta Lake, British Columbia, may give this impression -because the combination of large size and dark color suggests a kind of -ermine different from either _fallenda_ or _richardsonii_. In no -instance, however, has there been found in these intergrades any -character other than those occurring in one or the other of the two -parent races. - -Along the coast in the north part of the geographic range assigned to -_fallenda_, some specimens nearly typical of _richardsonii_ have been -taken so near to the place where fairly typical _fallenda_ was -obtained that I have doubted whether there is intergradation in the -usual fashion in this area; more specimens will have to be obtained -from this coastal area to resolve the doubt one way or the other. - -The winter pelage is brown in all specimens at most localities. The -only white pelage seen was in each of three specimens from Glacier, -Whatcom County, Washington. A fourth specimen from there is in brown -winter pelage. At any one locality there is much variation in the -degree to which the dark color of the upper parts encroaches on the -area that in most other races is light-colored. An extreme degree of -encroachment is shown by a specimen taken on December 1, 1935, by R. A. -Cummings, at Vancouver, British Columbia, in which the light color -occurs only in three restricted areas, the chin, the throat and the -lower breast; otherwise the coat is brown. There are other specimens, -for instance from the type locality, which differ mainly in having an -additional white spot in the inguinal region. The opposite extreme, in -a specimen also from the type locality, is where the least width of the -light-colored underparts on the abdominal region is a third of the -circumference of the body. The two extremes are connected by a dozen -intermediate stages. Of 64 specimens in which the color of the lips was -carefully examined, one, from Vancouver, has both the upper and -lower-lips brown; 9 have both the upper and lower-lips white; and 54 -have the upper lips brown and the lower lips white. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 72, arranged by localities - from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in - the National Museum of Canada. - - =British Columbia.= Horseshoe Lake, Stillwater, 2; Vancouver, - 1[74]; Point Grey, 1[31]; Port Moody, 5[91]; Chilliwack, 8 (2[75], - 4[91], 1[60]); Sumas, 19 (18[75], 1[60]); Thurstons Ranch, 2; - Cultus Lake, 2; Mt. Baker Range, 5[75]; Lihumption Park, 1; - Huntingdon, 14; Tami Hy Creek, 1. - - =Washington.= _Whatcom County_: Semiahmoo, 1[91]; New Whatcom, - 1[68]; Lake Whatcom, 2[91]; 5 mi. W Glacier, 1[51]; Glacier (3 at - 900 ft.), 4[91]; E Side Easton Glacier, Mt. Baker, 1[55]; Morovitz - Guard Station, 831 ft., 1[55]. - - -=Mustela erminea olympica= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 - - _Mustela erminea olympica_ Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:81, February 27, - 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Mustela rixosa_, Svihla and Svihla, Murrelet, 13:24, January, - 1932. - - _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, Svihla and Svihla, Murrelet, 14:39, May, - 1933. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 90738, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; near head of Soleduc River, 4500 ft., Olympic - Mountains, Clallam County, Washington; April 28, 1897; obtained by - Vernon Bailey, original no. 6213. - - The skin is well prepared and in good condition. The skull (plates - 5-7) is unbroken and the teeth all are present and entire. - - _Range._--Olympic Peninsula, Washington, south to Olympia. See - figures 25, 27 on pages 95, 149. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. - anguinae_, in males, by lesser average size, hind foot ordinarily - less than 33.4, and interorbital breadth ordinarily less than 8.5, - in females by smaller size, total length less than 235, tail less - than 65, hind foot less than 27.5, basilar length less than 30.2; - from _M. e. fallenda_, in males, by length of hind foot less than - 33, black tip of tail less than 36.5, weight of skull less than - 1.2 grams, basilar length less than 33.5, in females length of - hind foot less than 25.5, weight of skull less than 0.6 grams, - basilar length less than 28.4; from _M. e. streatori_ by smaller - size, in males hind foot less than 33.0, basilar length ordinarily - less than 32.5, in females by hind foot ordinarily not longer than - 24, by breadth of rostrum less than 8.6, depth of braincase at - posterior border of upper molars less than 7.6. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Twelve individuals of adult - proportions yield average and extreme measurements as follows: - Total length, 243 (205-269); length of tail, 65 (60-74); length of - hind foot, 31 (29-32). - - Female: Corresponding measurements of six females are: 196 - (188-208), 52 (45-60?), 23.4 (22.7-24.0). An adult weighs 30 - grams. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea streatori_ except that - least width of color of underparts averaging, in 12 males of adult - proportions, 5 (0-11) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts. Black tip of tail averaging, in same series, 26 (20-35) - mm., which is 40 (31-58) per cent (average the same as in - _streatori_) of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 5 adults): See measurements and plates - 5-7. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: - Weight, 1.0 (0.9-1.1) grams; basilar length, 31.8 (30.6-32.5); - length of tooth-rows more or less than (about equal to) length of - tympanic bulla. - - Female (illustrated by 3 adults): See measurements and plates - 12-14. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: - Weight, 0.55 (0.52-0.58) grams; basilar length, 27.1 (26.7-27.5); - breadth of rostrum more than 30 per cent of basilar length. - -In comparison with _streatori_, skulls of corresponding sex average -smaller in every measurement taken with no overlap in most of those of -females. Exception is to be made for the inner lobe of M1 in males -where the size is the same. By weight males are smaller by 10 per cent -and females by 14 per cent. In relation to other parts of the skull the -tympanic bullae are narrower and in females they are shorter as well. -Comparison with _anguinae_ and _fallenda_ has been made in the accounts -of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--The smaller size, especially of females, is the principal -feature distinguishing this race from _streatori_. On the basis of -available data the female of _olympica_ is smaller than that of any -other race and hence is the smallest adult weasel of the species -_erminea_, in either the Old World or in America. - -Intergradation with _streatori_ is indicated by specimens from the -southern end of Puget Sound. These specimens are intermediate in size -between typical examples of the two races concerned. - -The color of the upper parts is uniform and the color pattern varies -less than in geographically adjoining races. The white color of the -underparts is restricted to a thin line on the abdominal region, but -widens out posteriorly in the inguinal region and anteriorly over the -pectoral region, throat, chin and lower lips. The upper lips are brown. -The brown of the upper parts extends around in front of each foreleg, -the two brown areas not quite meeting on the lower throat. The above -description applies to each of the 19 specimens examined with regard to -these details. Every specimen seen in the winter coat was brown, not -white. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 20, arranged by counties from - north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the - U. S. National Museum. - - =Washington.= _Clallam County_: Clallam Bay, 2 (1[74], 1[94]); - Elwha, 2[10]; Johnsons Ranch, 1[60]; Happy Lake, 1[60]; Boulder - Lake, 2[60]; near head of Soleduc River, 4500 ft., 1; 12 mi. S - Port Angeles, 1[10]. _Jefferson County_: Hayes Cr., 2000 ft., - Elwha River, 2; head N Fork Quinault River, 4000 ft., 1; - Duckabush, 3; N Fork Skokomish River, 1. _Mason County_: Lake - Cushman, 2[76]; 4 mi. S Olympia, 1. - - -=Mustela erminea streatori= (Merriam) - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 - - _Putorius streatori Merriam_, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:13, pl. 2, figs. - 5, 5a, 6, 6a, June 30, 1896. - - _Putorius cicognanii_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858 (part - unless no. 2395 was a female of _M. frenata_). - - _Putorius pusillus_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 159, 1858 (part). - - _Putorius (Gale) vulgaris_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 102, - 1877 (part). - - _Mustela streatori streatori_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:96, December 31, 1912; Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., - 40:101, September 26, 1933. - - _Mustela cicognanii streatori_, Hall, Murrelet, 12:22, January, - 1931; Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 38:417, November 8, - 1932. - - _Mustela erminea streatori_, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:77, February - 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Mustela rixosa_, Beer, Journ. Mamm., 29:296, August 31, 1948. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 76646, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; Mount Vernon, Skagit Valley, Skagit County, - Washington; February 29, 1896; obtained by D. R. Luckey, original - no. 3. - - The skull is unbroken and the teeth all are present and entire. - The skin, in brown winter pelage, is stuffed and in good - condition. - - _Range._--Western Washington along eastern side of Puget Sound, - western Oregon from the Cascades to the coast, and northwestern - California south in the humid coastal district nearly to the - Golden Gate. See figures 25, 27 on pages 95, 149. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. - anguinae_, in male, by sagittal crest present and hind foot - ordinarily less than 33.5, in female by hind foot less than 27.5, - basilar length less than 30.2; from _M. e. fallenda_, in both - sexes, by black tip of tail less than half of length of - tail-vertebrae, in males hind foot less than 33.7, tympanic bulla - about same length as, instead of longer than, upper tooth-rows; - weight of skull less than 1-1/4 grams, in female weight of skull - less than 0.7 grams, length of lateral side of P4 less than 4 mm.; - from _M. e. olympica_, by larger size, in males hind foot more - than 33.0, basilar length ordinarily more than 32.5, in females by - hind foot ordinarily longer than 24, by breadth of rostrum more - than 8.6, depth of braincase at posterior border of upper molars - more than 7.6; from _M. e. gulosa_ and _muricus_, in both sexes, - by upper lips brown (not white), light color of underparts - extending down hind leg no farther than knee, depth of skull at - posterior border of upper molars more than 7.7 in females and - ordinarily more than 9.6 in males, further from _muricus_ by tail - more than 62 in males and more than 49 in females; from _M. e. - invicta_ by upper lips white (not brown), in males hind foot more - than 36 and basilar length more than 35, in females hind foot more - than 29.5 and basilar length more than 30.5. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Twelve adults from Blaine and - Tillamook, Oregon, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 255 (245-275); length of tail, 72 (64-80); - length of hind foot, 31.5 (30.0-33.5). - - Female: Seven adults from Blaine and Tillamook, Oregon, yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 214 - (193-230); length of tail, 55 (50-63); length of hind foot, 25 - (24-27). - - _Color._--Winter and summer pelages indistinguishable; upper parts - uniform and ranging from Raw Umber to slightly darker (16_n_), and - about tones 1 to 3 of Dark Chocolate of Oberthür and Dauthenay, - pl. 342; underparts white, in summer rarely with a faint buffy - suffusion in pectoral region; color of underparts extends from - chin, and often lower lips, posteriorly to inguinal region, - distally on posterior sides of forelegs onto antipalmar faces of - toes (sometimes interrupted at and above wrist) and on medial - sides of hind legs hardly to knee. Least width of color of - underparts averaging, in twelve adults from Blaine and Tillamook, - 10 (0-47) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. - Black tip of tail, in same series, averaging 28 (24-33) mm. which - is 40 (34-47) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 12 adults): See measurements and plates - 5-7. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: - Weight, 1.1 (1.0-1.2) grams; basilar length, 33.2 (32.5-33.8); - length of tooth-rows more or less than (about same as) length of - tympanic bulla. - - Female (based on 7 adults): See measurements and plates 12-14. As - described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, - 0.64 (0.60-0.67) grams; basilar length, 28.5 (27.6-29.5); breadth - of rostrum more than 30 per cent of basilar length. - -Comparison with _anguinae_, _fallenda_, _olympica_, _gulosa_ and -_muricus_ is made in accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--This weasel is rare in collections and the best material of -it was obtained by Alex Walker in Tillamook County, Oregon, where he -resides. The almost ideal series of 30 specimens showed the range of -secondary sexual, age, and individual variation expectable in the small -ermines of the Pacific Coast of the United States and was the means of -allowing satisfactory decision on questions of classification in the -related subspecies in which individuals are of comparable size. - -Intergradation with each of the geographically adjoining subspecies, -_olympica_, _fallenda_, _invicta_, _gulosa_ and _muricus_ is shown by -specimens examined. With the last mentioned subspecies, intergradation -is shown by two specimens from as far south as Siskiyou County, -California, assigned to _muricus_. - -The application of the name _streatori_ is difficult because it was -based on a specimen from a place where two clines cross. The -north-south cline is one of size which decreases to the south. The -east-west cline is one of intensity of color, the westernmost (coastal) -population being the most intensely colored. The type locality of -_streatori_ is at the place where two lines perpendicular to one -another, and representing the two clines, cross. This intersection is -near the place where the ranges of several subspecies meet. The -nomenclatural question is, to which one of 6 subspecies should the name -_streatori_ apply. Specimens from barely within the geographic -boundaries of four of these subspecies so closely resemble topotypes of -_streatori_ that a student with material at his disposal from only the -area about Puget Sound naturally would apply the name _streatori_ to -all of his specimens, and knowing even of the arrangement adopted in -the present account the student will have difficulty in identifying his -specimens according to it. Not only will the student find the -arrangement difficult, but probably unsatisfactory if he thinks of -_streatori_ as being the kind of animal represented by topotypes. I -conceive of topotypes of _streatori_ as being nontypical of the -subspecies; they are intergrades with _fallenda_. My aim was initially -to work out the geographic ranges of subspecies and only subsequently -to apply names, according to which type localities fell within the -previously determined geographic ranges. By this procedure no greater -weight was given to a holotype and to topotypes than to specimens from -any other locality. - -Of the 40 specimens seen in winter pelage, only one is white. It is -from Darrington in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. The 39 others -are brown and I doubt that the white pelage ever occurs in the low -coastal territory included within the geographic range of _streatori_. -This subspecies resembles _anguinae_ and _olympica_ in the great -extension of area of the dark-colored upper parts at the expense of the -area of the light-colored underparts. The usual arrangement is one -where the brown of the two sides nearly meets on the midventral line -leaving a sizable, inguinal area of light color connected by a thin -line to the sizable area of light color on the pectoral region. The -light color of the pectoral area ordinarily is continuous with the -light-colored area of the throat and chin but the dark color of the -upper parts extends around in front of each foreleg. These extensions -of dark color meet on the chest in only 2 of the 56 specimens examined -in this regard. Across the abdomen the dark color is continuous in 4 of -the 56 specimens. The lower lips are brown instead of white in only 3 -individuals and in 2 of these the lip of one side is brown and its -opposite is white. The variation in color-pattern is less than in -_anguinae_ or than in _fallenda_. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 63, arranged alphabetically - by states, then by counties from north to south in each state. - Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the U. S. National - Museum. - - =California.= _Humboldt County_: 10 mi. NE Carlotta, 1[74]. - _Mendocino County_: Russian Gulch State Park, 1[74]. _Sonoma - County_: Mouth of Gualala River, 1[74]. - - =Oregon.= _Clatsop County_: Astoria, 1. _Tillamook County_: - Tillamook, 16 (14[14], 1[59]); Blaine, 12 (7[14], 2[59], 1[93], - 2[76]). _Washington County_: Beaverton, 1[60]; Forest Grove, - 1[36]. _Clackamas County_: Oregon City, 1[46]. _Lincoln County_: - Newport, 1. _Linn County_: Sico, 1[46]. _Lane County_: Vida Fish - Hatchery, 2[101]; McKenzie Bridge, 1[101]; Mercer, 1[75]. _Klamath - County_: Deschutes River, 6 mi. E Crescent Lake, 1[101]. _Douglas - County_: Gardiner, 1[60]. _Curry County_: Port Orford, 1; Gold - Beach, 2[60]. - - =Washington.= _Skagit County_: N end Whidby Island opposite - Deception Pass, 1; Hamilton, 4; Mt. Vernon, 3. _Snohomish County_: - Oso, 550 ft., 1; Darrington, 600 ft., 1. _Pacific County_: - Wallicut River, 2 mi. E Ilwaco, 1[74]. _Wahkiakum County_: 4 mi. - E. Skamokawa, 3[74]. _Cowlitz County_: 4 mi. E mouth Kalama River, - 2[74]; 6 mi. E mouth Kalama River, 1[74]. _Skamania County_: 15 - mi. N Govt. Springs, 1300 ft., 1. - - -=Mustela erminea gulosa= Hall - -Ermine - -Plates 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 - - _Mustela erminea gulosa_ Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:84, February 27, - 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Putorius streatori_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:14, June 30, 1896. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 81998, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Trout Lake, Klickitat County, Washington; - February 3, 1897; obtained by P. Schmid, original no. 147. - - The skin is in brown winter pelage, and appears to have been made - up from a skin split along the midventral line from the anus to - the forelegs. It probably was dried by a trapper, is well made, - and lacks a patch of hair on the left flank but otherwise is in - good condition. The skull lacks the central part of the left - zygomatic arch and the posterior two-thirds of the right one. The - right m2 is represented only by an abortive stump or the broken - root, and i1 and i2 on each side are absent; otherwise, the teeth - all are present and entire. - - _Range._--Cascades of Washington from northeastern King County - south to Mount Adams. See figures 25, 27 on pages 95, 149. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. invicta_ - and _fallenda_, in both sexes, by anterior margin of tympanic - bulla flush with squamosal rather than projecting below floor of - braincase (difference slight in females), in males hind foot less - than 33.5, weight of skull less than 1-1/4 grams, basilar length - less than 33.9, in females by total length less than 222, hind - foot shorter than 26, weight of skull less than 0.7 grams, basilar - length less than 29; from _M. e. muricus_, in both sexes, by upper - parts darker, tone 4 of Chocolate or darker (see description of - color) least width of light-colored underparts averaging one-third - instead of approximately two-thirds of greatest width of - dark-colored upper parts, in males, on the average, tail more than - 65, weight of skull more than 0.90 grams, basilar length more than - 30.8 mm.; from _M. e. streatori_, in both sexes, by upper lips - white (not brown), light color of underparts extending down hind - legs below knee, depth of skull at posterior border of upper - molars less than 7.7 in females and ordinarily less than 9.6 in - males. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: One adult and four subadults from - Mount Rainier yield average and extreme measurements as follows: - Total length, 253 (238-266); length of tail, 75 (70-83); length of - hind foot, 31.5 (30-33). Corresponding measurements of 9 subadults - from Trout Lake are: 257 (233-282); length of tail, 76 (56-83); - length of hind foot, 30.2 (26-33). - - Female: Of adults, 2 from Mount Rainier and 2 from Trout Lake - measure as follows: Total length, 202, 203, 216, 210; length of - tail, 54, 52, 57, 51; length of hind foot, 24, 24, 25, 24. The - averages for these females are 208, 54, 24.3. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that color sometimes brown in winter (with more smoky tinge than - summer coat); upper parts ranging from tone 2 through tones 3 and - 4 of Dark Chocolate (pl. 342) into tone 4 of Chocolate (pl. 343) - of Oberthür and Dauthenay; underparts (always white in winter) in - summer Sulphur Yellow or more whitish; least width of color of - underparts averaging, in 5 males from Mount Rainier, 31 (18-45) - per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of - tail, in same series, averaging 34 (29-40) mm., which is 45 - (41-50) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull._--Male (based on 2 ad. and 13 sad.): See measurements and - plates 5-7. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that: Weight, 1.0 (0.95-1.16) grams; basilar length, 32.3 - (30.9-33.4); length of tooth-rows more or less than (about equal - to) length of tympanic bulla. - - Female (illustrated by 5 adults): See measurements and plates - 12-14. As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: - Weight, 0.59 (0.53-0.65) grams; basilar length, 28.1 (27.8-28.4); - breadth of rostrum ordinarily more than 30 per cent of basilar - length. - -In comparison with _streatori_, skulls of males and females average -smaller in every cranial measurement taken. Teeth of about same size -and males 9 per cent, and females 8 per cent, lighter. In relation to -basilar length, skull of female shallower, tympanic bullae slightly -shorter and, on the average, zygomata less expanded. - -In comparison with _muricus_, males average larger in every measurement -taken; 23 per cent heavier; in relation to other dimensions, braincase -shallower at anterior end of basioccipital. Females are of about equal -size; in relation to other dimensions, braincase shallower and mastoid -and zygomatic breadths less. - -Comparisons with _invicta_ and _fallenda_ have been made in the -accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--This is not a strongly marked race and in most of the -characters used for differentiating it from other races it resembles -either _streatori_ to the west or _muricus_ to the southeast. -Nevertheless, there is a geographic area, the southern Cascades of -Washington, throughout which individual characters are combined in -essentially the same way and there are a few features, for instance, -smaller skull of the female, in which _gulosa_ differs from either of -its close relatives. In view of these circumstances and because the -animals can not well be included in the subspecies _streatori_ or -_muricus_, _gulosa_ is recognized as distinct. The races _gulosa_ and -_olympica_ are what might be termed weakly differentiated subspecies in -contrast to the strongly differentiated subspecies _streatori_ and -_muricus_. - -Of the 21 specimens in winter pelage, 17 are white and four are brown. -The brown winter coat is distinctly paler, with more of a smoky tinge, -than the brown summer pelage. The light-colored underparts are narrower -than in the subspecies immediately to the east but are wider than in -the coastal forms to the west. The dark color of the upper parts -extends onto the chest in front of the forelegs, as in the coastal -forms, in only one of the 13 specimens in summer pelage and in it on -one side only. The black tip of the tail is short as in the coastal -forms. One specimen is in transitional pelage. It has acquired -approximately half of the white winter pelage and was taken on October -12, 1897, at Keechelus Lake. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 38, arranged by counties from - north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the - U. S. National Museum. - - =Washington.= _King County_: 2 mi. E Skykomish, 2[51]. _Kittitas - County_: Keechelus Lake, 3 (1[1]); Martin, 1[1]; Easton, 3. - _Pierce County_: James Lake, 4370 ft., Mt. Rainier, 1; Glacier - Basin, 5935 ft., Mt. Rainier, 1; Meslers Ranch, 2000 ft., 1 mi. W - Rainier Park, 1. _Lewis County_: Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park, 5 (1 each - from: Paradise Park, 5400 ft.; Reflection Lakes, 4900 ft.; - Ohanapecosh [Hot] Springs, 2000 ft.; Tahoma Creek, 1[72]; Bear - Prairie); also in Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park, Longmire, 3 (1[72], - 1[94]). _Skamania County_: Mt. St. Helens, 6000 ft., 1. _Klickitat - County_: Trout Lake, 18. - - -=Mustela erminea muricus= (Bangs) - -Ermine - -Plates 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 41 - - _Putorius (Arctogale) muricus_ Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, - 1:71, July 31, 1899. - - _Putorius streatori leptus_ Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 16:76, May 29, 1903. Type from Silverton, San Juan County, - Colorado. - - _Putorius muricus_, Stephens, California Mammals, p. 248, 1906. - - _Putorius cicognani_, Taylor, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 7:298, - June 24, 1911. - - _Mustela streatori leptus_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, - December 31, 1912; Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 35:48, September 5, - 1913; Dixon, Journ. Mamm., 12:72, February 12, 1931; Whitlow and - Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 40:246, September 30, 1933. - - _Mustela muricus_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, December - 31, 1912; Kellogg, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 12:358, January - 27, 1916. - - _Mustela cicognanii lepta_, Dice, Journ. Mamm., 1:12, November 28, - 1919; Hall, Mamm. Nevada, p. 184, July 1, 1946. - - _Mustela rixosa_, Seton, Journ. Mamm., 14:70, February 14, 1933. - - _Mustela cicognanii leptus_, Miller, Journ. Mamm., 14:368, November - 13, 1933; Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 55:293, August 29, 1936. - - _Mustela erminea murica_, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:84, February 27, - 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945. - - _Type._--Male, young, skull and skin; no. 9146, collection of E. - A. and O. Bangs in Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; Echo, 7500 ft., El Dorado - County, California; July 15, 1897; obtained by W. W. Price and E. - M. Nutting. - - The skull has a fracture along the sagittal suture and fractures - on the left side of the braincase but these have been glued, and - no part of the skull is missing except in the region of the right - P4 which part has been shot away. On the left side m2 never - developed. Excepting this tooth and the right P4, all the teeth - are present and entire. The skin is well made but has the soles of - the hind feet turned up. - - _Range._--Near 5300 feet (Denver) to 11000 feet (Santa Fe Baldy); - typically boreal but taken in Upper Sonoran Life-zone in winter at - Denver; from central and southwestern Montana, southern Idaho, and - Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington southward east of the - Cascade Divide through the Salmon River Mountains and Sierra - Nevada at least into Fresno County of California, in the Great - Basin to central Nevada, in the Rocky Mountains into northern New - Mexico; eastward to the Black Hills. See figure 25 on page 95. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. invicta_ - by hind foot less than 36 and basilar length less than 35 in males - and by hind foot less than 29.5 and basilar length less than 30.5 - in females; from _M. e. gulosa_, in both sexes, by upper parts - lighter, tone 2 of Chocolate or lighter (see description of - color), least width of light-colored underparts averaging about - two-thirds instead of one-third of greatest width of dark-colored - upper parts, in males, on the average, tail less than 65, weight - of skull less than 0.90 grams, basilar length less than 30.8 - grams; from _M. e. streatori_, in both sexes, by upper lips white - (not brown), light color of underparts extending down hind leg - below knee, depth of skull at posterior border of upper molars - less than 7.7 in females and ordinarily less than 9.6 in males, - tail less than 62 in males and less than 49 in females. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: An adult from Black Butte, - California, measures: Total length, 227; length of tail, 55; - length of hind foot, 27. Corresponding measurements of another - from Wheeler Peak, Nevada, are: 220, 56, 26. Two subadults from - Colorado, one from Crested Butte and another from Coventry, - measure, respectively, as follows: 238, 227; 66, 60; 30, 30. An - adult from Wheeler Peak, Nevada, weighs 57.7 grams and another - from 2 mi. W Black Butte, Calif., 54.5 grams. - - Female: Two adults from Teton County, Wyoming, measure: Total - length, 205, 200; length of tail 52,--; length of hind foot, 23, - 23.7. A subadult from 9-1/2 mi. E Pocatello, Idaho, measures: 197, - 50, 25. An adult from Wheeler Peak, Nevada, has corresponding - measurements of 190, 42, 23, and weighs 33.8 grams. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except - that upper parts tone 2 or lighter of Chocolate of plate 343 of - Oberthür and Dauthenay; underparts white, Pale Buff or with faint - wash of Sulphur Yellow; least width of color of underparts in male - from Black Butte and one from Wheeler Peak, amounting to 65 and 59 - per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of - tail, respectively, 28 and 33 mm., which amounts to 51 and 59 per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. In two adult females, one from - Teton County, Wyoming, and one from Wheeler Peak, Nevada, the - least width of the underparts amounts to 55 and 60 per cent of the - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail, - respectively, 23 and 19 mm., which amounts to 44 and 45 per cent - of length of tail-vertebrae. - - From the other subspecies of small-sized weasels of more - northwestern occurrence, namely _anguinae_, _fallenda_, - _olympica_, _streatori_ and _gulosa_, _muricus_ differs in lighter - color of upper parts, wider light-colored underparts and - relatively longer black tip of tail. - - _Skull._--Male (illustrated by 5 adults in table of measurements, - which see): See plate 7. As described in _Mustela erminea - richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 0.78 (Wheeler Peak) and 0.85 - (Black Butte) grams; basilar length, 30.6 (29.8-31.2); length of - tooth-rows more or less than (approximately equal to) length of - tympanic bulla. - - Female (illustrated by 6 adults in table of measurements, which - see): See plates 12-14. As described in _Mustela erminea - richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 0.60 (0.575-0.645); basilar - length, 28.0 (27.3-29.4); breadth of rostrum approximately 30 per - cent of basilar length. - -In comparison with _streatori_, males average smaller in every -measurement taken with no overlap in most dimensions; 25 per cent -lighter; anterior margin of tympanic bulla more nearly flush with -squamosal, that is to say less protruded from braincase; in relation to -other dimensions of skull, braincase shallower anteriorly (at plane of -last molars) and deeper posteriorly (at anterior end of basioccipital). -Females average smaller in every measurement taken except mastoid and -zygomatic breadths which are actually more; 6 per cent lighter; in -relation to other parts of skull, preorbital and interorbital parts -slightly smaller; in relation to length of skull, braincase shallower. -Comparison with _invicta_ and _gulosa_ is made in the accounts of those -subspecies. - -_Remarks._--The smallest males of the entire species are of this -subspecies and the females of it are barely larger than those of -_olympica_ and _gulosa_ and hence are among the three smallest. The -material now available consists only of one or a few specimens from -each of several widely separated localities. If as many specimens per -unit area were available as there are of the species _M. erminea_ from -southern British Columbia, geographic variation warranting the division -of _muricus_ into more than one subspecies might be revealed. Evidence -pointing in this direction is comprised in the pale color and small -size of the pair of adults from Wheeler Peak on the eastern border of -Nevada; the suggestion is that there is a distinct pale race of small -individuals in the isolated spots of boreal life-zone in the mountains -of the desert. The color and size of the specimens from the Toyabe -Mountains, and that from the Pine Forest Mountains, both places also in -Nevada, nevertheless, lend no support to this suggestion. Comparison of -specimens from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with those from the -Sierra Nevada of California gives no basis for recognizing more than -one subspecies. Therefore, _Putorius streatori leptus_ Merriam with -type locality at Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado, falls as a -synonym of the earlier named _Putorius (Arctogale) muricus_ Bangs with -type locality at Echo, El Dorado County, California. Furthermore, -specimens from northern New Mexico, the southernmost known area of -occurrence for the subspecies (and for the species), are as large as -specimens from far north in the range of the subspecies, say, in -northwestern Wyoming; there is therefore no evidence of progressive -decrease in size to the southward as in advance of study I supposed -existed in _muricus_. This erroneous supposition was held because I -knew that there was a decrease in size to the southward in the species -as a whole and also in each of the subspecies _richardsonii_ and -_invicta_ directly to the north of _muricus_. - -Intergradation with _invicta_ is shown by specimens from southwestern -Montana. Where the margins of the geographic ranges of _invicta_ and -_muricus_ approach one another elsewhere, low-lying territory, zonally -unsuited to the existence of the species, occurs along the Snake and -Columbia rivers, and precludes any chance of intergradation except -around the head of the Snake River Plains. Two specimens, here referred -to _muricus_, from Siskiyou County, California, in both color and -cranial characters, are intergrades with _streatori_ and might be -referred with almost equal propriety to _streatori_. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 52, arranged alphabetically - by states, then by counties from north to south within each state. - Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the Museum of - Vertebrate Zoölogy, University of California at Berkeley. - - =California.= _Siskiyou County_: head of Rush Creek, 6400 ft., 1; - Castle Lake, 5434 ft., 1. _Tehama County_: 2 mi. W Black Butte, - 6800 ft., 1. _Placer County_: ridge W of Tahoe Pines, Lake Tahoe, - 1; Blackwood Creek, 6250 ft., near Tahoe Pines, 1. _El Dorado - County_: Fallen Leaf Lake, 6500 ft., 1[33]; Echo, 1[75]. _Tuolumne - County_: Ten Lakes, 9200 ft., Yosemite Park, 1. _Mariposa County_: - Vogelsang Lake, 10350 ft., Yosemite Park, 1. _Mono County_: - Mammoth, 1[59]. - - =Colorado.= _Rio Blanco County_: Marvine, 1. _Boulder County_: - Camp Albion, 10600 ft., 1[60]; Boulder, 1[91]. _Denver County_: - Denver, 1[57]. _Park County_: Jefferson, 1[57]. _Gunnison County_: - near Placita in Gunnison County, 1[26]; Crested Butte, 9000 ft., 3 - (1[91], 2[19]). _El Paso County_: Turkey Creek, SW Colorado - Springs, 6000 ft., 1[19]. _Chaffee County_: Arbourville, 1[91]; - Hancock, 1. _Montrose County_: Coventry, 6800 ft., 1[19]. _San - Juan County_: Silverton, 1[91]; in San Juan County above - timberline, 1[87]. - - =Idaho.= _Bannock County_: West Fork of Rapid Creek, 9-1/2 mi. E - Pocatello, 1. - - =Montana.= _Meagher County_: Camas Creek, Big Belt Mts., 4 mi. S - Ft. Logan, 1[91]. _Beaverhead County_: Donovan, 1[91]. _County_ in - question: Yellowstone Park, 1[75]. - - =Nevada.= _Humboldt County_: Alder Creek, 6000 ft., Pine Forest - Mts., 1. _Ormsby County_: 1/2 mi. S Marlette Lake, 8150 ft., 1. - _Nye County_: South Twin River, Toyabe Mts., 1[91]. _White Pine - County_: Baker Creek (8500 ft., 8675 ft., 11100 ft.), 3. - - =New Mexico.= _Taos County_: Twining, 10700 ft., 1[91]. _Sandoval - County_: 9 mi. E Cuba, 9000 ft., 1. _Santa Fe County_: Saddle S of - Santa Fe Baldy, 11000 ft., Santa Fe Range, 1[1]. - - =Oregon.= _Wasco County_: Mill Creek, 20 mi. W Warmsprings, 1[91]. - _Klamath County_: Fort Klamath, 1[91]. - - =South Dakota.= _Pennington County_: 4 mi. SE Hill City, 5300 ft, - 2[76]; Pfander's Ranch, 3 mi. SSE Hill City, 5300 ft., 1[76]; - Palmer Gulch, 3 mi. SE Hill City, 5300 ft., 1[76]; Spring Creek, 2 - mi. W Oreville, 5500 ft., 1[76]. _Custer County_: 1/2 mi. E Sylvan - Lake, 6250 ft., 1[76]. - - =Washington.= _Columbia County_: Butte Creek, 1; Stayawhile - Spring, 5150 ft., 1: - - =Wyoming.= _Crook County_: 5 mi. NW Sundance, 5900 ft., 1[93]. - _Teton County_: Whetstone Creek, 2[76]; 1/4 mi. E Moran, 6700 ft., - 1[93]. _Sublette County_: 1/2 mi. NE Pinedale, 7500 ft., 1[93]. - _Albany County_: 30 mi. N and 10 mi. E Laramie, 6560 ft, 1[93]; 26 - mi. N and 4-1/2 mi. E Laramie, 6960 ft., 1[93]. _Carbon County_: 8 - mi. N and 19-1/2 mi. E Savery, 8800 ft., 2[93]. - - -=Mustela erminea? angustidens= (Brown) - -Plates 7, 12, 13 and 14 - - _Putorius cicognanii angustidens_ Brown, Mem. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 9 (pt 4):181, pl. 17, 1908: - - _Mustela cicognanii angustidens_, Hay, Iowa Geol. Surv. Bull., - 23:32, 1914; Hay, Carnegie Inst. Washington, Pub. no. 322A:252, - October 15, 1924; Hay, _ibid_., Pub. no. 390 (vol. 2): 528, 1930; - Hall, _ibid_., Pub. no. 473:111, 112, November 20, 1936: - - _Type._--Female, adult, skull and lower jaws lacking zygomata, - right P2 and incisors, no. 12432, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; from - Conard Fissure, four miles west of Willcockson, Newton County, - Arkansas; obtained sometime in the period 1903 to 1905 inclusive - (see plates 8, 14). - - _Range._--Known only from the Pleistocene deposit in Conard - Fissure, at the type locality in northern Arkansas. - - _Description._--_Skull._--Male (based on nos. 12437, 12441 and - 12444): See measurements and plates 7 and 8; weight, unknown; - basilar length, 38:1 (36:6-39:2); length of tooth-rows more than - length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across - lacrimal processes less than a third of basilar length; - interorbital breadth ordinarily equal to distance between glenoid - fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic - breadth probably averaging approximately the same as distance - between last upper molar and jugular foramen. - - Female (based on nos. 11766 and 12435): See measurements and plates - 8, 12-14; weight, unknown; basilar length, 34:0 (32:5-35:1); - length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla; breadth - of rostrum about equal to (more or less than) 30 per cent of - basilar length; interorbital breadth less than distance between - glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; - zygomatic breadth probably less than distance between last upper - molar and jugular foramen. - - Comparison of the cranial description given above with those of the - American races of _erminea_ from the far north will show that - many characters are held in common--more than with more southern - subspecies of _erminea_. - -_Remarks._--The ten specimens studied by the writer fall into two -groups of six larger individuals and four smaller. Upon comparing these -with each sex of the three species of American Recent weasels, -_frenata_, _erminea_ and _rixosa_, it is seen that size, and to some -degree shape, rule out of consideration both sexes of _rixosa_ and also -males of _frenata_. Thus we are left with females of _frenata_ and -males and females of _erminea_. So far as size is concerned, it can be -assumed that the larger specimens are females of _frenata_ and that the -smaller are males of _erminea_. This assumption has in its favor also, -the fact that the postglenoidal length of the skull accords with that -in Recent specimens. The difference in this regard in Recent animals is -that the postglenoidal length of the skull, expressed as a percentage -of the total (condylobasal) length of the skull, amounts to: - - in _frenata_ in _erminea_ - [M] ordinarily less than 46 [M] ordinarily more than 46 - [F] less than 47 [F] more than 48 - -In the fossils the percentage for the larger skulls is 46; for the -smaller skulls it is 48. - -It may be that the ten fossil skulls are six female _frenata_ and four -male _erminea_ but I think not. In the first place a skull of different -shape, seemingly of the _frenata_ stock, is known from the deposit and -it is almost certain that two subspecies of the same species would not -occur at the same place at the same time. It is possible, of course, -that parts of the deposits were laid down at times so far apart that a -shift in geographic range of two subspecies had occurred. This one -skull, seemingly of the _frenata_ stock, is the type of _Putorius -gracilis_ Brown (see p. 404) and was regarded as the only known -specimen of _gracilis_. Regardless of the specific identity of this one -specimen named _gracilis_, the chances of obtaining otherwise from a -deposit, like that in Conard Fissure, six females of frenata and four -males of _erminea_ without a male _frenata_ or a female of _erminea_ -coming to light are so slight as strongly to incline me to the view -that the six larger specimens are males of the same species to which -the 4 smaller specimens belong. By either this interpretation, or the -one initially considered (of female _frenata_ and male _erminea_), the -animals from the fissure are at least subspecifically distinct from any -American Recent weasel. Furthermore, by this latter interpretation each -sex of this weasel, _angustidens_, is intermediate between the -_frenata_ and _erminea_ stocks in the feature of postglenoidal length -which feature, at any place where the two Recent species occur -together, serves to distinguish one from the other. In the northernmost -subspecies of _erminea_ (_arctica_ for example) the postglenoidal -length in some males is no longer than in males of _frenata_. -Considering general size, _angustidens_ agrees better with _erminea_ -than with frenata and this circumstance has influenced me to place -_angustidens_ as a subspecies of _erminea_. - -Today, _erminea_ is not known to occur nearer Conard Fissure than -northern Iowa, more than 400 miles to the northward. In comparison with -the race there, _bangsi_, males of _angustidens_ are of approximately -the same size but in the shorter distance between the glenoid fossa and -anterior margin of the tympanic bulla, and also in the lesser -postglenoidal length of the skull, _angustidens_ resembles the -northernmost American subspecies of _erminea_. Females of _angustidens_ -differ more from any living weasel than the males do. The females are -much larger than those of _bangsi_, and among living American races of -_erminea_ most closely resemble intergrades between _arctica_ and -_richardsonii_ which intergrades are found approximately 1700 miles to -the north of Conard Fissure. In females, the preorbital part of the -skull in _M. e. arctica_ is broader and in _M. e. richardsonii_ -narrower than in _angustidens_. If it seems strange that females of -_angustidens_ resemble one subspecies whereas males, in size, resemble -another subspecies almost a thousand miles distant, it should be -remembered that the degree of sexual dimorphism varies much from one -subspecies to another in the Recent animals. An example is furnished by -_Mustela erminea fallenda_ and _Mustela erminea invicta_. - -The assemblage of mammals from Conard Fissure includes several species -of boreal predilections which, like _Mustela erminea_, now occur only -much farther north than Arkansas. At one time the edge of the sheet of -ice was only about 200 miles north of Arkansas. It may be significant -that the cranial characters of the female ermine from the Fissure, and -qualitative cranial characters of males from there, are most nearly -approximated among Recent weasels by those which live along the -southern edge of the frozen tundra. - -In view of what has been said, the possibility should be considered -that the distinctive cranial features of _angustidens_ may be the -result of evolutionary change in time as well as of geographic -variation resulting from horizontal placement. - - -=MUSTELA RIXOSA= (Bangs) - -Least Weasel - -(Synonymy under subspecies) - - - _Type._--_Putorius rixosus_ Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 10:21, February 25, 1896. - - _Range._--From Norway and Switzerland eastward through Siberia and - all the way across North America, but unknown from Iceland, - Greenland and the Arctic islands west of Greenland; in North - America, from the Arctic Life-zone south to Central British - Columbia, Montana and into parts of the Upper Austral Life-zone as - in the eastern half of the continent. - - The southern extension of range in the Appalachians (to North - Carolina) is not duplicated in the Rocky Mountains of western - North America probably because the region there suitable for - _rixosa_ south of Central British Columbia and Montana is occupied - by the almost equally small _Mustela erminea muricus_ and related - subspecies which seem to fill the ecological role that _rixosa_ - plays where it occurs. The small size of females of _M. erminea - cicognanii_ in New England may similarly account for the absence - of _rixosa_ there. - -_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from both _Mustela -erminea_ and _Mustela frenata_ by tail a fourth or less of length of -head and body and without a black tip (at most a few black hairs at -extreme tip in rixosa), and from _M. frenata_ and from _M. erminea_ in -regions where it and _rixosa_ occur together, by basilar length of -skull less than 32.5 in males and less than 31.0 in females. - -_Characters of the species._--Size small: Total length less than 250 in -males and 225 in females; tail a fourth or less of length of head and -body, and without a black pencil and at most with a few black hairs at -extreme tip; caudal vertebrae 11 to 16, normally 15 in _M. r. rixosa_, -and 11 in one _M. r. eskimo_ examined; skull with long braincase and -short precranial portion, thus essentially same shape as in _M. -erminea_ but the largest males of _M. rixosa_ always with a lesser -basilar length that even the smallest females of _M. erminea_ or _M. -frenata_ of the same geographic area. In fact no specimens of _M. -frenata_ have skulls so small as the largest _M. rixosa_, and skulls of -equal size of _M. erminea_ and _M. rixosa_, for example, _M. erminea -muricus_ of Colorado and _M. rixosa eskimo_ of Alaska, differ in that -when the skulls are viewed from directly above those of _rixosa_ have -the mastoid processes more prominent, or the braincase is higher in -relation to its width or both differences together prevail. Stated in -another way, comparison of skulls of equal size of _rixosa_ and -_erminea_ shows that in the latter the braincase is more nearly flat -and is wider above and in front of the mastoid processes; therefore, -the greatest breadth of the braincase equals or exceeds the mastoid -breadth, whereas the reverse is ordinarily true of _rixosa_. - -_Geographic variation._--In the Old World four subspecies are currently -recognized (see Allen, 1933:316) and the same number is here recognized -in North America. Length of the tail, length of head and body and hind -foot, breadth of the rostral part of the skull in relation to its -length, and position on the side of the head of the line of demarcation -between the dark color of the upper parts and the white underparts, are -the features in which geographic variation has been detected. The -general impression is that the amount of geographic variation is much -less than in _Mustela frenata_ and only slightly less than in _Mustela -erminea_ of the same geographic area. - -_Nomenclature._--It is exceptional for a species which occurs in both -the Old-and New-World to take its specific name from New World -material, especially if the name was proposed as recently as 1896; most -circumboreal species take their names from descriptions of European -specimens. Although the least weasel, _Mustela rixosa_ (Bangs) 1896, -seems now to be an exception, it may yet turn out that the first -available name was based on European material. Zimmermann (1943) shows -that the least weasel actually was named on the basis of European -material long before 1896 and concludes that the name _Putorius -minutus_ Pomel, 1853, based on a specimen from France, is the first -available name. - -Because _Putorius_ nowadays is relegated to subgeneric rank under the -generic name _Mustela_, we have for consideration the name-combination -_Mustela minuta_ (Pomel). Unfortunately for Zimmermann's conclusion, -_Mustela minuta_ Pomel is not available because it is preoccupied by -_Mustela minuta_ Gervais [= _Palaeogale minuta_ (Gervais), -1848-1852--see Simpson, 1946: 2, 12], a name applied to another species -of small mustelid from the Oligocene or lower Miocene deposits of -Europe. - -Some other early names thought by Zimmermann (1943:290) to have been -based on the dwarf weasel of Europe are judged to be _nomina nuda_ and -therefore are to be ignored. - -The name _Mustela minor_ Nilsson 1820 was thought by Miller (1912:402) -to be a renaming, and hence a synonym, of _Mustela nivalis_ Linnaeus. -If that is the case the name does not apply to the dwarf weasel. If the -name _Mustela minor_ Nilsson was instead based on the dwarf weasel, the -name might still be unavailable, depending on rulings on secondary -homonyms, because the name might be preoccupied by _[Lutra] minor_ -Erxleben 1777 which is a synonym of _[Mustela] lutreola_ Linnaeus 1766. -Two names seemingly available for weasels, and in use for them today, -which might replace _rixosa_ as the name of the species, are, first, -_Mustela boccamela_ Bechstein, 1801, of Sardinia [= _Mustela nivalis -boccamela_ of Miller, 1912, 405] and second, _Putorius numidicus_ -Pucheran, 1855, of Morocco and Algeria [= _Mustela numidica_ of Allen, -G. M., 1939, 183]. As they stand in the current literature, _Mustela -numidica_ is a species distinct from the dwarf weasel and the other -name, _Mustela nivalis boccamela_, is an insular subspecies of the -mouse weasel. Zimmermann (1943:292), however, implies that _M. -numidica_ may belong to the dwarf weasel group when he says "Ob auch -_iberica_ BARR.-HAM. als Unterart zu _minuta_ POM. zu stellen ist, soll -hier nicht untersucht werden, ebensowenig die von CABRERA vermutete -Zugehörigkeit der grossen nordafrikanischen _M. numidica_ PUCH. zur -'_iberica_-Gruppe'." The answer to this problem requires a taxonomic, -rather than a nomenclatural, decision. Whether either _M. numidica_ or -_M. boccamela_ are conspecific with the dwarf weasel I cannot at this -time ascertain for want of adequate specimens. Because these two names, -_M. boccamela_, and _M. numidica_, are assigned to kinds of weasels -which are currently regarded as specifically distinct from the dwarf -weasel, and because all the other names which certainly have been -assigned to Old World populations of the dwarf weasel before 1896, so -far as I know, are _nomina nuda_ or are preoccupied, the next available -name, _Mustela rixosa_ (Bangs, 1896), is here employed. - -_Remarks._--This species may have a wider geographic range in -northeastern North America than is now known. Strong (1930:7) writes -that the Naskapi Indians of the interior country of Labrador between -Hamilton Inlet and Ungava Bay "have only one name for weasel, -_mé-tah-kwut_, but they say there are three kinds in their territory, a -large, an intermediate, and a very small weasel. The latter suggests -the least weasel . . . which has not been recorded from northern -Labrador." - -In the northern part of the range of the species, the winter pelage is -white and the summer pelage is brown. In the southern part of the -range, that is in the range of the subspecies _allegheniensis_, the -winter pelage is either brown or white and the time of the molt into -winter pelage is irregular; each of eleven individuals from -Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, taken in December, January, February -and March is mostly white but retains some considerable part of the -brown pelage of the previous coat on top of the head and usually also -along the midline of the entire dorsum. These eleven animals include -individuals of each sex. Of each sex, some are adults and some are -subadults. Therefore, the delayed or incomplete fall molt, at present, -cannot be correlated with either sex or with any particular age. No -wild-taken specimens of _M. erminea_ or of _M. frenata_ of the same -region show this delayed or incomplete molt. - -Possibly this delay or incompleteness of molt is the result of the same -cause that lies behind the birth of some _M. rixosa_ in midwinter. As -listed below, several litters of young have been found in midwinter. In -fact it appears that in the United States, young may be born in every -month of the year although, according to existing information, more -litters are produced in spring and in winter than in summer and autumn. -Many juveniles and young of _allegheniensis_ examined in study -collections clearly were born in spring but about as many seem to have -been born in midwinter as at any other time (in the light of present -knowledge) and this is in contrast to what we know of the two other -species of American weasels since their young, so far as known, are -born in spring. - -One instance is worthy of detailed comment. An adult female, no. 783 -Ohio State Museum, taken on January 31, 1931, at Vinton, Meigs County, -Ohio, bears the following notation on the attached label "nest plowed -out of ground. Very small young escaped--marked like parent. [F] was -nursing." The enlarged mammae on the dried skin substantiate the -statement that the female was nursing young. She has a brown mask -continuous from one ear through the eye, across the forehead and -through the other eye to the opposite ear. On each side of the body a -stripe of brown 5 to 10 mm. wide extends from the upper part of the -foreleg back to the thigh and base of the tail, uniting there with its -opposite and covering the tail. There are a few spots of brown on the -shoulders, and rump and one on the middle of the back. Otherwise the -specimen is white. One implication of the statement on the label that -the young which escaped were marked like the parent (presumably this -female parent) is that this female is a partial albino. I am more -inclined, however, to the view that there was an unseasonable activity -of the particular glands of internal secretion the hormones of which -promote embryonic growth and that these glands, or others controlled -by them, were in some way responsible for an abnormal progress of molt, -or for a reversal of molt in that one molt began before the previous -molt had been completed. - -Excepting this one specimen, no. 783 from Vinton, Ohio, all of those in -transitional pelage indicate that the direction of the molt pattern is -the same as in _M. frenata_ and _M. erminea_. That is to say, the -autumnal molt begins on the midventral line and the molt in spring -begins on the mid-dorsal line. Furthermore, the normal progress of each -molt appears to follow the same pattern that has been described above -for _Mustela frenata_. - -A possible explanation of unseasonal molt in the southeastern area of -occurrence of the species _Mustela rixosa_, and a possible explanation -of the abnormal molt of the female from Vinton, Ohio, is that the -species has only relatively recently invaded the area, and has had -insufficient time to adjust the physiology of its molting mechanism to -the longer periods of daylight that obtain later in autumn and earlier -in spring than farther north. In the other two species of American -weasels, the change in length of periods of light, it will be recalled, -is known to indirectly control both molt and some changes in the sexual -cycle. Wright (1942B:109) has shown that molt in spring precedes by one -or two months the birth of young in _M. frenata_, that the two -phenomena are correlated in a way that is statistically significant, -and recognizes that progressively longer periods of daylight may be the -causal stimulus. The suggestion made above that _M. rixosa_ does not -live in New England or in the Rocky Mountains of the western United -States because each of the two areas already is inhabited by weasels of -almost equally small size, is in line with the idea that _rixosa_ is a -recent immigrant to America, or more precisely that _rixosa_ arrived -later than _erminea_. - -_Natural History._--Habitat and Numbers.--Soper (1946:136) recounts -that near the junction of the Antler and Souris rivers, Manitoba, this -species occurs "both in the river valleys and on the upper prairies," -and later (1948:55), with reference to the Grand Prairie of the Peace -River region of Alberta, writes that the least weasel "inhabits both -parklands and mixed wood forest environments." - -At most times, wherever found, the least weasel is regarded as rare. -Not only mammalogists regard it as rare and as a desirable catch, but -Indians likewise value it, probably because of its rarity. For example, -Osgood (1901:69-70), who caught a female least weasel at Tyonek, -Alaska, writes that: "The natives regard the capture of one of these -rare animals as a piece of great good fortune. One old Indian who -frequently visited our cabin told us that his brother who had caught -one when a small boy had in consequence become a 'big chief'; and he -assured me that since I had caught one I must surely be destined to -become a man of great wealth and power." - -Swenk's (1926:313-330) account of the species in Clay County, Nebraska, -shows, however, that the animal was far more abundant in 1916 and 1917 -than subsequently and inferentially than it was before 1916. Clearest -proof of multiannual fluctuation is provided by P. O. Fryklund's -(Swanson and Fryklund, 1935:120-126) receipt of weasels from Roseau -County, Minnesota. From 1895 to 1932 he had approximately equal -opportunity to receive least weasels each year. Those which came to his -attention were distributed by years as follows: 1895-1927, 7 -individuals in all; winter of 1927-28, 3 individuals; winter of -1928-29, 59 individuals; 1929-1930, 84 individuals; 1930-1935, 3 -individuals. "These records indicate a very definite increase in the -abundance of least weasels in the Roseau region [in] the two years from -the autumn of 1928 to the spring of 1930. Mr. Fryklund has handled 166 -least weasels in his 40 years in Roseau County, and of these, 143 were -taken in the two years mentioned." - -The maximum home range of the least weasel is two acres and a weasel -seldom travels farther than ten rods from its burrow according to -Polderboer (1942:146) who, in the period December 20, 1939, to January -2, 1940, studied four least weasels and one long-tailed weasel on a 144 -acre farm in Butler County, Iowa. - - -Behavior - -Of the voice, Llewellyn (1942:441) records that his captive specimen -taken in Virginia uttered a shrill shriek when seizing prey or when -teased. When excessively annoyed the weasel also emitted musk. - -The sense of smell is used in hunting as was witnessed by George L. -Fordyce; he observed a least weasel following the scent of a -_Peromyscus_ and saw the least weasel overtake and kill the mouse -(Seton, 1929 (2):637). - -At a nest in a clover stack, in Manitoba, Criddle (1947:69), on -December 27, 1946, found the least weasel "to have been rather remiss -in its sanitary habits as its pile of dung was almost, or quite, -touching the nest and only just to the side of its entrance." There -were 117 voids. - - -Enemies - -The great-horned owl, barn owl and long-tailed weasel are to be counted -as enemies since Nelson (1934:252) found the fur, skull and other -fragments of the skeleton of a least weasel in one of 26 pellets of the -great-horned owl in Wisconsin; Handley (1949:431) found the skull and -other skeletal remains of a least weasel in one of 22 pellets of the -barn owl in Virginia; and Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson (1941), in -Iowa, found the remains of a least weasel in the den and scats of a -_Mustela frenata_. A domestic cat in Michigan killed a least weasel -(Dearborn, 1932B:277). - - -Food - -Mice are killed by the least weasel biting into the back of the head -and neck according to Allen (1940:460) who reported upon the growth of -five young, from Michigan, that he had in captivity. He further states -that a weasel was able to kill a mouse in 30 seconds. One large -_Microtus_ introduced into the cage slept with a weasel for several -days and ate parts of the mice that the weasel killed but then the -weasel killed this mouse! Llewellyn (1942:440-441), in writing of a -captive from Virginia, says: "When a live mouse was placed in the cage, -the weasel sprang upon it almost instantly. Grasping the mouse by the -back of the head, the weasel bit its victim through the skull several -times in rapid succession and held on with its sharp teeth. The sound -of the teeth piercing the bone was distinctly audible at a distance of -several feet. During this interval the weasel hugged the mouse closely -with its fore legs and pressed it firmly to its belly through a kicking -motion of the hind legs. The hold on the back of the head was not -relinquished until the mouse was dead. The killing took only a few -seconds. Upon releasing the mouse the weasel usually came to the front -of the cage and inspected the observer for an interval of several -seconds after which it returned to its prey and began its meal at once. -Sometimes the blood would be licked from the wound in the back of the -head or perhaps an ear would be chewed a bit and the blood licked off, -but never did the weasel 'cut the throat' of its prey and 'suck the -blood.' - -"The weasel ate the head and brain first, beginning at the back of the -head and working forward. Just before reaching the nose the process was -reversed and eating then proceeded from the base of the skull toward -the tail of the mouse. The tip of the nose, maxilla with teeth, and the -tail seemed to be the parts least preferred; they were not eaten when -an abundance of food was present. At no time did the weasel place its -front feet on the mouse in an attempt to hold it. A second or third -mouse was killed immediately upon being placed in the cage even though -the first one had not been consumed. The weasel, however, usually -returned to the partially eaten mouse and finished it before starting -on a new one. Upon completing a meal, especially if the meal had been -particularly bloody, the weasel rubbed its chin on the bottom of the -cage, scooting along and appearing more snakelike than normal. Whenever -I attempted to remove a mouse, or partially eaten one, from the cage, -the weasel hung to the mouse tenaciously, and often allowed itself to -be lifted up in this manner. - -"In the six days that the weasel was kept in captivity it was fed 10 -house mice having a total weight of 118 grams. As no food was given on -one day, the amount of food eaten is probably slightly below the actual -capacity of the animal. Since the weasel weighed only about 32 grams, -the average amount of food eaten a day was slightly in excess of -one-half the weight of the animal." - -Polderboer (1942:146-147) found in three dens, in Iowa, bits of -_Reithrodontomys_ (harvest mice) and _Peromyscus maniculatus_ (deer -mouse), and in the digestive tract of one least weasel there was a bone -fragment and a few hairs of a deer mouse. In the account, given beyond, -of a nest, Criddle (1947:69) records the Pennsylvania meadow mouse -(_Microtus pennsylvanicus drummondi_) and the Gapper red-backed vole -(_Clethrionomys gapperi_) as prey at Treesbank, Manitoba. The same -author, concerning the same place, earlier (1926:199-200) wrote that in -1922 the meadow mouse, _Microtus minor_, "went into winter quarters in -great numbers and its homes were well stocked with provisions . . . all -went well until the middle of February, 1923. Then, within a few days, -each was taken possession of by a least weasel (_Mustela rixosa_) and -the inhabitants were quickly destroyed. One dwelling was occupied by -one of these weasels for about two weeks during which time I observed -that it had dragged several mice over the snow to its temporary home. -This residence was examined in April, and in it were discovered six -dead _Microtus minor_, one _Evotomys_, the head of another, and at -least six or eight remnants of small rodents including _Microtus -drummondi_, these last remains being chiefly indicated by the -hair-lined nest of the weasel. - -"The homes of 27 other vole communities examined at this time were all -found to have been entered by weasels, the inhabitants having been -killed and partly eaten. Moreover, the weasels had made the homes -temporary centers from which they raided other rodent habitations in -the vicinity. Thus from being an abundant animal this vole was reduced -to insignificance in the course of a few weeks, while all other kinds -of mice had suffered severely from the same enemy." - -An instance of predation on _Peromyscus_, revealing some of the methods -of capturing prey, is recounted by Seton (1929 (2):636-637) who quotes -a letter to him from George L. Fordyce, of Youngstown, Ohio, as -follows: "While out in the field this morning (Dec. 26), walking along -the bank of a ravine at the edge of our golf course, I saw a -Field-mouse run out of the bushes into the rough grass that is just -outside of the fair-green of the course. In another instant, what I -thought at first to be a white Mouse came out at the same place. The -Mouse ran into a wheel track, and disappeared under the grass, coming -out about 6 feet from where it went in. The white animal followed -through the same course, and when it came out, I saw that it was a -small Weasel, very little larger than the Mouse, and that it was -following the trail of the Mouse by scent. - -"For a time the Mouse ran in circles, and zigzagged about, often . . . -within 4 or 5 feet of the Weasel; but the latter seemed so intent on -the trail, that it did not notice the Mouse to one side. After a time -the latter started toward the open golf course; and when the Weasel -reached the point where the trail was straight, it sighted the prey, -made a sudden dash forward, and, although 25 feet behind, overtook the -Mouse while it was going 3 or 4 feet. - -"For a few seconds, they seemed to fight, until the Weasel got the -Mouse by the throat, and started for the bushes, dragging the body. -When it came to within about three feet of me, I moved a little to see -what it would do. It dropped its victim, and ran into the ravine. The -Mouse had a drop of bright red blood in the center of its white throat. -I waited near by for 15 or 20 minutes, thinking the Weasel might come -back, but it did not show up again; even an hour later, the Mouse had -not been disturbed." - -There are two suggestions, but no proof that I know of, in the -literature that the least weasel eats insects. Abbott (1884:27-32--1st -ed., 1884) gives considerable information on the food (some insects -included) of the "little weasel" which he describes (_op. cit._; 27) as -having "a little pointed tail of a uniform brown color." Although this -suggests _Mustela rixosa_, Abbott mentions on the next page (page 28) -that a specimen of the smaller weasel measured six and a half inches -from the tip of the snout to the base of the tail and that the tail -itself measured two and a fourth inches to the tip of the last caudal -vertebra. These measurements indicate that _Mustela erminea_ was -involved. Because of the uncertainty as to the species of _Mustela_ -involved, Abbott's interesting data on food, nest and behavior are not -recorded in the present work. Seton (1929 (2):636) says that of several -least weasels brought to D. Nicholson at Morden, Manitoba, most of them -decayed so quickly that they could not be saved as specimens. To Seton -this indicated that insects were an important part of the food of the -weasels. - -In summary: Least weasels are known to eat harvest mice, deer mice, -meadow mice and red-backed mice; it is suspected that they eat also -insects. - - -Reproduction - -Polderboer (1948:296) has taken six specimens in "northeastern Iowa -[in] . . . January and December--all males in winter pelage. None of -these males showed signs of sexual activity; in all, the testes were -retracted and diminutive in size. . . . A male least weasel in brown -pelage was taken November 17, 1945, at Marion, Iowa. This specimen had -large testes that had descended into the scrotum. The testes, when -removed, were about the size of medium-sized garden peas. Microscopic -examination of the testes and the vasa deferentia showed mature sperms -to be present. . . ." - -On July 1, 1917, in Clay County, Nebraska, a nest with four young was -found (Swenk, 1926:321). On July 29, 1939, an adult and five young were -plowed out of the ground in Allegan County, Michigan; one of the two -young males weighed 40.5 grams two days after capture (Allen, -1940:459-460). On August 12, 1932, ten young with the mother, were -found in Roseau County, Minnesota (Swanson and Fryklund, 1935:125). -September appears to have been the month of birth of a specimen, no. -8472 in the Carnegie Museum, taken on November 24 in Pittsburgh, -Pennsylvania. In October, a young least weasel is recorded from -Pennsylvania (Winecoff, 1930:313). Early December was the time of birth -of a specimen, approximately 10 weeks old, no. 88077, University of -Michigan, taken on February 21 in Allegan County. On December 25, 1927, -in Washington County, Pennsylvania, "five full-sized, though -young . . . animals were caught under the same pile of corn fodder" -(Sutton, 1929:253). The first week of January seems to have been the -time of birth of a juvenile, no. 88080, University of Michigan, taken -in Livingston County, Michigan, on March 27, 1943, since the specimen -is approximately seven weeks old. On January 15, 1929, in Washington -County, Pennsylvania, four young with the eyes yet unopened were -obtained from a nest (Sutton, 1929:254). On January 25, 1928, young, -the eyes of which may not yet have been open, were taken from a den in -Washington County, Pennsylvania, by Winecoff (1930:313), who records -other young having been taken in the same month as well as in February. -On March 10, a female from North Portal, Saskatchewan, gave birth to -four young (Dunk, 1946:392). On April 18, 1916, four young, half grown, -were taken in Nebraska (Swenk, 1926:317). On April 2, 1929, three young -were found in Roseau County, Minnesota, according to Swanson and -Fryklund (1935:125) who remark that: "The Pennsylvania and Minnesota -records show that least weasels may be born any time from July to early -February in the northern states." Now, with all of the above records -available, it turns out that November, May and June are the only months -in which young least weasels have not been reported. Of course some of -the young, for which the ages were not specified, were born in -preceding months. Even so, the data now available suggests that, in the -United States, young least weasels may be born in every month of the -year. The number per litter is 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, and 10, yielding an -average of 5. - -The rate of growth of the young has not been studied enough to allow of -judging if it differs significantly from that of other species of the -genus. Allen (1940:459-460), however, tells us that of the three young -females and two young males captured on July 29, 1939, in Allegan -County, Michigan, one male that was killed on July 31, 1939, weighed -40.5 grams. The male remaining alive increased from 46 grams (August 5) -to 62.5 grams on September 20, having eaten 63 mice while in captivity. -The females in the period of August 5 to September 4 increased in -weight as follows: 41 up to 49 grams; 44 to 50 grams; and 47 to 58 -grams, having eaten, by September 26, 60, 64 and 65 mice. - -Concerning a nest in which young were found, Sutton (1929:254) writes -that on January 15, 1929, near Burgettstown, Washington County, -Pennsylvania, an animal was seen to enter a small hole in a creek bank. -After the observer dug in a distance of approximately six inches an -adult, female least weasel was seen and obtained. Back of the animal, -the hole, which turned sharply downward, was full of water. The weasel -first seen was a female nursing young. A chamber, to the side of the -hole, filled with dead grass, comprised a nest containing four young -with the eyes yet unopened. Several nests occupied by adult least -weasels or by least weasels that were old enough to shift for -themselves have been found. Polderboer (1942:145-147) in the winter of -1939-40, on a 144 acre farm in Butler County, Iowa, found four least -weasels living, singly, in burrows dug by moles and pocket gophers. The -nests therein made by mice were used by the least weasels. Winecoff -(1930:312-313) mentions one den in Pennsylvania that contained the -remains of only mice, "and not a hint of a feather." Above, in the -account of food of the least weasel, Criddle's (1926:199-200) account -of the havoc wrought by least weasels among the meadow mice (_Microtus -ochrogaster minor_) has been given. In this account he mentions the -fur-lined nests of the weasels that had appropriated the homes of the -_Microtus_. Criddle's (1947:69) later account of a nest at Treesbank, -Manitoba, is as follows: "A Nest of the Least Weasel.--When a least -weasel finds its way into a locality that has a large number of mice in -it, it selects for its home one of their nests that has been made in a -well concealed place. This it immediately starts to improve by lining -it with hair plucked from its victims before eating them; and as long -as sufficient numbers of mice remain in the district the weasel -continues adding their hair to the nest, so that the thickness of its -walls give one a good idea of the length of time it has been in use. -The nest is not only used for sleeping in, as most of the food is -consumed in it. Frozen mice are taken in to be thawed out and the -weasel carries those it has recently killed in to prevent them getting -frozen, or perhaps to have them warm for its next meal. - -"On January 27, 1946, my son Percy called my attention to a nest that -he had just uncovered in a clover stack that we were using. This nest -had originally been made by a Drummond's vole, _Microtus pennsylvanicus -drummondii_, and taken from it by the least weasel, _Mustela rixosa_, -the tracks of which had been noticed about the stack yard since the -first snow in early November. - -"The nest had evidently been in use for at least three months and the -continual additions made to its walls had been so great that they were -nearly an inch thick of hair matted together so closely that it -appeared to be felt. The hair alone weighed nearly 22 gm., so that with -this for protection the weasel must have been warm and comfortable -through the severest winter weather. - -[Illustration: FIG. 28. Map showing occurrences and probable geographic -ranges of the subspecies of _Mustela rixosa_ in North America.] - -"In the nest were two red-backed mice, _Clethrionomys gapperi_, one of -which had the base of its skull eaten out. No hair had been removed -from either of them, but a _Microtus_ lying in a side tunnel some feet -away had the long hair plucked from its back and sides. In and close -about the nest were found forty-three front parts of mice skulls which -had evidently been discarded because of the sharp teeth in the -maxillaries. Seven full stomachs and eleven hind feet of adult -_Microtus_ with parts of leg bones were disclosed in, or under, the -weasel's bed and a few small bits of skin with hair attached were -scattered among the plucked hair of the nest. - -"This weasel seems to have been rather remiss in its sanitary habits as -its pile of dung was almost, or quite, touching the nest and only just -to the side of its entrance. It was composed of 117 voids all of which -contained much hair and broken bone. - -"Six other mouse nests found in the same stack, or others adjoining it, -had been thinly lined with hair. One of these had two mice in it, a -red-backed with its brain eaten out and a _Microtus_ with some hair -plucked from its neck. Another nest contained the front part of a skull -with teeth and the hind feet and tail of a red-back. Besides the mice -found in the nests seven others were discovered tucked away in side -tunnels. One of these mice had most of the hair plucked from its back. -Whether all these mice and nests belonged to the same weasel or not I -am unable to say, but it is usual for them to have several nests in the -area surrounding the one that is used as their headquarters or home." - - -=Mustela rixosa eskimo= (Stone) - -Least Weasel - -Plates 14 and 15 - - _Putorius rixosus eskimo_ Stone, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. - Philadelphia, 1900:44, March 24, 1900. - - _Putorius (Gale) vulgaris_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 102, - 1877 (part). - - _Putorius rixosus Bangs_, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:21, - February 25, 1896 (part); Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:14, June - 30, 1896 (part). - - _Mustela rixosa eskimo_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, - December 31, 1912; Swenk, Journ. Mamm., 7:327, November 23, 1926; - Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 30:421, March 19, 1929. - - _Type._--Female, age in question, no. 848 in Acad. Nat. Sci. - Philadelphia; Point Barrow, Alaska; July 25, 1898; obtained by E. - A. McIlhenny. Type not seen by me. - - _Range._--Alaska and Yukon Territory. See figure 28 on page 180. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. r. pygmaea_ - of eastern Asia in longer tail, averaging 11 rather than 16 per - cent of length of head and body, and in study skins reaching only - to heel instead of to point between heel and toes; from _M. r. - rixosa_ in shorter tail averaging 16 rather than 19 per cent of - length of head and body and not extending beyond outstretched hind - feet in study skins; white of underparts extending dorsally as a - reëntrant angle from upper lip to behind eye, rather than - delimited dorsally by a boundary between white and brown color - that extends straight across cheeks from upper lip to side of body - well below eye and ear; breadth of rostrum measured across - lacrimal processes more, instead of less, than 85.5 per cent of - orbitonasal length; from _M. erminea_ of same region by basilar - length of skull less than 32; tail less than 50 and lacking black - pencil. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The original describer lists - measurements of topotypes as follows: Total length, 204, 230; - length of tail, 28, 31; length of hind foot, 20, 22. Allowing 5 - per cent for shrinkage, the hind feet of 5 topotypes yield an - average measurement of 23 for the hind foot. - - Female: Measurements of two topotypes are: Total length, 184, 180; - length of tail, 25, 25; length of hind foot, 24, 18. In four other - topotypes the hind feet, allowing 5 per cent for shrinkage, yield - an average of 21. - - _Color._--Winter pelage all white, rarely with few white hairs in - tip of tail but no black pencil; summer pelage with upper parts - about Raw Umber and tone 3 of Chocolate pl. 343 of Oberthür and - Dauthenay; underparts white, extending over upper lip, insides of - limbs and over all four feet. Line of demarcation between - underparts and upper parts extends from upper lip posterodorsally - to behind eye down to base of ear, up behind ear for a third or - more of its height, and back along side of body. Tail unicolor all - around and same color as upper parts. Least width of color of - underparts averaging 83 per cent of greatest width of color of - upper parts. - - _Skull._--Based on topotypes; see measurements and plates 14 and - 15; weight, 0.82 (0.74-0.93) grams in males, and 0.80 and 0.84 in - two females; basilar length, 29.5 (27.6-30.1) in males and 27.8 - (27.1-28.8) in females; otherwise as described in _M. e. - richardsonii_. - -_Remarks._--Among the earliest specimens preserved was one by Edward W. -Nelson in the course of his explorations of the Upper Yukon, and one in -1874 by L. T. Turner from St. Michaels, Alaska. Bangs, in 1896 (p. 22) -mentioned the occurrence of the species in Alaska, but it was not until -1900 (p. 44) that Stone named the subspecies, and then principally on -the basis of specimens obtained two years before by E. A. McIlhenny. - -The large size, broad skull, light color and short tail are the -distinguishing subspecific characters of the race _eskimo_, and the -three characters first mentioned are distinguishing features also of -the subspecies of _Mustela erminea_, namely _arctica_, which inhabits -the same region. Possibly _eskimo_ also will be found on Banks Island -and the other Arctic islands between Alaska and Greenland, as is _M. e. -arctica_; at the present time no specimens of _Mustela rixosa_ are -known from these islands although some race of rixosa would be expected -to occur there. - -Animals from southern Alaska average slightly smaller than those from -northern Alaska, and this decrease in size toward the south probably -represents intergradation with _M. r. rixosa_. Further evidence of -intergradation is furnished by the short tail of the specimen from 15 -miles east of Atlin; in other particulars this specimen agrees with the -subspecies _rixosa_ to which it is here referred. Nevertheless, the -short tail, and color pattern, namely reëntrant angle of white behind -the eye, is to be seen in all Alaskan specimens examined in the brown -pelage, even in no. 107591, from Tyonek on Cook Inlet, which Osgood -(1901:69) and Swenk (1926:323) thought might not differ from the -subspecies _M. r. rixosa_. - -Each of four male topotypes, hardly subadult in age, probably of a -single litter, is much larger than any other specimen seen from Point -Barrow. The basilar length, for example, is 31.9 as against 29.5, and -the weight of the skull (with lower jaws) is as much as 1.5 grams, as -against 0.93 in the heaviest of the other males. Initial examination of -materials from Point Barrow raised the suspicion that two distinct -species were represented--_rixosa_ and a larger one possibly allied to -_M. nivalis_ of the Old World. Nevertheless, further study almost -completely allayed the suspicion because the only difference -discernible is one of size, and it is supposed that additional -specimens will bridge the gap in size and show that _M. r. eskimo_ at -Point Barrow averages larger than the adult specimens now available -indicate. The four large males of subadult age are nos. 42814-42816 and -42818 of the American Museum of Natural History. - -Of the fourteen adult and subadult skulls examined, two display lesions -resulting from infestation of the frontal sinuses by nematode -parasites. None of the young skulls show such infestation. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 42 as follows. Arranged - alphabetically by Territory and District and unless otherwise - indicated in the United States National Museum. - - =Alaska.= Barrow and Point Barrow, 19 (8[2] 7[74], 2[1], 1[50]); - Wainwright, 1[57]; Mts. back of Icy Cape, 1[77]; west of Beechey - Point, 1[2]; west edge of Colville River Delta, 1[2]; Koyukuk - River, 16 mi. above Beetles, 1; upper Yukon, 1; Fort Yukon, 1; - Stephens Village, 1; Wales, 1[57]; McDonald Creek, tributary of - Salcha Slough, 1; near head of Toklat River, 1; head of Kantishna - River, 1; St. Michael, 4 (2[74]); Tyonek [= Tyonek], 1; Bethel, 3; - vic. Bristol Bay, 1. - - =Yukon.= La Pierre's House, 1; Klotassin River, tributary of White - River, 1. - - -=Mustela rixosa rixosa= (Bangs) - -Least Weasel - -Plates 14 and 15 - - _Putorius rixosus_ Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:21, pl. - 1, fig. 6, pl. 2, fig. 6, pl. 3, fig. 4, February 25, 1896; - Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:14, pl. 2, figs. 7, 7a, June 30, - 1896. - - _Putorius pusillus_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 159, 1858. - - _Putorius (Gale) vulgaris_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 102, - 1877. - - _Mustela rixosa_, Thomas, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, p. 168, March, - 1911. - - _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, - December 31, 1912; Swenk, Journ. Mamm., 7:327, November 23, 1926. - - _Type._--Female, adult, skin and skull; no. 642 Bangs Coll. in - Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; Osler, Saskatchewan; July 15, 1893; obtained by - W. C. Colt; original no. 79 according to describer. - - The skull lacks the basioccipital, basisphenoid, and left - zygomatic arch. The "crowns" of the lower canines are missing; - otherwise the teeth are present and entire. The skin is fairly - well made, with soles of hind feet up, in good condition and in - summer pelage. - - _Range._--From northern British Columbia and Great Slave Lake - south on the west side of the Rocky Mountains to Ootsa Lake, - British Columbia, and on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, - south to central Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota; eastward in - Canada, entirely north of St. Lawrence River, to Atlantic Ocean. - See figure 28 on page 180. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. r. eskimo_ - in longer tail averaging 19 rather than 16 per cent of length of - head and body and extending beyond outstretched hind feet in study - skins, rather than to a point short of tips of toes; boundary - between brown upper parts and white underparts extending straight - across cheeks from upper lip to side of body well below eye and - ear, rather than with reëntrant angle from upper lip carrying - white upward to point behind eye, and with breadth of rostrum - less, instead of more, than 85.5 per cent of orbitonasal length; - from _M. r. campestris_ by smaller size: hind foot less than 25 in - males and ordinarily less than 22 in females; in males total - length less than 216 and tail averaging less than 34, and in - females total length averaging less than 182 and tail averaging - less than 29; color said to average darker; from _M. r. - allegheniensis_ by three average differences, namely lighter - color, longer tympanic bullae and larger size of males; from _M. - frenata_ and _M. erminea_ of same region by basilar length of - skull less than 32; tail less than 50, and lacking black pencil. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Six adults and subadults from - Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 202 (188-208); length of tail, 32.5 - (31.5-34.0); length of hind foot, 22.8 (21-24). - - Female: One adult and 3 subadults from the same area yield average - and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 172 - (162-190.5); length of tail, 27.4 (24-34); length of hind foot, - 19.6 (17.5-22). - - _Color._--Winter pelage all white, rarely brown; as described in - _M. r. eskimo_ except that line of demarcation on side of head - between upper parts and underparts passes almost straight back - without the dorsally directed reëntrant area of white behind the - eye and ear; least width of color of underparts averaging 52 per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. - - _Skull_ (Based on those from Shaunavon, Sask.)--See measurements - and plates 14 and 15; weight, 0.88 (0.70-0.98) grams in males and - 0.55 (0.54-0.56) in females; basilar length, 29.5 (28.4-30.4) in - males and 26.1 (24.7-27.0) in females; otherwise as described in - _M. e. richardsonii_. - -_Remarks._--As early as 1858 (p. 159) Baird recognized an individual of -this race from Pembina, Minnesota, as pertaining to a distinct species. -Although he used for it the specific name _pusillus_ originally -proposed by DeKay for a small weasel from the state of New York, Baird -wisely noted that the specimen he described "may be different from the -New York species. . . ." After preparing this account, Baird included a -second specimen, from Fort Steilacoom, Washington Territory, which he -thought might be the same, but the differences that he was careful to -point out, in the light of later knowledge, show it to be of the -species _Mustela erminea_. Only a few other naturalists followed Baird -in distinguishing the least weasel as a separate species until Bangs in -1896 (p. 21) clearly differentiated it and proposed for it the name -_Putorius rixosus_, which continues in use today and applies to the -species. - -The accumulation at the National Museum of Canada, through the energy -of Dr. R. M. Anderson, of a good series of specimens from Saskatchewan -in the general vicinity of the type locality allows for the first time -an adequate conception of the amount of secondary sexual variation and -individual variation and permits recognition of subspecific characters -to differentiate between _M. r. rixosa_ and the subspecies _eskimo_ and -_campestris_. In comparison with the subspecies _allegheniensis_ the -basis for segregation is less clear and will remain somewhat in doubt -until additional adults of _allegheniensis_ from, say, Pennsylvania, -become available with accurate external measurements taken in the flesh -and especially with complete skulls. - -Intergradation with the subspecies _eskimo_ is suggested by the short -tail of the specimen from fifteen miles east of Atlin, British -Columbia; in other particulars that specimen, a skin-alone, agrees with -the subspecies _rixosa_. Intergradation with _campestris_ is indicated -by increased size of some specimens from North Dakota, and is suggested -with _allegheniensis_ by the color of specimens from Wisconsin and -Illinois. Three specimens from Winona County, in southeastern -Minnesota, unfortunately are skulls-alone without external -measurements. Also, two of these skulls are of young animals. The one -adult, unsexed, is from Crystal Springs. Selected cranial measurements -are: basilar length, 28.5; length of tympanic bulla, 10.9. These -measurements accord with those of males of the subspecies _rixosa_ to -which the specimens from Winona County, therefore, are here assigned. -The possibilities have not been excluded, however, that the adult is an -unusually large female of the subspecies _campestris_ or a male of -_allegheniensis_ that has tympanic bullae longer than average for that -subspecies. - -Some hesitation is felt in assigning the specimens, 8 in all, from -eastern Canada to the subspecies _rixosa_. The skin-alone from Eagle -River and the skin, with part of the skull, from St. Michael Bay, are -in transitional pelage and are of no help in appraising subspecific -characters. The one adult specimen which does have a complete skull is -from an island south of the Comb Hills. This animal in all respects -agrees with selected individuals of _M. r. rixosa_ from Saskatchewan, -but each of the five other skins in summer pelage has spots of dark -brown color on the breast. Only about one specimen in three of _rixosa_ -from Saskatchewan is similarly marked. Furthermore, on some of the -specimens from eastern Canada the spots are larger than on any of the -animals from farther west. The greater frequency of brown spots on the -breast, the larger average size of these spots, and the darker average -coloration of the upper parts are suggestive of geographic variation, -the existence of which has to be proved by additional and more complete -specimens from eastern Canada. For the time being, specimens from there -are tentatively assigned to the race _rixosa_. - -Of 56 subadult and adult skulls only 3 (1 North Dakota; 1 Calgary, -Alberta; and 1 Island S Comb Hills, Queb.) display lesions resulting -from infestation of the frontal sinuses by nematode parasites. None of -the young skulls shows such infestation. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 87 as follows. Arranged - alphabetically by provinces and states and within each from north - to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the United - States National Museum. - - =Alberta.= Miette River, 1[77]; 5 mi. NW Camrose, 1[77]; Camrose, - 2 (1[77], 1[31]); "near Camrose," 2[77]; Forks Blindman and Red - Deer rivers, 1[60]; Innisfail, 1[86]; Veteran, 1[93]; Diddsbury [= - Didsbury], 1; Calgary, 2 (1[93], 1[2]); Shepard, 1[86]. - - =British Columbia.= Clarks Ranch, Halfway River, Peace River Dist, - 1[85]; 15 mi. E Atlin, 1[8]; Wistaria, P. O., 3 (2[77], 1[85]); - Ootsa Lake, 1[85]. - - =Labrador.= Davis Inlet, 1[60]; 30 mi. upriver and 20 mi. toward - Groswater Mts., Eagle River, 1; St. Michael Bay, 1. - - =Mackenzie.= Old Fort Reliance, 1[2]; Fort Resolution, 2; Fort - Smith, 1. - - =Manitoba.= Gypsumville, 1[86]; Lake St. Martin Reserve, 1[86]. - - =Minnesota.= _Roseau County_: Cedarbend, 2[14]; Grimstad, 1[14]; - America, 2 (1[14], 1[74]); Malung, 1[74]; Norland, 1[41]; Falun, 3 - (1[14], 1[74], 1[41]); Palmville, 1[41]; Spruce, 1[74]; Stokes, - 1[74]. No locality more definite than Marshall County, 1[14]. - _Clay County_: Moorhead, 1[36]. _Winona County_: "near" Whitman, - 1[34]; Altura, 1[98]; Crystal Springs, 1[98]. - - =Montana.= Sun River Valley, 1; Wibaux in Wibaux County, 1. - - =North Dakota.= _Walsh County_: Grafton, 15 (3[60], 1[93], 5[2], - 2[14], 1[74], 1[1], 1[76]). _McHenry County_: 4 and 4-1/2 mi. N - Upham, 2. _Wells County_: 1[36]. _Morton County_: Mandan, 1[60]. - - =Ontario.= Algoma Dist: Tatnall, near Oba, 1[86]. Moose Factory, - 1[75]. - - =Quebec.= Island S of Comb Hills, James Bay, 1[9]. _Saguenay - County_: Natashkwan, 1. - - =Saskatchewan.= Osler, 1[75]; "near Regina," 1[77]; Dollard, - 2[31]; Shaunavon (and "near" and 1 mi. NE), 9[77]; Klintowel P. O. - (about 15 mi. N of Eastend), 1[77]; Eastend and "near" Eastend, - 2[77]. - - -=Mustela rixosa allegheniensis= (Rhoads) - -Least Weasel - -Plates 14, 15 and 41 - - _Putorius allegheniensis_ Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. - Philadelphia, 1900:751, March 25, 1901. - - _Putorius rixosus allegheniensis_, Cory, Mamm. Illinois and - Wisconsin, p. 378, 1912. - - _Mustela allegheniensis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_, Swenk, Journ. Mamm., 7:328, - November 23, 1926. - - _Type._--Probably male adult, skin and skull, no. 6195, Acad. Nat. - Sci. Philadelphia; near Beallsville, Washington Co., Pa.; about - 1885 or 1886; obtained by Robert Hawkins. - - Type not seen by me. - - _Range._--Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, - Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania east to Dauphin County and south in - the mountains to northwestern North Carolina. See figure 28 on - page 180. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Distinguished from _M. r. - rixosa_ by three average differences, namely, darker color, - shorter tympanic bullae, and smaller size of males; from _M. r. - campestris_ in smaller size: hind foot less than 25 in males and - less than 22 in females; in males total length less than 216 and - tail averaging less than 34, color averaging darker; from _M. - frenata_ and _M. erminea_ of same region by basilar length less - than 31, tail less than 45, and lacking black pencil. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: An adult or subadult from Fair - Oaks, Pa., a subadult from Finleyville, Pa., and an adult from - Huttonsville, W. Va., measure, respectively as follows: Total - length, 206, 194, 191 (average 197); length of tail, 37, 32, 28 - (32); length of hind foot, 23 in each. An adult from Roanoke, - Indiana, weighs 40.6 grams. - - Female: Two young from Leasuresville, Pa., and Middle Paxton - Twp., Pa., measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 188, - 172; length of tail, 33, 30; length of hind foot, 20.5, 21. An - adult from Monroeville, Ohio, weighs 40.5 grams and a young - individual from Middle Paxton Twp., Pa., 39.3 grams, and a - subadult from Swan Creek Exp. Station, Allegan Co., Mich., weighs - 49 grams. - - _Color._--Winter pelage either all white, or brown as in summer; - upper parts about Raw Umber, or tone 2 of Carbo Brown of pl. 342 - of Oberthür and Dauthenay. Underparts white at least on thoracic - region; approximately three-fourths of specimens with brown rictal - spot at angle of mouth or with this area covered by brown upper - parts which extend down on each side and meet on the underparts in - about one specimen out of three; upper lips and hind feet - ordinarily brown; toes of forefeet ordinarily white (see under - remarks for details of color pattern). Least width of color of - underparts in the specimens in which the dark color of the upper - parts does not encircle the body averages 60 per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts, or including all specimens the - percentage is 42. - - _Skull_ (based on specimens from Pa. listed in table of cranial - measurements, which see and plates 14 and 15).--Basilar length - 29.7 and 28.6 in male and 28.0 in female; weights unavailable; - otherwise as described in _M. e. richardsonii_. The length of the - tympanic bullae seems to be actually less, and less in relation to - the basilar length, than in other American subspecies of _M. - rixosa_. - -_Remarks._--Robert Kennicott's mention in 1859 (p. 245) of what seems -to be this subspecies is the earliest reference to it that I can -identify in the literature. He used the specific name _pusillus_ and it -was not until 1900 that Samuel N. Rhoads proposed the name _Putorius -allegheniensis_. Since 1900, several records of occurrence have been -published which have made the geographic range of this race better -known. - -An adequate number of specimens has been gathered only from Ohio and -from western Pennsylvania. Many from Ohio are without accurate external -measurements taken in the flesh. The majority of the specimens from -Pennsylvania owe their preservation to the willingness of local -officials, who pay bounties on weasels, to save the skins of _Mustela -rixosa_. These specimens ordinarily comprise the skin with locality but -because the feet, external measurements in the flesh, and skulls are -unavailable, the material is far from adequate and to give an accurate -notion of the usual or average cranial characters of _allegheniensis_ -in Pennsylvania, skulls from there are especially desirable. - -A smaller percentage of the specimens from Ohio than from Pennsylvania -have the brown color of the upper parts meeting on the underparts. -Also, more of the specimens from Ohio are lighter colored and this -suggests intergradation with the subspecies _campestris_ and _rixosa_ -to the westward. - -From Pennsylvania 23 animals in brown pelage are available. In 5 there -is a rictal spot at the angle of the mouth; in 5 the area is white and -in 13 the brown color of the upper parts is continuous over the area in -question. Only 2 of 23 have the upper lips white. Eight have the color -of the upper parts meeting on the venter thus restricting the white of -the underparts to the chin, throat, and pectoral region, and 6 of these -have a white area in the inguinal region as well. The toes of the -forefeet are white in 3 of 4 animals suitable for examination in this -regard and the hind feet are marked with white in 3 of the 8 animals -which have the hind feet preserved. _Mustela rixosa_ in Pennsylvania -parallels the species _Mustela frenata_ in that in this relatively -humid area of the northeastern United States the color of the upper -parts is darker and the area of the dark-colored upper parts is -increased at the expense of the area of the light-colored underparts. -Also _Mustela erminea_ in this same region (range of the subspecies -_Mustela cicognanii_) shows the same tendency to darker color of upper -parts and their extension in area at the expense of the area of the -light-colored underparts, or was mentioned above. - -It is difficult to account for the seeming absence of the species from -New England and all that part of Canada and the United States south of -the St. Lawrence River and northeastward from Pennsylvania. The size of -females of _M. erminea cicognanii_ in that territory is so little more -than in _rixosa_ that the latter possibly cannot successfully compete -with the _erminea_ stock which may already occupy the ecologic niche to -which _rixosa_ is adapted. It will be remembered that in western North -America in territory seemingly climatically suitable for _rixosa_ it -occurs no farther southward than the line below which _M. erminea_ has -become reduced to a size comparable with that of _M. rixosa_. - -Of 41 subadult and adult skulls assigned to this subspecies 24 have -obvious lesions in the frontal sinuses evidently resulting from -infestation by nematodes. More in detail, none of the specimens from -Illinois (3 individuals), Pennsylvania (3 barely subadult), or West -Virginia (2) displays lesions. From Wisconsin, Indiana, Virginia and -North Carolina there is one specimen each and each specimen displays -lesions. From Ohio, 17 of 23 specimens display lesions. From Michigan 3 -of 8 specimens display lesions; 2 adults and one subadult have lesions -and 5 subadults do not have lesions. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 102 as follows: Arranged - alphabetically by states and within each state by counties from - north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the - United States National Museum. - - =Indiana.= _Huntington County_: Roanoke, 1. _Wells County_: - Harrison Township, 1[76]. - - =Illinois.= _Lake County_: Deerfield, 3[60]; no locality more - definite than county, 1[60] _Cook County_: Northfield, 1[60]; La - Grange, 1[18]. - - =Michigan.= _Tuscola County_: 8 mi. N Caro, 1[76]. _Santilac - County_: Deckerville, 1[76]. _Allegan County_: Swan Creek Exp. - Station, 1[76]; Swan Creek Farm, 1[76]; T. 2N, R. 14W, 1[76]; - Allegan, 1[76]. _Livingston County_: George Reserve, 1[76]; 1/2 - mi. N Unadilla, 1. _Oakland County_: Rochester, 1[76]. _Macomb - County_: Romeo, 1[76]. _Washtenaw County_: 5 mi. SW Ann Arbor, - 1[76]. _Branch County_: vic. Coldwater, 1[76]. - - =North Carolina.= "near Marshall," 1. - - =Ohio.= Northern part of state, 1[81]. _Williams County_: Stryker, - 1[60]. _Lucas County_: Monclova, 1[60]. _Erie County_: Sandusky, - 2[76]; marsh near Sandusky, 1[76]; Berlin Heights, 1[76]; no - locality more definite than county, 1[2]. _Wood County_: 10 mi. NE - Bowling Green, 1[76]; Bowling Green, 4[76]; 3 mi. E Bowling Green - 1[76]; Plain Township, 1[2]; Portage Township, 1[60]. _Loraine - County_: Wellington, 1[81]. _Huron County_: west of Monroeville, - 1[76]. _Summit County_: Ira, 3[81]. _Portage County_: Suffield, - 1[81]. _Hancock County_: Vanburen, 1[76]; Findlay, 1[81]; 9 mi. S - Findlay, 1[76]; no locality more definite than county, 7 (2[76], - 2[81], 3[2]). _Mahoning County_: Ellsworth, 1. _Crawford County_: - "near Crestline," 1[81]. _Delaware County_: Sunbury, 1[2]; Lewis - Center, 1[81]; no locality more definite than county, 1[81]. - _Licking County_: Johnstown, 1[2]. _Fairfield County_: Baltimore, - 1[81]; Violet Township, 1[81]. _Meigs [= Gallia?] County_: Vinton, - 1[81]. - - =Pennsylvania.= _Erie County_: McKeen Twp. 1. _Crawford County_: - Springboro, 1[1]; Pymatuning Swamp, between Hartstown and - Shermansville, Sadsbury Twp., 3[9]. _Mercer County_: Shenango - Twp., 1. _Lawrence County_: Little Beaver Twp., 1. _Butler - County_: Leasuresville, 1[9]; Clearfield Twp., 1; Valencia, 1[9]. - _Armstrong County_: Ford City, Burrell Twp., 1. _Indiana County_: - Smicksburg, 1; N. Mahoning Twp., 2; White Twp., 1. _Allegheny - County_: South Hills, Pittsburgh, 1[9]; "near Pittsburgh," 1[9]; - Fair Oaks, 1[9]. _Westmoreland County_: Bolivar, 1. _Dauphin - County_: Middle Paxton Twp., 1. _Washington County_: Finleyville, - 1; Rea, 5; Beallsville, 1[1]; Claysville, 1. _Green County_: Deep - Valley, 1; Waynesburg, 1; Jefferson, 1; Cumberland Twp., 1. - _Fayette County_: Acme, 1[9]; _Somerset County_, 1. _Lancaster - County_, 1. - - =West Virginia.= _Randolph County_: Huttonsville, 1. - - =Wisconsin.= _Sauk County_: Sumpter Twp., 1[60]. _Dodge County_: - Beaver Dam, 1[50]. _Dane County_: Madison, 1; McFarland (= - MacFarland), 1. - - -=Mustela rixosa campestris= Jackson - -Least Weasel - -Plates 14 and 15 - - _Mustela campestris_ Jackson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:124, - May 21, 1913. - - _Putorius pusillus_, Aughey, Sketches of the physical geography and - geology of Nebraska, p. 119, 1880, Omaha. - - _Mustela rixosa campestris_, Swenk, Journ. Mamm., 7:329, Nov. 23, - 1926. - - _Type._--Female, adult, skin and skull; no. 171490, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Beemer, Cuming County, Nebraska; April - 18, 1911; obtained by G. Sharp; x catalogue no. 8440. - - The skull is unbroken. On the left side, C1 and P2 are missing; - the other teeth are present and entire. The skin is excellently - made and in a good state of preservation. - - _Range._--South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. See figure 28 on page - 180. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. r. rixosa_ - and _M. r. allegheniensis_ in larger size: Hind foot more than 25 - in males and ordinarily more than 22 in females; in males total - length more than 216 and tail averaging more than 34; color - possibly slightly paler than in _M. r. rixosa_ and averaging paler - than in _M. r. allegheniensis_; from _M. frenata_ and _M. erminea_ - of the same region by basilar length less than 32; tail less than - 50, and lacking black pencil. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Four adults from Nebraska yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 231 - (225-237); length of tail, 36 (32-39); length of hind foot, 29 - (28-31). - - Female: Six adults from Nebraska yield average and extreme - measurements as follows: Total length, 192 (184-225); length of - tail, 35 (28-40); length of hind foot, 23 (20.5-26). - - _Color._--Winter pelage ordinarily white; as described in _M. r. - eskimo_ except possibly paler and certainly with line of - demarcation on side of head between upper parts and underparts - passing almost straight back without the dorsally directed - reëntrant angles of white behind the eye and ear; least width of - color of underparts in four specimens from Nebraska averaging 80 - (49-89) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, but in - a fifth animal in summer pelage the brown color of the upper parts - encircles the body. - - _Skull._--See measurements in table and plate 15; weight 1.1 grams - (male from Brown Co., S. D.); basilar length, 30.7 in male from - Clay Co., Neb., and 28.8 in female from same county; otherwise as - described in _M. e. richardsonii_. - -_Remarks._--In his revisionary treatment of the American races of -_Mustela rixosa_, Myron H. Swenk (1926:313) credits Samuel Aughey with -recording this animal, _M. r. campestris_, from Nebraska, as early as -1880, under the name _Putorius pusillus_. In 1908, Swenk recorded the -animal from the same state under the name _rixosus_ and in 1913 the -race _campestris_ was formally named by H. H. T. Jackson. - -On the testimony of a friend who had previously obtained several -specimens for him, Swenk (1926:321) records the least weasel from -Oshkosh, Garden County, Nebraska, which is a marginal record of -occurrence to the southwest for _M. r. campestris_. - -At an early stage in the study of American weasels the writer examined -the specimens from Nebraska saved by Mr. Myron H. Swenk and recorded -measurements of them. However, at the time of writing this account the -specimens were not available for examination and the account of -coloration is accordingly incomplete. - -The large size, particularly the large external measurements, comprises -the principal distinguishing character of this subspecies of the least -weasel. - -Of the four adults examined from Iowa and South Dakota one exhibits -lesions such as result from infestation of the frontal sinuses by -nematodes. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 21 as follows. Arranged - alphabetically by states and by counties, from north to south in - each state. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the - United States National Museum. - - =Iowa.= _Howard County_: Chester, 1[12]. _Palo Alto County_: - Emmetsburg, 1[65]. _Kassuth County_; Algona, 1[65]. _Clayton - County_: National, 1. _Storey County_: Nevada, 1[65]. _Wapello - County_: Ottumwa, 1[65]. _Henry County_: Mount Pleasant, 1[66]. - - =Nebraska.= _Holt County_: Page, 1[35]. _Madison County_: Norfolk - 1[35]. _Cuming County_: Beemer, 1. _Hamilton County_: Chapman, - 1[35]. _Clay County_: Inland to 1 mi. east thereof, 7[35]. - - =South Dakota.= _Brown County_: shore of Sand Lake, S. 15 T. 126N, - R. 62W, 1. _Day County_: Waubay Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, 1. - _McCook County_: Salem, 1[102]. - - -=MUSTELA FRENATA= Lichtenstein - -Long-tailed Weasel - -(Synonymy under subspecies) - - - _Type._--_Mustela frenata_ Lichtenstein, Darstellung neuer oder - wenig bekannter Säugethiere, pl. 42 and corresponding text - unpaged. 1832. - - _Range._--From southern Canada southward over all of the United - States, México, Central America, Venezuela, and the republics of - western South America to southern Perú and extreme northern - Bolivia. All the life-zones from Alpine Arctic to Tropical are - inhabited. In the extremely desert region of southeastern - California and western Arizona the species is scarce or possibly - absent although recovery of a skull (see under account of _M. f. - neomexicana_) from near the center of this region at Potholes on - the Colorado River, and a reported occurrence in the mountains of - Baja California, México, indicate that a few individuals of the - species live in favorable habitat even in this desert region. - -_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela erminea_, in -regions where the two species occur together, by tail more than 44 per -cent of length of head and body and by postglenoidal length of skull -less than 46 per cent of condylobasal length in males and less than 48 -per cent in females (see under characters of the species); from -_Mustela rixosa_ by presence of black pencil on tail, caudal vertebrae -more than a fourth (2/5-3/4) of length of head and body, basilar length -of skull more than 34 mm.; from _Mustela africana_ by absence of thenar -pad on forefoot, underparts without longitudinal, median, abdominal -stripe of same color as upper parts, upper lips narrowly (rather than -broadly) edged with color of underparts, longest facial vibrissae -extending to or behind posterior margin of ear; presence of p2; more -inflated (see pls. 23 and 30) tympanic bullae. - -_Characters of the species._--Size large: Total length 300 to 550 mm.; -tail two-fifths to seven-tenths of length of head and body, with -distinct black pencil at end; caudal vertebrae 19 to 23; skull with -long precranial portion; postglenoidal length, expressed as a -percentage of the condylobasal length, less than 47 in females and -ordinarily less than 46 in males; upper parts brown; light-colored -underparts, in summer pelage, tinged with buffy or yellowish and -continuous from chin to inguinal region; some subspecies (southwestern -United States, México, Central America, and Florida) with white or -yellowish facial markings which do not occur in any other American -species of the genus _Mustela_. - -_Geographic variation._--Forty-two subspecies are recognized, and the -species is geographically more variable than any of the other 3 -American species. Color, color-pattern especially on the head, relative -proportions of the tail, hind feet, body including the head, and shape -and size of the skull are the principal features in which geographic -variation has been noted. The variation in the skull extends to the -basicranial region (shape and size of tympanic bullae and related -structures), interorbital region and preorbital region. - -_Natural History._--Habitat and Numbers.--As has already been remarked, -the long-tailed weasel is absent from the extreme desert of the -southwestern United States and northwestern México. Possibly the -absence of water to drink is the limiting factor. In southern Nevada -the finding of weasels only in places that were well watered, even -though small rodents suitable as food for weasels were even more -abundant in the surrounding desert, supports this possibility that the -absence of water to drink is the limiting factor. Also at Berkeley, -California, in early December of 1927 in the canyon at the head of -Dwight Way and in the autumn and winter of 1928 in Strawberry Canyon on -the campus of the University of California, I trapped extensively for -this species in different habitats and obtained, in all, four -individuals no one of which was farther than 10 feet from water. The -lesser cruising range of the individual weasel than of, say, the -coyote, probably explains why, in an arid region, for example -Pahranagat Valley, Nevada, only the meadow mice and their riparian -associates are preyed upon by the long-tailed weasel whereas the coyote -preys upon these riparian rodents and also upon the kangaroo rats and -other rodents which are so abundant in adjoining habitats that are -devoid of water. - -In areas where water is available every few hundred yards, no -particular habitat seems to be avoided in summer providing there is -food for the long-tailed weasel. In winter (January and March) there -obviously was a choice of habitat, possibly occasioned by more abundant -food or more satisfactory shelter, or both, in Centre County, -Pennsylvania, where Glover (1943B) found the population density in the -chestnut-oak habitat to be one weasel per 6.5 acres in areas of tree -cuttings and slash and one weasel per 13.3 acres in the open forest. In -the scrub oak-pitch pine forest type the population was one weasel per -26.4 acres in tree cuttings and slash and one weasel per 38.2 acres in -the open forest. No weasel was found in an area of 9.6 acres comprising -a wood lot, the edge of the forest, abandoned fence rows and an -abandoned orchard. The two types of forest in which he did find -weasels, 25 in all, comprised 381.6 acres. Glover's (_op. cit._) data -is the only precise information known to me on actual numbers of -long-tailed weasels in a given area of any considerable size. - -Fluctuations which I elsewhere (1946:57) have designated as multiannual -fluctuations occur in this species but seemingly not in the degree that -they do in _Mustela erminea_. This difference between the two species -is to be expected because _M. frenata_ does not range so far northward -toward the polar regions as does _M. erminea_ and populations of most -kinds of animals in the polar, at least in the arctic, regions are -subject to more extreme and more regular fluctuations than are kinds of -animals in temperate or tropical regions. Indication of the means by -which decrease in the weasel population is brought about is afforded by -Osgood's (1935:156) observations around Rutland, Vermont. In the late -winter of 1934, tracks indicated that weasels left their usual haunts -and hunted cross lots, vainly trying to find food. Testing of the small -mammal population in the spring and summer of 1934 showed that it was -at low ebb. In the fall of 1934 mice and shrews were abundant again but -weasels seemed to be entirely absent. The decrease in the population of -weasels lagged behind the decrease in the population of the herbivorous -prey as did the subsequent increase; this, of course, is the normal -relation of carnivorous species of mammals and their prey, at least in -and above the Transition Life-zone. - -The average distance away from the central den which four weasels (sex -unspecified) traveled in a single night at Ames, Iowa, was 312 feet; -the maximum distance was 642 feet. These data were obtained in the -winter of 1939 by Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson (1941:115) who -studied the tracks in the snow. In Manitoba, Criddle and Criddle -(1925:143) noted that a female which lived in their basement often -wandered more than half a mile away in search of food. In Michigan, -Quick (1944:75) found the maximum distance traveled in one day (= -night?) by a large male to be 3.43 miles although two miles was the -average distance traveled by this individual. In 1942, from January 4 -to March 4, in Centre County, Pennsylvania, Glover (1943B) studied -tracks of 11 males and 10 females, in newly fallen snow, and -ascertained that the distance traveled in a single night averaged 704 -(60-2535) feet for the male and 346 (20-1420) feet for the female. The -weasels in the open timber traveled farther per trip than those in the -brushland and dense stands of trees. - - -Behavior - -An adult female (now the holotype of _Mustela frenata nevadensis_) seen -running across a field, and, I think, unaware of my presence, at every -bound bent her back up so far that she reminded me of a measuring worm. -For part of the time when running, the tail was held off the ground -straight out behind, and then, for a while, inclined upward at an angle -of about 45°. Another weasel that I saw in the daytime, and that I -think was unaware of my presence, was bounding along among the -_Baccharis_ bushes on the south-facing slope of Dwight Way Canyon, -Berkeley, California. This individual, at each bound, arched the back -up so high as to remind me, again, of a measuring worm. - -The long-tailed weasel is a land mammal and unlike its close relative, -the mink, is seldom seen in the water. That it can swim, however, is -attested by the capture of one while it was swimming across the Río -Ramos in México (Davis, 1944:381). Also, Green (1936), in May, in -Gratiot County, Michigan, saw a weasel, running with a _Peromyscus_ in -its mouth. The weasel dropped the mouse, entered the water and swam to -a hole among stones. - -More instances of climbing, than of swimming, have been reported in the -literature for the long-tailed weasel. Seton (1929 (2):625) quotes -William M. Graffius of Pennsylvania as having seen a weasel closely -pursue a red squirrel nearly to the topmost branch of a large hemlock. -When the squirrel loosed its hold and dropped into a stream, the weasel -descended to the ground and caught and killed the squirrel when it -emerged from the water. Pearce (1937:483), in central New York State, -on July 29, 1931, watched a weasel chase a chipmunk up a black cherry -tree ten inches in diameter, and noted that the first rush carried the -weasel "straight up the trunk for approximately 10 feet, where it -hesitated momentarily before continuing. Then, instead of climbing -vertically, it made progress by traveling in short ascending spirals -around the trunk, scarcely making 3 feet in height for each circuit of -the tree. Upon reaching the limb by which the chipmunk escaped, the -weasel followed out along this in the same spiral manner. This limb had -a diameter of about 4 inches at its base and extended upward at an -angle of perhaps 20 degrees above the horizontal . . . it made its way -head first almost down to the ground, using the same spiral mode of -progress, but at a leisurely pace. . . . While traveling down the side -limb it appeared practically to wrap its sinuous body around the limb." - -A male long-tailed weasel, from Colorado, which I kept captive was -often fed freshly killed mice. These I thrust through one of the small -openings in the wire mesh. The weasel quickly learned to seize any part -of a mouse thus introduced and his tugging aided in getting the mouse -into the cage. Occasionally a mouse too large to be got through the -mesh had to be withdrawn. In such an instance, if the weasel had -already had hold of the mouse, he would screech frightfully. I have -heard no other vocal sounds from a weasel except a kind of purring. - -The sense of smell apparently is well developed; at any rate it is keen -enough to allow the weasel to follow the trail of an intended victim by -the scent left by the latter. Murie's (1935:321-322) account, for -example, of a weasel pursuing a snowshoe rabbit gives clear evidence -that the weasel relied on scent in following the rabbit. - -A captive male weasel obtained at Gainesville, Florida, stamped his -hind feet when annoyed (Moore, 1945:259). - -A male from Colorado that I kept for months in a cage at Lafayette, -California, was several times found in a sleep so deep that he was -awakened with difficulty. Seton (1929 (2):629-630) writes: "In my small -menagerie, I have had half-a-dozen Weasels of the New York species. -Their sleeping dens are arranged so as to be easily and silently -opened. Several times I have lifted the lid to find the weasel in a -deep sleep--a sleep so profound that I had to poke him vigorously with -a stick before he awoke, looked up, and rushed forth with a little puff -of wrath, and a little puff of smell." - -Feces and urine were ordinarily deposited in one particular place by -each of the captive weasels that I have observed. Hamilton (1933:294) -records that a large male _M. f. noveboracensis_, in a week, averaged -10 evacuations every twenty-four hours, that urination immediately -precedes defecation, and describes the feces as black or brown, long -and narrow and often spiral-shaped owing "to the matted fur of some -rodent that had been eaten." Quick (1944:77) writes, concerning four -winter dens in Michigan, that "The latrines of weasels were in the -entries of used dens and scats could be collected there by the -handful." Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson (1941:116) in the spring of -1939 at Ames, Iowa, gathered scats "from latrines found at the -entrances of burrows and from latrine chambers found within burrows." -Scats were found by them in the linings of some nests. - -Courage of a high order might be credited to the long-tailed weasel -because individuals have attacked animals much larger than the weasels. -Actually, however, in few if any of these instances was the motive for -attack known. That a hawk was attacked is suggested by Soper's -(1919:45) account of _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ wherein he -repeats a story told to him of a hawk observed in unsteady flight, and -obviously in distress, which when it plummeted to earth was with a -weasel which escaped from the observer. Charles Tatham, Jr., of -Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to Seton (1929 (2): 630, 631) -observed one that attacked his dog. - -Persons and long-tailed weasels have figured in some rather strange -encounters. For example, Oehler (1944:198) recounts that in the autumn -of 1940 at Cincinnati, Ohio, an animal, mistakenly thought to be a -chipmunk, was seen to dash into a hollow log whereupon pounding on the -log brought out the weasel which bit and clung to the hand of one man -whose companion was bitten when he attempted to free the man that was -bitten first. - -Seton (1929 (2): 631) writes that on the night of September 5, 1897, on -Roosevelt's old ranch, near Medora, North Dakota, a man turned over his -saddle (which was lying on the ground) to dislodge what was thought to -be a pack-rat. The animal was a long-tailed weasel which attacked him. -It ran up his legs a number of times aiming at his throat before being -killed by a dog. - -Criddle and Criddle (1925:146) wrote: "August 20, 1919.--A _longicauda_ -in the Insectary ran at me this morning apparently with a view to -intimidating. It uttered a shrill cry while making the attack, but -retreated after advancing within two feet." The same authors (_op. -cit._: 147) further write that a "Long-tailed Weasel was caught in a -trap set for gophers, and, on being released by Miss M. Criddle, at -once turned upon its liberator and bit savagely at her boot. It then -moved a short distance away to a tub of water, where it drank -thirstily, merely glancing at the observer from time to time while -doing so, and then ran off out of sight. - -"Mr. T. Criddle records a similar experience. After liberating a large -weasel from a trap, it immediately rushed at him and persisted in its -attack with such ferocity that it was three times picked up and thrown, -on each occasion to a greater distance, before it finally abandoned its -offensive. - -"We have no record of a weasel making an unprovoked attack upon -anyone." - -Wight (1932: 164) in Michigan, detected a weasel attacking a hen. The -weasel fled at Wight's approach but returned and attacked him several -times. Finally the weasel went around Wight to reach the hen. In -Wight's words "There was no evidence of infuriation, but rather a well -directed offense at the one object, regardless of its size, which stood -between the weasel and an opportunity to satisfy its desire to kill, -which was probably based upon the uncontrollable urge of hunger pangs." - -Weasels of each of the three North American species have been -successfully kept in captivity. A type of cage satisfactory for keeping -the animals in the laboratory is described by Bissonnette and Bailey -(1940:761-763). Some of the captives used their teeth to break glass -water-containers and to gnaw slivers of wood from the cages. Ingested -slivers of wood and bits of broken glass caused the deaths of some of -the captives. Weasels kept by me all were of the species _Mustela -frenata_. They thrived on a meat diet but I was always careful to give -them, every few days, if not each day, some small rodents entire, -thinking that the bits of bone and fur ingested might, in some way -unknown to me, keep the digestive tract in better condition than would -flesh devoid of hair and bone. - -Three young weasels approximately the size of mice, in the Okefinokee -Swamp of Georgia, were obtained by a hunter who, according to Harper -(1927:303), raised them by feeding "milk for a few days, and then fresh -meat." Litters of young born in captivity have been successfully raised -by the mothers (Hamilton, 1933) and success in getting the animals to -breed in captivity and to rear their young is recorded by Wright -(1948A). He has found, however, that the majority of his captive adult -males show no interest in mating when placed with females in heat. He, -therefore, uses only selected males and when a female in heat is to be -bred, he places one of his responsive males with her one day, another -of his responsive males with her the second day and thus alternates a -couple of males for three or four days. Even so, slightly fewer than -half of the females which were thus bred produced young. - -A weasel in the white winter coat was used by Audubon and Bachman -(1856:177, Quarto edit.) to drive rabbits out of their burrows in the -same fashion that ferrets commonly are used. Although these naturalists -refer to their animal as an ermine it probably was _Mustela frenata -noveboracensis_, the long-tailed weasel. The animal's teeth (probably -canines) were blunted and a long cord tied on its neck. With the aid of -this weasel 12 rabbits were caught in one morning and more than 50 in -four weeks. - - -Enemies - -Little is recorded concerning enemies of weasels and it may be that -other vertebrates are not an important factor in removing the annual -increase. Errington (1935:195-198), in Iowa, found four, putrid -weasels about dens of red foxes, _Vulpes fulvus_. No remains of weasels -were found in the feces of the foxes and it appears that the foxes do -not eat the weasels. The label on an adult female specimen of _M. f. -spadix_ from Boone County, Iowa, bears the date May 10, 1938, and the -annotation, by T. G. Scott, "fox-killed." Bailey (1931:328) recounts -that "Weller saw a coyote carrying one in its mouth" at an elevation of -11,500 feet in the Pecos Mountains of New Mexico. The type specimen, a -young female, of _M. f. peninsulae_ from Hudsons, Florida, according to -Rhoads (1894:155) ". . . was caught in the woods by a cat." Barber and -Cockerell (1898:189) mention one that was killed by a dog in Mesilla -Park, New Mexico. Moore (1945:258) records the death of a weasel in -Florida. Circumstantial evidence indicated that it was killed by the -bite of a water moccasin. In the Biological Surveys Collection of -mammals in the United States National Museum, the label with the skull -of an adult male weasel, No. 160663, from Banning, California, carries -the information that the skull was taken from the stomach of a -_Crotalus_ (rattlesnake). - -In reporting on a study of owl predation in Delaware County, -Pennsylvania, Pearson and Pearson (1947:143) mention that "weasels are -found throughout the county but . . . were never eaten by the owls." - -The Uinta spermophile at some places and times probably is a prey -sought by the long-tailed weasel but Warren (1924:265) records -_Citellus armatus_ repeatedly chasing weasels in August, at Camp -Roosevelt, Yellowstone National Park, and how the ground squirrels at -one time ignored the weasel even when it came within a few inches of a -squirrel. - -Warren (1932:71), on August 2, 1931, at Grand Mesa, Colorado, obtained -a large male weasel with two porcupine quills in it; one was near the -mouth and another "in the skull." Osgood (1935:156) writes that near -Rutland, Vermont, a male weasel "taken in April, was heavily -parasitized and had several short porcupine quills embedded in its -neck, head, and shoulders." The remainder of Osgood's account implies -that the weasel may have turned to porcupine because the normal food -for weasels was scarce at the time. Porcupine quills, then, are a -hazard for weasels although it is unlikely that the porcupine is ever -to be classed as an enemy of the weasel. - -An accident of another sort, which must at the very least have been -annoying to the weasel that suffered it, was recorded by Soper -(1921:37). The animal had a stick lodged crosswise between the fourth -upper premolar teeth. - -The recorded actions of several kinds of animals which are too small to -be dangerous to the weasel suggest that they recognize that the weasel -is a danger to them. Borell and Ellis (1934:21) mention that a weasel -in Nevada caused a great disturbance among the chipmunks. Long -(1938:250) heard pikas give evidence of terror by a peculiar cry when a -weasel was in a rock slide occupied by the pikas. Seton (1929 (2):629) -writes "On June 14, 1915, as I prowled around the south side of the -lake on my homeland at Greenwich, Conn., my attention was called to a -pair of song sparrows and a male towhee that were noisily mobbing a -Weasel, twittering around and darting at him, as though they knew full -well his evil ways. The weasel paid little heed, but soon dived from -sight in a stone wall." - -No account has been found of an American weasel or ermine rolling, -tumbling and frolicking in a manner that aroused the curiosity of birds -to a degree which permitted the weasel to come within leaping distance -of the birds. Accounts of such behavior are on record for the English -stoat (ermine). - - -Food and Hunting - -Weasels are active both in the daytime and at night. Whether the time -of activity varies with the season, with the locality, with the sex or -with other conditions, I do not know. Adult, live, free-living, -actively moving weasels that I recall having seen all were observed in -the daytime: two were in Alameda County, California, two were in White -Pine County, Nevada, one was in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, and one -was in Laramie County, Wyoming. I recall ten adults, from the same -three states, and one from Washington State, that got into my traps; -two of these certainly got in the traps in the night; one certainly got -in the trap in the daytime; the other eight were found in traps which -may have caught the weasels either in the night or in the daytime. -Soper (1946:136) in speaking of _M. f. longicauda_ north of the -International Boundary in Canada remarks that it has the "habit to some -extent of hunting at all times of day." Criddle and Criddle (1925:144) -in writing of _Mustela frenata longicauda_ in Manitoba record that "The -shrill cry of a rabbit [_Lepus americanus_] in the dark is nearly -always due to the weasel's attack. Indeed, we have often watched the -latter at work during the twilight hours. First would come the almost -noiseless run of the small rabbit with its characteristic dodging and -this would be followed by the appearance of the agile foe which, at -times, would leap high over obstacles and at others move swiftly -beneath them. Then there would follow intermittent cries of the rabbit -as the weasel secured a temporary hold of its quarry, for be it noted -that this hunter apparently bites anywhere to begin with and it is -probable that the blood made to flow acts as an aid to tracking as well -as weakening the prey. Several similar close encounters might occur -before the rabbit would be finally overcome, but weasels are very -persistent when they once get into contact with their victims and it is -therefore very seldom that the latter escape. In killing, they either -penetrate the brain with their teeth, or dislodge the vertebrae behind -the head." These and more than two score other observations which -record the time when weasels were seen make it clear that some were -active at night and that some were active in the daytime. - -As to the routes traveled while the weasels are hunting, Quick -(1944:77) says of four individuals that he studied in Washtenaw County, -Michigan: "The weasels appeared to prefer hunting certain coverts with -noticeable regularity, but rarely cruised the same area on two -consecutive nights." - -The killing technique of fifteen captive _Mustela frenata -noveboracensis_ was studied by Glover (1943A). For the weasels he -released 19 mice, 3 brown rats, 6 cottontails and 4 ring-necked -pheasants. Most of the mice were killed by a bite on the back of the -head, with the body and legs of the weasel hugging the back of the -victim. "The weasel shoved the prey in close to the stomach with the -hind legs, and the kill was made in a reclining semi-curled-up -position." On each of the rats (_Rattus_) an initial grip was secured -at the base of the ear. When the rat rested, a new hold was taken by -the weasel. Finally the weasel secured a hold at the base of the skull -and near the ear, and a light crushing sound followed. Four of the six -cottontails were killed by bites on top of the head and ear; two -cottontails succumbed from neck wounds. In three instances, neither of -two weasels could be induced to make a determined attack on the -cottontails or to kill them. At times the cottontails proved to be able -opponents for weasels by striking out with their front feet and by -kicking with their strong hind legs. In killing the pheasants the teeth -of the upper jaw of the weasel pierced the top of the braincase and the -teeth of the lower jaw entered the region of the auditory process. The -forelegs hugged the neck of the pheasant, the body of the weasel was -extended in a riding position on the back of the bird and no amount of -kicking or rolling dislodged the weasel. - -Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson (1941) describe a cottontail cached by -a weasel as having the muscles of the neck severed from the region -behind the right mastoid process and noted "that hemorrhage in the -region of the right jugular vein had occurred." - -Concerning the methods of killing mammals smaller than cottontails, the -accounts by Nichols and Nichols (1935:297-299) and that by Svihla -(1931) corroborate Glover's (1943A) account, as do also the accounts of -Miller (1931B:164) and Moore (1945:257). The latter says that his -captive male, from Gainesville, Florida, customarily bit its rodent -prey at the base of the skull and used the feet to manipulate the live -prey. Miller (_loc. cit._) emphasized that his male weasel (_M. f. -longicauda_) grasped where it could, used its snakelike body to coil -over the prey and shifted the grip of its teeth to the nape of the neck -or back of the skull. The captives that I have had [one from Salt Lake -City, Utah; three from Contra Costa County, California; and the same -individual reported upon by Miller (1931:150)] customarily employed the -techniques of killing small rodents that were described by Glover and -Miller (_loc. cit._). - -Allen (1938:225-229) experimented with the ability of four different -males of _M. f. noveboracensis_ from Michigan to kill adult -cottontails. The method used was to place the weasel in a cage of -quarter-inch hardware cloth approximately three feet long, two feet -wide, and two feet high. The bottom of the box was covered with several -inches of straw. One cottontail was offered to each weasel. In two -instances the weasel attacked and bit the cottontail, was struck by the -hind feet of the cottontail, retired from the attack and died a few -hours later as a result of the blows of the cottontail's hind feet. In -the other two instances the weasel rendered the cottontail helpless by -severing the neck muscles from the skull. Subsequently an incision made -by the weasel, in each of the two instances gave access to blood on -which the weasel fed until it was full, in one instance by licking -"blood as a cat laps milk." One rabbit was subdued in 10 minutes and -the other in 15 minutes. Allen (_op. cit._) points out that cottontails -form a considerable portion of the weasel's food and thinks that they -are killed in burrows more easily than they were in the cage. - -In writing of the three species of weasels, including _Mustela -frenata_, found at Treesbank and vicinity, Manitoba, Norman Criddle and -Stuart Criddle (1925:143, 144), in my opinion, correctly explain the -killing of more prey than weasels need. "The fact that weasels -frequently kill many more animals than they require for immediate use -has been universally interpreted as a lust for killing--a supposition -which we believe to be quite erroneous. It is true that weasels often -kill more than they need, but the surplus is not necessarily wasted -because the animals always store it for future use, in much the same -way as do badgers, minks or skunks, and with the same object in view as -squirrels have in gathering nuts. We have observed many such stores, -but as far as our observations go, the habit of killing in excess -occurs much more prominently in the late summer and autumn months than -in the spring. Indeed, we have no records of excessive spring slaughter -and this indicates that the supposedly blood-thirsty habit of weasels -is no more a lust for killing than is the woodsman's foresight in -providing his larder with meat for the winter months. It should be -noted in this connection that members of the weasel family, when -undisturbed, do not leave their victims scattered about, but carefully -store them away, and in many instances the bodies are buried with earth -or taken under ground to preserve them. We suspect that this instinct -for preserving food for future use accounts for most of the excessive -killing by carnivorous animals instead of this latter indicating an -aimless desire for slaughter which would unnecessarily deplete the food -supply of the future. This instinct, however, does not seem to be as -definite as that of some rodents, and there is no doubt that much of -the stored meat decays before it can be utilized." - -Criddle and Criddle (1925:146) note that a weasel in the vicinity of -Treesbank was carrying a rat [_Rattus_] and that "Two small punctures -in the throat were the only evidence of the manner in which its death -had been brought about." - -Considerable information has been recorded concerning the food of -_Mustela frenata_ and a little information is on record as to kinds of -foods not taken that could have been taken. For example, Ingles -(1939:253, 254) on May 14, 1938, near Shasta City, California, noted -that nestlings of russet-backed thrushes were ignored by an adult -weasel and four young weasels which were feeding instead on meadow mice -and a mole. Howard (1935:322, 323) records that a weasel in Michigan -which carried bits of meat from beef bones on a porch ignored a red -squirrel which drew on the same food supply but which retreated to the -end of the porch when the weasel appeared. Quick (1944) records that in -the winter of 1940 on a 640 acre area in Washtenaw County, Michigan, -four resident weasels did not kill any of the 10 rabbits or several -pheasants but subsisted on smaller animals. Glover (1943A) thought that -_M. frenata_ kills only a few adult cottontails in the wild. To judge -from these observations, _M. frenata_ chooses small mammals as prey in -greater measure than it does birds or larger mammals. - -Records of prey taken, attacked or pursued by _Mustela frenata_ include -the following: - -Broad-footed mole (_Scapanus latimanus_).--One was fed on by an adult -_M. frenata_ and four young, on May 14, 1939, "near Shasta City," -California (Ingles, 1939:253, 254). - -Dusky shrew (_Sorex cinereus_).--A female weasel, at Majestic, Long -Island, N. Y., was shot when carrying a _Sorex cinereus_ that had a -small hole in the top of its head (Nichols and Nichols, 1935:297-299). - -Big short-tailed shrew (_Blarina brevicauda_).--One was taken from the -stomach of a weasel (Hamilton, 1928:249). - -Townsend ground squirrel (_Citellus townsendii_).--Alcorn saw a weasel -five miles west of Fallon, Nevada, carrying a squirrel (Hall, -1946:192). - -Richardson ground squirrel (_Citellus richardsonii_).--The attempted -capture of one of these squirrels in Saskatchewan is recorded by Seton -(1929 (2):625). - -Belding ground squirrel (_Citellus beldingi_).--Grinnell, Dixon and -Linsdale (1937:233) recount that at Tuolumne Meadows, California, a -weasel killed a ground squirrel of this species. - -Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (_Citellus -tridecemlineatus_).--Errington (1936:406, 407) found a den in Palo Alto -County, Iowa, on June 22, 1934, where he collected 32 fecal pellets. -Sixteen samples contained thirteen-lined ground squirrels, 9 contained -rabbits, 9 contained mice (7 _Microtus_, 1 _Peromyscus_ and 1 -unidentified); red-winged blackbirds and unidentified fringillids were -represented as also were ground beetles, grasshoppers and other -insects. One red-winged blackbird lay near the entrance of the den. - -Franklin ground squirrel (_Citellus franklinii_).--Sowls (1948:126) -records that at Delta, Manitoba, a weasel was observed killing one of -these squirrels and that "the weasel had taken the squirrel from its -hibernating burrow as evidenced by tracks in the snow." On July 19, -1917, in the vicinity of Treesbank, Manitoba, T. Criddle saw a weasel -attacking one of these ground squirrels which was in mortal terror and -squeaking continuously. Eventually the squirrel was thrown on its back -"and would have been speedily killed but for an interruption" (Criddle -and Criddle, 1925:146). - -Golden-mantled ground squirrel (_Citellus lateralis_).--On August 15, -1941, along the Kaweah River in Sequoia National Park, Boyer (1943:99, -100) saw a weasel chasing a _Citellus lateralis_; three or four times -the weasel grasped the back of the neck of the squirrel which each time -threw off the weasel until the two, weasel after the squirrel, plunged -into the river. The squirrel, bleeding at the base of the skull, was -rescued and entered a hole; the weasel got out of the water and under a -rotting log. Follett (1937:365) at 2 p.m. in Plumas County, California, -saw a weasel have hold of the lower jaw of a golden-mantled ground -squirrel near its throat. Alcorn watched a weasel chase a -golden-mantled ground squirrel in Nevada (Hall, 1946:192) and Grinnell -and Dixon (1919:681) record that on August 4, 1911, near Monache -Meadows in eastern Tulare County, California, a weasel pursued, -captured and killed a golden-mantled ground squirrel. - -Eastern chipmunk (_Tamias striatus_).--Pearce (1937:483) in central New -York State, on July 29, 1931, saw a chipmunk scamper up a tree pursued -by a weasel. - -Chipmunk (subgenus _Neotamias_).--Stanford (1931:363) on November 11, -1931, at Fish Lake, Utah, saw a weasel pursuing a chipmunk. On August -5, 1910, "near Independence Lake," Nevada County, California, Louise -Kellogg recorded that a weasel seized and ran off with a chipmunk -(Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale, 1937:233). Allen (1938:228) observed -that a chipmunk (whether _Tamias striatus_ or _T. minimus_ not -specified) was killed in 30 seconds whereas 10 to 15 minutes were -required by the caged, male _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ to kill a -cottontail. - -Red squirrel (_Tamiasciurus_).--Seton (1929 (2):625) records the -capture of one in Pennsylvania, and Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale -(1937:232), at Cisco, California, saw one closely pursued by a weasel. - -Flying squirrel (_Glaucomys_).--Burroughs (1900:77, 78) records remains -of one of these squirrels along with the remains of other animals in a -food cache of a Mustela but his account does not make clear whether -_Mustela frenata_ or _Mustela erminea_ was the species of weasel -involved. - -Northern pocket gopher (_Thomomys_).--In "July, 1939, near Stillwater -[Nevada], Alcorn pursued . . . [a] weasel and caused it to drop . . . -a pocket gopher [_Thomomys bottae_] which was about two-thirds grown" -(Hall, 1946:192). Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale (1937:233) write that -"at least twice, weasels in the [Yosemite] Valley were seen carrying -pocket gophers." Relative to _Thomomys talpoides_ in the vicinity of -Treesbank, Manitoba, Criddle and Criddle (1925:146) record that on -September 11, 1918, an individual of _Mustela frenata longicauda_ took -seven pocket gophers dead. . . . It seized the rodents by the middle of -their back and held them high while carrying them away. They were -stored in a gopher burrow some two hundred yards distant. On February -17, 1921, "Came across the marks of a weasel carting some object over -the snow. An investigation revealed a recently-killed pocket gopher -with its captor still in possession." Criddle (1930:279), at Aweme, -Manitoba, "frequently observed this weasel [_M. f. longicauda_] . . . -carrying a pocket gopher to its larder, and twice it has been -encountered in mid winter with freshly killed gophers in its -possession." The evidence already presented that weasels levy heavily -on pocket gophers is strengthened by the many references in the -literature to weasels having been caught in traps set for pocket -gophers in the burrows of those rodents and by the many statements, not -quoted here, that living quarters of weasels are in burrows made -originally by pocket gophers. For example, the present writer, in an -account of the Mammals of Nevada (Hall, 1946:191, 192), has said of the -long-tailed weasel, _Mustela frenata nevadensis_, that "All the three -dens that were excavated . . . were originally burrows of pocket -gophers. . . . Although we have found weasels in many situations in -Nevada, . . . they most often were obtained from the burrows of pocket -gophers." Excluding the weasels taken by Alcorn, more specimens of the -remaining lot were caught in traps set in the burrows of pocket gophers -than by all other means combined. All of the 22 weasels taken by Alcorn -[within a radius of 10 miles of Fallon] were obtained in gopher traps. - -Mexican pocket gopher (_Cratogeomys_).--At Chalchicomula, 8000 feet, -Puebla, Nelson (1918:470 and letter dated March 9, 1928) saw a weasel -fastened to a pocket gopher. Nelson obtained the pocket gopher and -found that its neck muscles were torn loose from the skull. - -Grasshopper mouse (_Onychomys_).--Barber and Cockerell (1898:189) found -remains of this mouse in the stomach of a weasel at Mesilla Park, New -Mexico. - -White-footed mice (_Peromyscus_).--Green (1936) saw a weasel in Gratiot -County, Michigan, in May, carrying a _Peromyscus_. Quick (1944:76), in -winter, in Michigan, found one dead, probably killed by a weasel. From -Washtenaw County, Michigan, Quick (1944:77) examined 294 scats of -free-living weasels and found _Peromyscus_ in 189 scats, _Microtus_ in -83, small birds in 20, red squirrel in 3, and hair of weasels in small -quantities (probably from the animals which deposited the scats) in 36. -He concludes (_op. cit._, 78) that the winter food was 65 to 70 per -cent _Peromyscus_, 23 to 33 per cent _Microtus_, and 2 to 7 per cent -small birds. - -Wood rats (_Neotoma_).--A female long-tailed weasel weighing 250 grams -was taken one mile north of Kent, Texas, while eating a _Neotoma -albigula_ (Davis and Robertson, 1944:263). A wood rat house under -observation by Vestal (1937:364) in Contra Costa County, California, -was invaded by one weasel which ate two adult wood rats (_Neotoma -fuscipes_) and one young. In the same area he saw a weasel in a wood -rat nest some months later (Vestal, 1938:5). Three miles east of Reno, -Nevada, on May 13, 1936, W. B. Richardson watched a long-tailed weasel -carrying a half-grown round-tailed wood rat (_Neotoma lepida_) across a -rock slide (Hall, 1946, 192). Harper (1927:303) records three wood rats -[_Neotoma floridana_] and two cotton rats [_Sigmodon hispidus_] found -dead in the den of a female weasel and her three young in the -Okefinokee Swamp of Georgia. Another female and three young -approximately half grown were found in the swamp in a hollow pine log. -Contents of the den as described to Harper were nearly a peck of wood -rats, whole and in pieces; remains of several kinds of birds including -robins and quail, and a piece of joint snake (_Ophisaurus ventralis_). - -Meadow mice (_Microtus_).--Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson (1941), in -1939, at Ames, Iowa, identified "A total of 118 items . . . in 97 -winter scats and 48 in the 38 spring scats." Their combined data are as -follows: - - Frequency Percentage - Meadow mouse 71 42.85 - Harvest mouse 36 21.75 - Deer mouse 17 10.23 - Mearns cottontail 14 8.42 - Short-tailed shrew 9 5.42 - House mouse 3 1.86 - Tree sparrow 2 1.02 - Grasshopper 1 .60 - Shaw pocket gopher 1 .60 - Least weasel 9 5.40 - Unidentified material 3 1.85 - -Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson divide their data into two categories, -winter and spring. Items recorded in winter but not in spring are house -mouse, tree sparrow, and grasshopper. Items recorded only in spring -were pocket gopher and least weasel. The samples of cottontail and -least weasel all were from the scats of one large male weasel. Of a -total of 14 pheasants, 24 quail and 35 cottontails on the 160 acres -involved in the study only two cottontails appear to have been killed -by the weasels--really by one weasel of four which lived on the area. - -Food items taken from the nests (3) and adjacent caches of food in the -dens, were as follows: meadow mouse, 30; short-tailed shrew, 4; pocket -gopher, 2; deer mouse, 2; least weasel, 1; tree sparrow, 1. The authors -remark that the abundance of several prey species does not cause the -weasels to ignore the shrews which are said to be distasteful to -carnivores. - -Two horned larks, apparently killed by weasels, were found on the 160 -acre area studied; the horned larks were not in caches of food, nor -were remains of horned larks found in scats. - -Dearborn (1932:34, 37) for Michigan, on the basis of contents of (37?) -intestinal tracts and "feces collected partly in winter and partly in -summer" found that, by frequency of occurrence, mammals comprised 83 -per cent of the food, birds 10 per cent and insects 7 per cent. -Frequency indices for the genera of mammals in percentages of food -items of all kinds were as follows: _Microtus_, 31 per cent; -_Peromyscus_, 24 per cent; _Sylvilagus_, 14 per cent; _Sorex_, 7 per -cent; _Blarina_, 5 per cent; _Scalopus_, 2 per cent. - -Criddle and Criddle (1925:146), for the vicinity of Treesbank, -Manitoba, record that on October 3, 1913, a weasel was seen to take a -field mouse down a hole. They add (_op. cit._: 147) that "Once while -ploughing, we observed a Long-tailed Weasel carrying a field -mouse. . . ." Ingles (1939:253, 254), in June, 1938, near Mt. Shasta -City, California, found an adult and four young weasels which fed on -several _Microtus montanus montanus_. Green (1936) in May, in Gratiot -County, Michigan, in the vicinity of a nest in which there were four -young weasels, found "several" dead _Microtus_. Hamilton (1933:330) -records that in New York State a male weasel, on April 5, 1932, at -Ithaca, had eaten a _Microtus_ and that in May, 1927, a female weasel -was seen carrying a _Microtus_ in its mouth. - -Hamilton's (1933:333) study of the contents of the digestive tracts of -bodies of weasels obtained from fur trappers and fur buyers enabled him -to publish the following "Frequency Indices of Mammal Genera in Fall -and Winter Food of 163 _Mustela noveboracensis_": _Microtus_, 33.6 per -cent; _Sylvilagus_, 17.3; mammals undetermined to genus but principally -mice, 17.1; _Peromyscus_, 11.3; _Rattus_, 9.1; _Blarina_, 5.9; -_Sciurus_, 2.7; _Tamias_, 1.0; _Condylura_, 0.8; _Ondatra_, 0.8. - -Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale (1937:233, 234) quote W. Fry concerning a -weasel which reared six young at Giant Forest, California, in 1919, as -follows: "This parent weasel, after the birth of her young, remained at -the premises for a period of thirty-seven days; during which time, from -actual count, the following numbers of mammal species fell victim to -her: mice [genera not specified] 78; gophers 27; moles 2; chipmunks 34; -wood rats 3; ground squirrels 4. This is a total of 148 animals for -the . . . thirty-seven days . . . not a bird was captured during the -period." - -Rats (_Rattus_).--Criddle and Criddle (1925:146), on the farm at -Treesbank, Manitoba, record a long-tailed weasel, on July 2, 1918, -running away from the farm buildings carrying a rat; July 11, 1919, -"Two _longicaudas_ . . . have been seen running off with rats on -several occasions."; July 11, 1920, "There are two large weasels about -the buildings[;]. . . . Each has been noted with rats and this -afternoon one of them was seen running into the woods carrying a rat, -followed by two excited swallows." The authors (_op. cit._:147) add "In -the fall of 1924, Mr. A. Cooper, a prominent poultryman of Treesbank, -observed a large weasel carrying a freshly killed rat which it stored -below ground and then returned towards the poultry-house, causing no -little apprehension to the owner. Within a short time, however, the -weasel reappeared with another rat which it hid as before. In this way -several rodents were accounted for during the afternoon, and Mr. Cooper -assures us that the weasel 'kept up the good work for some days'." -Hamilton (1933:330) in New York State in May, 1927, saw a male weasel -in possession of a rat. - -Big jumping mouse (_Zapus major_).--In the Warner Mountains of -California, on Parker Creek, H. C. Bryant frightened a weasel that -dropped a freshly killed jumping mouse (Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale, -1937:232). - -Snowshoe rabbit (_Lepus americanus_).--Adolph Murie (1935:321-322) -writes that: "Four miles north of Funkley, Minnesota, early on the -morning of November 13, 1921, . . . watched from the top of a 30-foot -spruce a weasel. .. hunting a varying hare. . . . The ground was -covered with six inches of fresh snow . . . both animals . . . [had] -their [white] winter pelage. - -"My attention was first attracted to the hare as it came hopping -steadily but unhurriedly from the north. Directly in front of me, about -75 feet from the tree I had climbed, the hare crisscrossed back and -forth at various angles over an open area about 20 feet in diameter. -After producing a maze of tracks, the hare 'froze' near one edge of the -pattern. In a few minutes the weasel appeared, all his faculties -focused on the warm trail. Expertly he followed its convolutions, -passing at times within a few feet of the watching hare. Not until the -weasel had followed every turn of the trail to within three feet of its -termination did the hare skip off. It came out to the road almost -directly below me, turned at right angles northward and was soon out of -sight. At the road the weasel lost the trail, . . . and then ran -parallel with it, once more in hot pursuit. - -"Ten minutes later the hare emerged from the north as before, came on -directly to the tracked-up area, and continuing its stratagem, -leisurely hopped about to leave its zigzag trail. Then it sat down -quietly to wait. . . . The weasel['s] . . . nose led him through the -network with little trouble. He was almost upon the hare before it -jumped off and followed the same path [as] . . . before. . . . - -"The hare had to show his big heels [a third time] . . . as the weasel -approached him. This time the weasel failed to follow. . . . After -examining a few brush heaps he vanished into the woods behind me." - -Seton (1929 (4):723, 724) writes that in December of 1886 in the -sandhills northeast of Carberry, Manitoba, he saw a weasel chasing a -snowshoe rabbit which took refuge near his feet under the sleigh and so -escaped the weasel. Thurber (1940:356) mentions a month-old varying -hare that was rescued from a weasel and of approximately the same size -as the weasel. - -Criddle and Criddle (1925:146) for the vicinity of Treesbank, Manitoba, -record "August 21, 1921.--Heard cries of a small rabbit at dusk -to-night, which investigation showed was being attacked by a large -weasel. The rabbit was later carried to the weasel's store chamber -below ground." They record further (_op. cit._, 146, 147): "November 8, -1924.--Shot a bush rabbit and left it lying. Two hours later [it] . . . -was found to have been dragged beneath a brush pile and partly eaten. -Innumerable weasel tracks left no doubt as to the identity of the -thief." In describing a weasel that wintered in a nest in a threshing -machine, the same authors (_op. cit._:143) say that no bird remains -were found in the pile of approximately three pounds of droppings -adjacent to the nest. In a store chamber some 140 yards away from the -nest, two bush rabbits (_Lepus americanus_) had been dragged to the -entrance and numerous smaller rodents were taken below ground. The -rabbits were buried beneath the snow and eaten as necessity arose. -Narrow selectivity on the part of the weasel in choosing food is almost -always shown in instances where the food of weasels has been studied. -For example, the weasel which lived in the threshing machine ate -rodents and rabbits and not poultry although the weasel had ready -access to the poultry building. The weasel which lived in the bag of -feathers in the basement of Stuart Criddle's house ignored grouse, -approximately 20 in number, in favor of other non-avian food. - -Cottontail (_Sylvilagus_).--Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson (1941) -mention that one of 4 weasels which they studied on a 160 acre area at -Ames, Iowa, in 1939, had a cache of food in a pocket gopher burrow 10 -rods distant from the weasel's den. The cache contained only two -cottontails, one partly eaten. Leopold (1937) records seeing a -_Mustela_ (probably a long-tailed weasel but possibly an ermine) kill a -third-grown cottontail by biting it at the base of the skull. Leopold -describes the blood sucking or licking, suggesting that he shared the -popular misconception that weasels suck blood. The supposition that -weasels suck blood has been refuted by many observers, for example by -Svihla (1931). My own observation of captives makes me think that -weasels do not suck blood. Seton (1929 (2):626) quotes B. H. Warren as -seeing a weasel dragging a freshly killed, still warm, rabbit that -contained nine embryos almost ready for birth. A young rabbit was seen -being carried by a weasel in Hidalgo County, Texas, in March, 1935 -(Mulaik, 1938:104). An instance of a cottontail being chased in June in -South Carolina is recorded by Hamilton (1933:330). Addy (1939:372, -373), in Virginia, on August 14, 1939, shot a large weasel which was -pursuing a _Sylvilagus_ that was only a foot and a half ahead of the -weasel. The rabbit stopped when a shot was fired and permitted itself -to be stroked and petted. Tracking showed that the weasel had chased -the rabbit for a half mile. On November 20, 1942, at Lake James, -Indiana, a weasel was seen by Grosjean (1942:443) attacking a "young -rabbit" in the throat of which the weasel had made five large holes -from which there was no obvious bleeding. Seton (1929 (4):798) recounts -that in 1910 at Base Lake, Michigan, F. C. Hicks saw a cottontail with -a weasel hanging to its legs rush to the cottage. When only four feet -from Hicks the weasel loosed its hold and the cottontail escaped under -the cottage. Burroughs (1939:253) on May 14, 1939, in Saginaw County, -Michigan, records that a young cottontail weighing between 200 and 250 -grams was carried from the nest and killed. Burroughs was attracted -first by the "hissing scream" of the weasel, strode toward the sound, -flushed an adult cottontail, and discovered the empty nest from which -the weasel had taken the young cottontail. - -Brush rabbit (_Sylvilagus bachmani_).--Vestal (1937:364) in Contra -Costa County, California, found a brush rabbit that appeared to have -been killed by a weasel. - -Reptiles.--Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale (1937:234) recount that in -July, 1889, in Wilson Canyon, near Pasadena, California, a weasel -killed a red racer by severing the backbone of the snake. In April, -1935, in Hidalgo County, Texas, a half grown bull snake (_Pituophis -sayi sayi_) was regurgitated by a young weasel. Russell (1930:504, 505) -has recorded finding in California a male weasel and a king snake -(Lampropeltis getulus boylii) three feet five inches long in mortal -combat. The weasel killed the snake but the weasel, incapacitated by -the conflict, was easily picked up by hand and was also saved as a -specimen. - -Wild birds.--In the spring of 1940, in Washtenaw County, Michigan, one -bobwhite, of 10 bobwhite living on a 640 acre area, was killed by one -of four weasels that lived on the area. No other quail was killed -there. The one unfortunate bird was killed in the mouth of an abandoned -den where the quail roosted (Quick, 1944:76). A male weasel, subspecies -_M. f. effera_, was seen by Booth (1946:439) attempting to enter the -nesting hole of a pair of flickers, _Colaptes_. One song sparrow -(_Melospiza melodia_), and one slate-colored junco (_Junco hyemalis_) -were recorded by Quick (1944:76) as killed by weasel in Michigan. - -Chicken (genus _Gallus_).--Quick (1944:78) writes that in one year -(1938-1939) weasels were reported to have killed 1.03 per cent of all -chickens in one township of Washtenaw County, Michigan, and that of the -total damage to all kinds of poultry, 59 per cent was done by weasels. -Weasels entered 19 per cent of the chicken coops on the study area. -Farmers killed 68 per cent of the weasels seen in barn yards. Spring -and summer were the seasons in which most of the weasels were observed -in barn yards. Internal evidence in Quick's (_op. cit._) account leads -me to suspect that some losses of poultry were charged to weasels when -_Rattus_ was actually responsible. - -Criddle and Criddle (1925:146), quote a neighbor in the vicinity of -Treesbank, Manitoba, as recording that on October 29, 1917, "A weasel -last night made its way into our fowl-house, the door being -inadvertently left open. The weasel killed eleven fowl, some of which -were dragged into the yard. All the largest fowls were selected, the -pullets remaining untouched though they were in the majority. Next -night the weasel dug a hole beneath the building and killed a hen and -two cocks, returning for another during the day, making a total of -fourteen in all." Criddle and Criddle (1925:146) remark that the weasel -proved to be a large one, probably an old male. The same authors (_op. -cit._:147) record that at their farm at Treesbank, Manitoba, on January -31, 1925, "A Long-tailed Weasel killed three hens last night, and -rather severely bit a cock about the neck. This, or another weasel, had -been around the farm-yard for sometime (The specimen was a large -male). . . . - -"In the fall of 1924, Mr. A. Cooper, a prominent poultryman of -Treesbank, observed a large weasel carrying a freshly killed rat which -it stored below ground and then returned towards the poultry-house, -causing no little apprehension to the owner. Within a short time, -however, the weasel reappeared with another rat which it hid as before. -In this way several rodents were accounted for during the afternoon, -and Mr. Cooper assures us that the weasel 'kept up the good work for -same days'. - -"Being a farmer of many years' standing, Mr. Cooper has naturally lost -some poultry through the agency of weasels, but while he remarks that -'there are good as well as bad actors among weasels', he has the -practical good sense to recognize the value of an efficient ratter even -though it be a weasel. - -"Our sister, Maida Criddle, writes under date of March 4, 1925: - -"'There is another weasel (_longicauda_) in the fowl-house, a -well-behaved one this time. It came and took a piece of meat out of my -hand quite nicely, which it carried down a hole and then came and -sniffed all over my mitt to see if there was any more. I thought it had -been killed when I visited the farm buildings next day as there was a -strong smell of musk on the cat and in the fowl house, but the weasel -was there as cheeky as ever. It got hold of my skirt twice and tried to -pull me down its hole. I think it wanted the cloth for a bed, as it was -taking straw and other material down the burrow. The poultry were very -frightened at first, but they are getting used to the weasel's presence -now'." - -In commenting on the economic role of the long-tailed weasel in -Manitoba, Criddle and Criddle (1925:145) write as follows: "Supply and -demand are prominent factors in governing our weasels' food habits. The -two smaller species, as we have already pointed out are so dependent -upon mice for a living that they increase or diminish with the -fluctuation of these creatures. The Long-tailed Weasel, however, is not -so easily checked by the temporary disappearance of any particular kind -of game. If mice are scarce it devotes greater attention to gophers or -bush rabbits and if these are not in sufficient numbers to satisfy its -appetite, the animal raids a poultry house as a last resource. In nine -years out of ten, this weasel will find sufficient food about the -fields and woods, but on the tenth it may be obliged to temporarily -turn to domestic animals. It is at such times that the weasel is seen -and its deeds recorded. A thousand mice may have been killed in the -meantime, but the destruction of half a dozen hens is alone used as -evidence of the weasel's economic standing. - -"In the last twenty years we have permitted weasels to frequent the -farm buildings at will and the poultry house has been no exception. In -that time rats and mice suffered severely from the weasels, while the -total number of poultry taken were six. Many times that number, -however, have been killed by rats. - -"When we review our experiences of the past, we are astonished to find -what few poultry have been killed by weasels. Our own losses in -forty-two years have not exceeded fifteen birds and even these were -usually eatable. There have been reports of losses from time to time -from neighbors, but on looking into details we find that there are very -few farmers who have experienced more than three separate occasions of -weasel depredation and the total loss per farmer in the last thirty -years does not, we are sure, exceed ten birds. This is surely a -remarkably small payment to weasels in general for the great good done -by them in killing rodents. - -"We wish to point out, too, that only the exceptional weasel becomes a -poultry killer. In most cases apparently it is a fully-grown male that -does the killing. There are exceptions, of course, but when we see a -large weasel actively engaged in rodent hunting within a few feet of a -brood of newly hatched chickens and not even looking at them, we must -at least pause to ask if this animal is the enemy that we were taught -to believe it to be." - -A suggestion that weasels sometimes obtain the prey killed by hawks is -offered by Criddle and Criddle (1925:147) who write: "Hawks are not -always the aggressors, as is shown by an incident reported by Mr. H. -L. Seamans, of Lethbridge, Alberta. Mr. Seamans noted a large buzzard -suddenly fly straight upwards from a fence post, and then alight upon -another one some distance away. A little while afterward this bird once -more arose in the same manner as before, and presently repeated the -performance again. An investigation then followed and revealed that a -Long-tailed Weasel was following the hawk from post to post. - -"We should hardly expect a weasel to attempt to capture a bird of the -above type. On the other hand, it is possible that these animals might -be able to startle a hawk sufficiently to cause it to drop its prey, -which would thus provide food for the weasel." - -The following frequency index is compiled from the foregoing data on -prey of _Mustela frenata_. - - Moles (family _Talpidae_), 5 - Shrews (family _Soricidae_), 26 - Pigmy weasel (_Mustela rixosa_), 1 - Ground squirrels (genus _Citellus_), 23 - Chipmunks (genus _Tamias_), 38 - Tree squirrel (possibly all _Tamiasciurus_), 8 - Flying squirrel (genus _Glaucomys_), 1 - Pocket gophers (family _Geomyidae_), 34 - Mice (order _Rodentia_), 96 - Harvest mice (genus _Reithrodontomys_), 36 - Grasshopper mouse (genus _Onychomys_), 1 - Deer mice (genus _Peromyscus_), 235 - Cotton rat (genus _Sigmodon_), 2 - Wood rats (genus _Neotoma_), 14 - Meadow mice (genus _Microtus_), 248 - Muskrat (genus _Ondatra_), 1 - Old World rats (genus _Rattus_), 19 - House mouse (genus _Mus_), 1 - Jumping mouse (genus _Zapus_), 5 - Varying hare (_Lepus americanus_), 5 - Rabbits (genus _Sylvilagus_), 48 - small birds, 32 - chickens, 17 - lizard, 1 - snakes, 4 - insects, 3 - -More significant than the above compilation, of course, are the results -of careful studies of the food of the long-tailed weasel in restricted -areas. Examples of such studies are those of Polderboer, Kuhn and -Hendrickson (1941) and Hamilton (1933:333). - -According to Hamilton's (1933:332) observations on captive weasels, -"There seems to be little relative difference in the amount they eat, -regardless of their activities. - -"In general, more food is taken in summer than in winter. Usually about -a third their weight every 24 hours is eaten, but a growing young -weasel will consume much more. A young male _noveboracensis_, weighing -145 grams, consumed an entire chipmunk, fur and bones, weighing 85 -grams, in 24 hours. A day later it ate all of a partly grown rat, 105 -grams, in the same length of time." - -Moore (1945:253) records that a captive male that he obtained at -Gainesville, Florida, consumed, on the average, between 63 and 70 grams -of flesh and blood per day. The weasel itself weighed approximately 320 -grams. - -Sanderson (1949:413), concerning seven young weasels from Manitoba, -that he raised in captivity, writes: "From the fifth to the seventh -week of age, they consumed approximately 22 per cent of their body -weight per day; from the eighth to the tenth week (just before reaching -mature size) they consumed approximately 24 per cent; but after -reaching maturity they consumed only 18 per cent. When given all the -food they would take in one day, they ate as much as 40 per cent of -their body weight." - -Criddle and Criddle (1925:143, 146) say that weasels drinking at a bird -trough "held their mouths very close to the water and as far as we -could see, lapped the liquid up with rapid movements of the tongue. As -a rule, after drinking, they would merely spring to the ground and -vanish amid a bunch of scolding birds, but occasionally we have seen an -animal slowly drag itself through the water and follow this performance -by some rapid gambols, or a quick run, a method of drying which most of -us have practiced in our youth." According to Hamilton's (1933:332) -observations on captives, "Weasels are great drinkers, and while they -take but little at a time, about 25 c.c. is drunk by a large animal -during a day. . . ." - - -Reproduction - -Philip L. Wright's several papers (1942A, 1942B, 1947, 1948A, and -1948B) reporting on his detailed studies of _Mustela frenata_ -(subspecies _oribasus_ and _longicauda_) in captivity have yielded a -large share of the precise information that we have concerning breeding -and reproduction in this species. He has found that a single litter, of -up to 9 young is born in the spring, usually in April. At three months -of age the females "are full grown." The young males remain sexually -immature during the first summer but the young females, as well as the -females which are more than a year old, come into heat in the midsummer -and are bred by the adult males. After a long period of quiescence -lasting for several months, the embryos resulting from these matings -become active in early spring and develop to full term in less than 27 -days after they become implanted. The adult males are sexually active -from April into August, when the testes are at maximal size and are -conspicuous in the scrotum. A gradual regression takes place starting -in August and extending into September. By October the testes may be -fully regressed and the molt to white may start in this month. The -white winter weasel, of either sex, is sexually inactive. The testes of -the sexually active male in early spring and late summer are seven to -eight times the size of the fully regressed testes. Females which had -borne and suckled young were first found to be in oestrus 65 to 104 -days after birth of the young. Lactation lasts for approximately 5 -weeks. In 18 litters the length of the gestation period varied from 220 -to 337 days with an average of 279 days. The female in heat has the -vulva much swollen and she will remain in this condition for several -weeks if not bred. Wright (1948A) describes the actual mating as -beginning with a scuffle after which the male grabs the female by the -scruff of the neck with his teeth and holds her until she becomes -subdued when he clasps her lower abdomen with his front feet and arches -his back over her posterior regions. The two animals remain locked in -this position usually for two hours and sometimes for longer than three -hours. If the animals are left together, copulation may take place -again on the same day or upon succeeding days. - -Hamilton (1933:316-321) writes of a freshly born _M. f. noveboracensis_ -that it ". . . was pink and much wrinkled. The wetness . . . did not -entirely obscure a few sparse, rather long, white hairs . . . over its -back and head. It had the pronounced and extraordinarily long neck of -the adult." At one day of age the average weight of six individuals in -the litter was 3.1 grams, which is 3 per cent of the weight of the -adult female and 1-1/2 per cent of the weight of an adult male. At two -weeks of age "The silky white hair . . . obscures the general flesh -color of the skin, evident a week earlier. The hair on the back of the -head and neck, also over the shoulders, is slightly longer than that of -the back . . ." but there is no crest or mane or pompadour at this or -any other age such as characterizes the juvenal ermine. When 21 days -old one young male "hurried from the nest chamber and commenced to eat -some meat." At three and a half weeks "They are all eating small pieces -of meat. . . . The canine teeth have made their appearance in both the -upper and lower jaw, but just a hint of the incisors show. Some of the -cheek teeth are through, as the meat appears to be thoroughly -masticated by the little ones." On the 36th and 37th days the eyes -opened. Sanderson (1949:415) found that a litter of seven young of -_Mustela frenata longicauda_, from Manitoba, raised in captivity, -"reached the peak of their growth" at approximately ten weeks of age. - -Several nests have been found. In Manitoba, Sanderson (1949:412) -excavated a burrow at the mouth of which he had trapped the adult -female and in which he found eight young approximately five weeks old. -The "burrow was about three inches in diameter, with two chambers at a -depth of twelve inches. One of these was empty, the other contained the -young. The two surface-openings were but two feet apart and the entire -burrow was no more than three feet long. . . . The meager nest -material consisted entirely of finely chopped grass. There was no mouse -hair present, no accumulation of fecal material, and no storehouse -containing food." - -Charles O. Handley has written me that on January 25, 1929, on the -Sinkola Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia, he investigated the living -quarters of a family of five weasels, four of which had been shot five -days before by a hunter. According to the hunter each of the four which -had been killed was approximately two-thirds the size of one which -escaped into a hole in the ground. Handley found that the weasels had -been using as headquarters a burrow in the trunk of an old uprooted oak -as well as a nearby gopher burrow. The burrow in the oak was -approximately ten feet long and had been excavated in the rotten wood. -In a distance of fifty feet along the gopher tunnel there were several -used openings with pathways leading away from each. On February 6, -Handley, with the help of a friend, trapped a large male weasel near -this place. - -Criddle and Criddle (1925:143) describe a female which, one winter, -slept in a bag of feathers in a basement of a house occupied by one of -the authors; another weasel in winter made its headquarters in a -threshing machine. The nest of the latter "was somewhat roughly -constructed and consisted of a convenient bunch of straw and chaff -under the cylinder." - -Harper (1927:303) in the Okefinokee Swamp of Georgia dislodged a weasel -from the house of a wood rat and was told of a den found in the swamp -"in the trunk of a hollow cypress tree" from which a mother weasel and -three young "about the size of mice" were obtained. "The bed contained, -I suppose, a bushel or more of rabbit hair, rat hair, and squirrel -hair. It looked like it must have been used as a den for several years, -although there was no stink that I could detect except the musk from -the old Weasel." Another female and three young approximately half -grown were found in a hollow pine log. - -Between January 6 and April 12, 1940, on 640 acres of land, in -Washtenaw County, Michigan, four weasels were studied and each weasel -used only one den in this period (Quick, 1944:78). Criddle (1930:279) -remarks that _M. f. longicauda_ at Aweme, Manitoba, often makes its -temporary headquarters in the burrows of pocket gophers (_Thomomys_). A -female and three young weasels were found by Shaw (1921:167) using a -nest of a mountain beaver in the burrow of that animal. Green (1936), -in May, in Gratiot County, Michigan, saw a weasel enter a hole under a -decayed log and investigated finding four young weasels in a nest -mostly of _Microtus_ fur. - -In the early part (winter and spring) of 1939, at Ames, Iowa, -Polderboer, Kuhn and Hendrickson (1941) studied four weasels living in -four separate dens on 160 acres typical of Iowa farmland and excavated -three of the dens. One den was in a weed patch in an old mole run. The -nest chamber, approximately nine inches in diameter and six inches -below the surface of the ground "was filled with grasses packed in a -layer-like formation. In the center of this mass was a nest hollow -lined with patches of mouse and shrew fur. Beneath this layer of fur -and at the sides of the nest were skins, various bones, and skulls of -partially eaten mice and shrews . . . scats [were in the nest]. . . . -At intervals, layers of clean grass had been laid over the filth of the -former bed, thus giving the nest a stratified appearance." A second -den, of a large male, was in a field of sweet clover two feet high in -the former burrow of a Franklin's ground squirrel. The nest cell, seven -inches in diameter and nine inches below the surface of the ground, -"was lined with grasses mixed with much rabbit and mouse fur. Some -scats, and bones and fur of mice and shrews were matted together in -layers at the bottom of the nest." When this den was abandoned the male -weasel occupied, for a month, another burrow, 20 rods distant, of a -Franklin ground squirrel, in the field of sweet clover. The nest cell -measured 11 by nine inches and was 11 inches below the surface of the -ground. "Two nest layers were present. The first, composed chiefly of -coarse straw and grass, had apparently been occupied at some time by a -spotted skunk. . . . On top of the skunk nest was the weasel nest -composed of fine grasses, mouse fur, and skeletal remains of mice." - - -Relation of the Sexes to each other and to the young - -Quick (1944:75) writes that on March 28, in Michigan, he found the -tracks of a male and those of a smaller animal, supposedly a female, -meeting. The two "then led along the fence for about 18 chains and both -entered the den of the male. . . . Only the tracks of the smaller -weasel left the den on the same date. Observation on April 12 showed -that the large male still occupied the den." I am at a loss to explain -this behavior since breeding would not be expected to occur in late -March and since I suppose that the male and female do not live -together except in the breeding season. Consequently, I wonder if the -sign was wrongly read. - -[Illustration: FIG. 29. Map showing the geographic ranges of the -subspecies of _Mustela frenata_ and _Mustela africana_. - - 1. _M. f. noveboracensis_ - 2. _M. f. occisor_ - 3. _M. f. primulina_ - 4. _M. f. arthuri_ - 5. _M. f. olivacea_ - 6. _M. f. peninsulae_ - 7. _M. f. spadix_ - 8. _M. f. longicauda_ - 9. _M. f. oribasus_ - 10. _M. f. alleni_ - 11. _M. f. arizonensis_ - 12. _M. f. nevadensis_ - 13. _M. f. effera_ - 14. _M. f. washingtoni_ - 15. _M. f. saturata_ - 16. _M. f. altifrontalis_ - 17. _M. f. oregonensis_ - 18. _M. f. munda_ - 19. _M. f. xanthogenys_ - 20. _M. f. nigriauris_ - 21. _M. f. latirostra_ - 22. _M. f. pulchra_ - 23. _M. f. inyoensis_ - 24. _M. f. neomexicana_ - 25. _M. f. texensis_ - 26. _M. f. frenata_ - 27. _M. f. leucoparia_ - 28. _M. f. perotae_ - 29. _M. f. macrophonius_ - 30. _M. f. goldmani_ - 31. _M. f. tropicalis_ - 32. _M. f. perda_ - 33. _M. f. nicaraguae_ - 34. _M. f. costaricensis_ - 35. _M. f. panamensis_ - 36. _M. f. meridana_ - 37. _M. f. affinis_ - 38. _M. f. aureoventris_ - 39. _M. f. helleri_ - 40. _M. f. macrura_ - 41. _M. f. agilis_ - 42. _M. f. boliviensis_ - 43. _M. a. africana_ - 44. _M. a. stolzmanni_ - -Hamilton (1933:328), however, writes that _M. f. noveboracensis_ is to -"be found in pairs when caring for the young. During mid-May, 1927, I -several times saw a male of this species carrying food to a den of -young ones." Green (1936), in May in Gratiot County, Michigan, remarks -that while he was uncovering and examining a nest of four young -weasels, two adults ran about excitedly and one removed a young weasel. -In instances where several nearly full-grown young have been obtained -from one den it has been my experience (Hall, 1946:191) that the only -adult trapped there was the female; no adult male was found or in the -one instance when found he was living alone in a den 200 yards away -from the den of the female and her young. Data are too few to warrant a -definite conclusion about the extent to which the male aids in rearing -the young, but I have wondered if he might not do so when the young -were less than half grown and then live alone when they were more than -half grown. - - -=Mustela frenata noveboracensis= (Emmons) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Putorius Noveboracensis_ Emmons, Quadrupeds of Massachusetts, p. - 45, 1840. - - _Mustela fusca_ DeKay, Zool. of New York, Pt. 1, Mammalia, p. 34, - 1842. - - _Putorius fuscus_ Audubon and Bachman, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. - Philadelphia, 8 (Pt. 2):288, 1842; Audubon and Bachman, Vivip. - quadrupeds of N. Amer., 3:234, pl. 148, 1853 (pl. 1848). - - _Putorius noveboracensis_, DeKay, Zool. of New York, Pt. 1, - Mammalia, p. 34, 1842; Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 166, 1858; - Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:16, pl. 4, figs. 1, 1a, 2, 2a, pl. 5, - figs. 3, 3a, text figs. 4-6, 30, June 30, 1896; Bangs, Proc. - Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:13, pl. 1, figs. 2, 2a, pl. 2, figs. 2, - 2a, and pl. 3, figs. 3, 3a, February 25, 1896; Cory, Mamm. - Illinois and Wisconsin, p. 366, plates, 1912. - - _Putorius erminea_, Audubon and Bachman, Vivip. quadrupeds of N. - Amer., 2:56, pl. 59, 1851. - - _Putorius agilis_ Audubon and Bachman, Vivip. quadrupeds of N. - Amer., 3:184, pl. 140, 1853. - - _Putorius richardsonii_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 164, 1858 - (part). - - _Putorius_ (_Gale_) _erminea_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 109, - 1877 (part). - - _Putorius noveboracensis notius_ Bangs, Proc. New England Zool. - Club, 1:53, June 9, 1899. Type from Weaverville, Buncombe County, - North Carolina. - - _Mustela noveboracensis noveboracensis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. - Bull., 79:97, December 12, 1912; Soper, Journ. Mamm., 4:251, - November 1, 1923. - - _Mustela cicognanii_, Henninger, Journ. Mamm., 2:239, November 29, - 1921; Seton, Lives of game animals, 2:584, 1929 (part, Ohio); - Hamilton, Amer. Midland Nat., 14:290, July, 1933 (part, Ohio); - Lyon, Amer. Midland Nat., 17:109, January, 1936 (part, Ohio). - - _Mustela noveboracensis_, Jackson, Journ. Mamm., 3:15, February 8, - 1922. - - _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:104, November 20, 1936; Hall, Amer. Midland Nat., - 18:304, March, 1937. - - _Type._--Williamstown, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Type - specimen not known to be in existence. - - _Range._--Altitudinally, sea level to highest parts of mountains - of eastern United States; Canadian Life-zone of Ontario and Quebec - southward through eastern United States in Canadian, Transition - and Upper Austral life-zones to and including upper edge of Lower - Austral Life-zone in the Carolinas and northern parts of Georgia, - Alabama, and Mississippi; westward from the Atlantic Coast to St. - Croix and Mississippi rivers. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs: From _M. f. - olivacea_, in males, by width of tympanic bulla which is less than - rather than more than 8.5 mm., and in adult females by total - length which is less than rather than more than 345 mm. and by - mastoid breadth which is less than rather than more than distance - between articular faces of exoccipital condyle and glenoid fossa; - from _M. f. occisor_ by a number of average differences including - smaller size, relatively shorter tail and relatively narrower - skull (see measurements); from _M. f. spadix_ by least width of - color of underparts amounting to less than 41 per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts, absence of color of underparts on - ankles and feet, adults with hind foot less than 50 in males and - 40 in females, orbitonasal length less than 15.5 in males and 13.5 - in females, length of tooth-rows less than 18.0 in males and 15.7 - in females, mastoid breadth less than 25.5 in males and 22.0 in - females; from _M. f. primulina_ in males by interorbital breadth - averaging more than 24 per cent of basilar length, orbitonasal - length averaging more than 34 per cent of basilar length or 64 per - cent of mastoid breadth, tympanic bullae less inflated - anteromedially, than posteromedially, and in females by - orbitonasal length amounting to more than two-thirds of mastoid - breadth, by zygomatic breadth averaging less than 21, and by - anterolateral margin of tympanic bullae not projecting below - squamosal; from _M. f. arthuri_ in males, by zygomatic breadth - more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla and by convex dorsal outline of skull in - longitudinal axis. - -_Description.--Size._--Male and Female: - - ======================================================================= - | Number | | |Per cent| | - LOCALITY | of | Total | Length | of | Length of | - | specimens | length | of tail | body- | hind foot | - | averaged | | | length | | - ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - | 8 ad. [M] | 415 | 146 | 54% | 46.0 | - Massa- | | (390-432) | (127-159) | | (41.0-48.0) | - chusetts +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - | 4 ad. [F] | 311 | 104 | 50% | 33.9 | - | | (298-321) | (95-114) | | (31.5-37.0) | - ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - | 10 ad. [M] | 411 | 141 | 52% | 47.1 | - Liberty | | (379-438) | (124-155) | | (43.0-51.5) | - Hill, +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - Conn. | 6 ad. and | 318 | 105 | 49% | 33.0 | - | sad. [F] | (303-338) | (80-123) | | (31.7-36.0) | - ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - | 10 ad. [M] | 407 | 130 | 47% | 46.0 | - Beaver | | (372-431) | (113-143) | | (42.0-50.0) | - Dam, +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - Wisc. | 4 ad. [F] | 326 | 99 | 43% | 35.6 | - | | (303-338) | (86-108) | | (34.6-38.0) | - ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - | 10 ad. [M] | 371 | 130 | 54% | 45.0 | - Washtenaw | | (350-405) | (115-140) | | (40.0-50.0) | - Co., +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - Mich. | 10 ad. [F] | 306 | 97 | 46% | 34.0 | - | | (290-335) | (90-120) | | (30.0-40.0) | - ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ - - The length of the hind foot averages more than the basal length in - males whereas the reverse is true in females. The tail, relative - to the length of the body, is longer in males than in females. The - average differences in external measurements of the two sexes in - Massachusetts, are: total length, 104; length of tail, 42; length - of hind foot, 12.1. In Michigan, where the males are smaller, - corresponding differences are only, 65, 33, and 11. Weight of 19 - adult males from New York (Hamilton, 1933:294), 225 (196-267) - grams and in 13 adult females, 102 (72-126) grams. Weights of 2 - adults from Michigan are: [M] 258; [F] 101 grams. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown, or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in - figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, Vandyke Brown or darker than - tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. - Sometimes approaching tone 2 of Warm Sepia of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, pl. 305. Underparts, in summer, ranging from white - through Napthalene Yellow (Peterboro, N. Y.), Pale Orange Yellow - (eastern Mass.), near Primuline Yellow (unusual specimen from - Leelanau Co., Mich.) to near (_c_) Deep Chrome (no. 19053, U. S. - Nat. Mus., Roan Mts., N. C). In winter, all white except tip of - tail, or upper parts near (12" 1) Rood's Brown and tone 2 of Raw - Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301, with underparts white or - sometimes tinged with yellowish. Tip of tail at all times black. - Upper parts of uniform color except for occasional slight - darkening of nose. Color of underparts extends distally on - posterior sides of forelegs to foot and sometimes over upper sides - of toes and on medial sides of hind limbs only to knees. Least - width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of twenty-two - males, mostly in full winter pelage, from Liberty Hill, - Connecticut, 21 (11-40) per cent of greatest width of color of - underparts. In eleven females from the same place, corresponding - percentages are 20 (14-29). Black tip of tail in same series of - males, most of which are in full winter pelage, 70 (60-75) mm. - long; thus longer than hind foot and averaging 50 per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on ten adults from Massachusetts): - See measurements and plates 16-18; weight, 3.6 (3.3-4.4) grams; - basilar length, 44.6 (43.3-46.0); zygomatic breadth less than - distance between condylar foramen and Ml or than between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid - breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more or - less than length of upper premolars and greater than width of - basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum - posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less - (usually more) than distance between foramen opticum and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of - tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 3 to 6 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla - more or less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen - ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar - and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum; - anterior margin of masseteric fossa behind or directly below - posterior fourth of m1. - - Female (based on five adults from Mass.): See measurements and - plates 31-33; weight, 1.7 (1.2-2.1) grams; basilar length, 36.5 - (35.2-38.1); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar - foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more or - less than length of upper premolars and more than width of - basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum - posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more or less - (usually less) than greatest length of P4; tympanic bulla as far - posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; - height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior - margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length - of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 53 per cent lighter than that of - the average male. - -Comparisons of the skull with those of _M. f. olivacea_, _M. f. -spadix_, _M. f. primulina_, and _M. f. arthuri_, are made in the -accounts of those subspecies. As compared with that of _M. f. occisor_ -the skull of adult male _noveboracensis_, is of smaller average size -with relatively (to basilar length of Hensel) lesser mastoid and -zygomatic breadths. In addition to the zygomatic arches of -_noveboracensis_ being less widely bowed outward they seem to be more -rounded posteriorly. Comparisons of subadult females indicate that -these differences exist in the females as well as in the adult males. - -_Remarks._--The earliest of the post-Linnaean references to this weasel -mostly were under the specific name _erminea_ in the belief that the -American animal was the same as the larger of the two common species of -weasel in the Old World. The name _noveboracensis_, now in use for this -subspecies, was applied in 1840 and since that time the males usually -have borne that name; the females, because they are smaller, were more -frequently confused with some other species. Audubon and Bachman in -1853 even proposed the name _agilis_ for the female in the mistaken -belief that it was a species distinct from the male. After 1896, when -Bangs correctly classified the weasels of the eastern United States, -the males have been correctly identified and the females, except by a -few authors, likewise have been correctly named. Because many early -American naturalists did their first collecting of mammals in the -geographic range of _noveboracensis_, the person who examines labels of -specimens of this subspecies can find data written in the hand of -Spencer Fullerton Baird, Theodore Roosevelt, and other naturalists -famous for their work as scientists or accomplishments otherwise. The -material is more nearly adequate than is that of many other subspecies -and the number of specimens is exceeded--and only slightly--by that of -the subspecies _nevadensis_, which like _noveboracensis_ has a -relatively large geographic range. - -Intergradation with _Mustela frenata spadix_ is indicated by subadult -males from western Wisconsin, namely, one from Gordon, three from -Colfax and one from Meridean. Linear measurements of the teeth of these -specimens are exactly intermediate between those of _spadix_ from Elk -River, Minnesota, to the west, and _noveboracensis_ from, say, Beaver -Dam, Wisconsin, to the east. The specimens from western Wisconsin show -approach to spadix also in that the length of the tooth-rows and -breadth of the rostrum are slightly greater than in _noveboracensis_ -from farther east, say, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. - -Indeed, animals from as far east as Beaver Dam itself might be thought -of as showing some approach to _spadix_. Although, along the eastern -seaboard, the upper lips, with rare exceptions, are the same color as -the underparts, farther west, in Michigan and Wisconsin, the lips more -often than not are white. Animals from Beaver Dam have slightly shorter -black tips on the tails, broader extent of the light color of the -underparts and females average slightly larger than typical -_noveboracensis_, say, those from Massachusetts. Each of these -differences reflects characters found better developed in the -_spadix-longicauda_ stock to the west. - -Toward the southern part of its range where _noveboracensis_ meets _M. -f. olivacea_ there is a marked increase in yellowness of the -underparts. This coloration of the underparts, since it is not so well -marked in the northern part of the range of _noveboracensis_, might be -regarded as showing intergradation with _olivacea_ and _primulina_, -each of which has far more intensely colored underparts than does -_noveboracensis_. Excepting this increase of yellow on the underparts, -however, there are few if any characters of _noveboracensis_ which -undergo marked change as approach to the range of _olivacea_ is made. -Indeed, the characters of _noveboracensis_ remain constant to within a -relatively short distance of the geographic range of _olivacea_. - -Notwithstanding the state of affairs described above, intergradation -seems to take place. Three specimens referred to _noveboracensis_ but -which at the same time are regarded as intergrades with _olivacea_ are -as follows: No. 28.300, Charleston Museum, from five miles east of -York, South Carolina, is an adult female with a badly crushed skull. In -external measurements the specimen agrees with _noveboracensis_. The -underparts, as regards color and width, are intermediate. The general -proportions of the skull and tympanic bullae agree with those of -_noveboracensis_ but the skull is larger than in any female of true -_noveboracensis_ and approaches that of _olivacea_. The same can be -said of a young female, no. 80, Ohio State Museum, from Roswell, -Georgia. - -Another female, no. 171559, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Lookout Mountain, -1500 ft., Fort Payne, Alabama, is barely subadult. The external -measurements are nearer those of _olivacea_. The color and narrowness -of the underparts are typical of _noveboracensis_. The proportions and -especially size of the skull show approach to _olivacea_, though they -are nearer to _noveboracensis_ when all features are taken into -account. In the northern part of its range individuals of -_noveboracensis_ attain larger size than farther south. This tendency -reaches its extreme, in males at least, in _M. f. occisor_ of Maine. -Specimens of _noveboracensis_ from the Adirondacks of New York average -larger (see cranial measurements on page 418) than those from farther -south, and thus approach _occisor_ in size as well as in geographic -position. Also, occasional individuals which strongly show characters -of _occisor_ are found even farther south than the Adirondacks of New -York. This is true of no. 96518, U. S. Nat. Mus., [M] ad., from -Lunenburg; Massachusetts. The animal has a large skull of relatively -great width much as in _occisor_, although its external measurements, -relative length of tail and long, terminal, black brush place it with -_noveboracensis_ rather than with _occisor_. Of a pair of specimens -from Ossipee, New Hampshire, the male, no. 77108, U. S. Nat. Mus., has -a long (175 mm.) tail, and short (60 mm.) black pencil as in _occisor_, -although otherwise it is referable to _noveboracensis_. Still another -specimen, a subadult male, no. 4193, Mus. Comp. Zoöl., from Upton, -Maine, has a longer (51 mm.) hind foot than _noveboracensis_ although -it otherwise agrees with that subspecies. As remarked by Bangs -(1899:55), other than fully adult specimens from the range of _occisor_ -are "troublesome," and would not be selected as distinct from -_noveboracensis_ if placed in a series of that subspecies, say, from -New York State. In view of the facts that several specimens from -intermediate localities combine the characters of _noveboracensis_ and -_occisor_, that _noveboracensis_ in the northern part of its range -averages larger than it does farther south and thus approaches -_occisor_ in size, and that occasional large specimens resembling -_occisor_ in several, but not all, features sometimes crop up in the -northern part of the range of _noveboracensis_, it appears that -_noveboracensis_ and _occisor_ intergrade. Therefore they are treated -as two subspecies of the single species, _Mustela frenata_. - -Intergradation with _M. f. primulina_ has been commented on in the -discussion of that subspecies. Female, no. 159980, U. S. Nat. Mus., -from Golconda, Illinois, has many characters of _primulina_ but two -young males from there agree better with _noveboracensis_. - -Examination of 283 adult and subadult skulls for malformation of the -frontal sinuses revealed only ten that were not obviously malformed. -Two were from New York, one from Massachusetts, one from Pennsylvania, -and six from the 52 specimens from Michigan and Wisconsin. In addition, -skulls of many young and even juveniles were malformed. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 555, arranged alphabetically - by states and provinces and, unless otherwise noted, from north to - south by counties in each state. Except as otherwise noted - specimens are in the United States National Museum. - - =Alabama.= _DeKalb County_: Fort Payne, 1. - - =Connecticut.= _Litchfield County_: Riverton, 1[5]; Gaylordsville, - 1. _Hartford County_: East Hartford, 4 (3[5]); Glastonbury, 2[5]; - South Glastonbury, 4[5]. _Windham County_: Plainfield, 2 (1[14]). - _Fairfield County_: Greenwich, 2[2]. _New London County_: Liberty - Hill, 35 (33[75], 2[7]). - - =District of Columbia.= Washington, 3; near Washington, 1; Eastern - Branch, 1; Congress Heights, 1; Benning, 1; no definite locality, - 1. - - =Georgia.= _Towns County_: Young Harris, 1. _Cherokee County_: - Canton, 1. _Cobb County_: Roswell, 1[81]. - - =Indiana.= _St. Joseph County_: Notre Dame, 2[99]. _Porter - County_: Hebron, 1. _Miami County_: Denver, 5 (4[75], 1[4]). - _Wells County_: Bluffton, 1. _Howard County_: Russiaville, 1. _Jay - County_: Salamonia, 1[2]. _Boone County_, 1[2]. _Knox County_: - Bicknell, 3. - - =Illinois.= _Lake County_: Camp Logan, 3[60]; Fort Sheridan, - 1[60]. _Cook County_: W Northfield, 2; Flossmoor, 1[60]; no - locality more definite than county, 1. _Du Page County_: - Bloomingdale Spg., 1[60]. _Carroll County_: Savanna, 1[87]. - _McLean County_: Normal, 1[7]. _Champaign County_: Harwood - Township, 1[7]. _Pike County_?: Milton Spring, 1[60]. _Pope - County_: Golconda, 3. - - =Kentucky.= _Woodford County_: Midway, 1. _Hancock County_: - Hawesville, 1. - - =Maine.= _Oxford County_: Upton, 1[75]; Bethel, 1[74]. - - =Maryland.= _Howard County_: Long Corner, 1; Hanover, 1. - _Montgomery County_: Gaithersburg, 1; Garret Park, 1; Chevy Chase, - 1; Bethesda, 1. _Prince Georges County_: Laurel, 18; Plummer - Island, 3; Oxon Hill, 1. _Talbot County_: Easton, 1. _Dorchester - County_: Cambridge, 5[40]. - - =Massachusetts.= _Middlesex County_: Wilmington, 6; Burlington, 6; - Lexington, 1[75]; Wayland, 2[75]. _Berkshire County_: New - Marlboro, 1[5]. _Worcester County_: Lunenburg, 2; Lancaster, - 1[75]; Princeton, 2[75]. _Norfolk County_: So. Weymouth, 1[75]. - _Plymouth County_: Wareham, 5[75]. - - =Michigan.= _Marquette County_: Michigamme, 1. _Charlevoix - County_: Thumb Lake, 1[76]; 1/2 mi. N Thumb Lake, 1[76]. _Leelanau - County_: Leland, 3[76]; Duck Lake, 2 mi. S Leland, 1[76]; Lost - Pond, 8-1/2 mi. S Leland, 1[76]. _Osceola County_: Le Roy, 2[76]. - _Huron County_: Rush Lake, 1[76]. _Saginaw County_: East Saginaw, - 1. _Oakland County_: Royal Oak, 4[76]; South Lyon, 1[76]. - _Livingston County_: Portage Lake, 1[76]. _Washtenaw County_: - Portage Lake, 6[76]; Waterloo, 2[14]; Lima, 1[76]; Ann Arbor, - 11[76]; 3 mi. E Ann Arbor, 1[76]; 2 mi. SE Ann Arbor, 1[76]; 2 mi. - S Ann Arbor, 1[76]; 3 mi. S Ann Arbor, 1[76]; Dixboro, 1[76]; - Pittsfield, 3 (2[76]); Saline, 1[76]; near Saline, 2[76]; 1 mi. S - Saline, 2[76]; York, 2[76]; Manchester, 2[76]. _Lenawee County_: - Morenci, 1[76]. _Cass County_: Marcellus Township, 1[76]. _Berrien - County_: Harbert, 1[76]; Warren Wood Preserve, 1[76]; Warren - Woods, 1[76]. - - =New Hampshire.= _Grafton County_: Franconia, 1[2]. _Carroll - County_: South Chatham, 4 (3[5]); Ossipee, 2; Intervale, 1[5]. - _Merrimack County_: Webster, 2[75]. - - =New Jersey.= _Morris County_: Morristown, 1. _Essex County_: West - Orange, 1[2]. _Mercer County_: Princeton, 1[1]. _Ocean County_: - Point Pleasant, 1[2]. _Camden County_: Haddonfield, 1[1]. - _Cumberland County_: Millville, 2[74]. - - =New York.= _St. Lawrence County_: Ogdensburg, 1[74]. _Clinton - County_: Rouses Point, 1[80]. _County_?: Adirondacks, 12. _Essex - County_: Elizabethtown, 1; Schroon Lake, 1; no locality more - definite than county, 1. _Lewis? County_: Locust Grove, 4; Lyons - Falls, 1. _Warren County_: Lake George, 6; Caldwell, 1. _Hamilton - County_: Beaver Brook, 1/2 mi. above mouth Indian Lake, 1[80]. - _Oswego County_: Scriba, 2[74]; Palermo, 1[74]. _Monroe County_: - Penfield, 3. _Madison County_: Peterboro, 6 (2[75]). _Schoharie - County_: Schoharie, 1[2]. _Rensselaer County_: East Shodack, - 1[80]. _Tompkins County_: Taughannock Falls, 2[58]; Ithaca, 4 - (3[58]); Glenside, Ithaca, 1[58]; 6 mi. Creek, Ithaca, 1[58]. - _Green County_: Lanesville, 1[2]. _Orange County_: Poplopen's - Pond, 1[2]; Highland Falls, 1[2]. _Putnam County_, 1[19]. - _Westchester County_: Sing Sing, 4; Armonk, 1[2]; Hastings, 3 - (2[2], 1[19]). _Nassau County_: Flushing Meadows, 1[2]; Flushing, - 1[58]; near Flushing, 1[2]; Oyster Bay, 2. _Long Island_: Cold - Spring Harbor, 1; Bridgehampton, 1[2]. _County_ in question: - Severance, 3; Lake Grove (Long Island?), 1. - - =North Carolina= (east to west by counties). _Wake County_: - Raleigh, 4 (1[2], 1[75], 2[76]). _Mitchell County_: Magnetic City, - foot of Roan Mountain, 6; Roan Mt., 1; Roan Mt., 6000 ft., 3. - _Buncombe County_?: Valley of Black Mts., 1[2]. _Madison County_, - 2[11]. - - =Ohio.= _Trumbull County_: Warren, 1[93]. _Seneca County_: Tiffin, - 1[81]. _Summit County_: Ira, 2[81]. _Crawford County_: Galion, - 1[81]. _Ashland County_: Loudonville, 1[76]. _Auglaize County_: - New Bremen, 3[81]. _Franklin County_: 3 mi. N Columbus, 1[81]; - Minerva Park, Columbus, 5[81]. _Fairfield County_: Sec. 32, - Pleasant Twp., 1[81]; Lancaster, 1[81]. _Clinton County_: - Reesville, 1; 1/2 mi. S and 1/2 mi. W Wilmington, 2[74]. _Pike - County_: Waverly, 1[81]. - - =Ontario.= _Sudbury District_: Metagama, 2[86]. _Carleton County_: - Ottawa, 2[77]. _Muskoka County_: Lake of Bays, 1; Bracebridge, 1. - _Haliburton County_: Gooderham, 1[60]. _Simcoe County_: Orillia, 4 - (2[2], 2[60].) _Prince Edward County_: Bloomfield, 1[77]. _York - County_: Toronto, 1[2]. _Waterloo County_: Branchton, 3[60]; - Preston, 2[77]; no locality save county, 1[60]. _Welland County_: - Ridgway, 1[14]. _Elgin County_: St. Thomas, 1[77]. _Essex County_: - Kingsville, 1[77]; Point Pelee, 1[77]. - - =Pennsylvania= (east to west by counties). _Crawford County_: - Pymatuning Swamp, 3-1/2 mi. W Linesville, 1[9]; Meadville, 2[9]. - _Beaver County_: Beaver, 1[9]; Raccoon Creek, 1[9]. _Butler - County_: Mars, 1[9]; Leasuresville, 4[9]. _Allegheny County_: - Allegheny, 1. _Warren County_: Bear Lake, 2[9]. _Westmoreland - County_: Kingston, 1[9]; Laughlinstown, 2[9]. _Somerset County_: - Confluence, 1[9]; Tub Mill Run, 2 mi. N Springs, 1[9]. _Jefferson - County_: Siegel, 1[9]. _Clearfield? County_: Penfield, 1[9]. - _Cambria County_: Cresson, 1[9]. _Fulton County_: Well's Tannery, - 1[9]. _Clinton County_: near Round Island, 2[1]. _Cumberland - County_: Carlisle, 1. _Snyder County_: 5 mi. S Selinsgrove, 1. - _Northumberland County_: Pottsgrove, 1. _Union County_: - Mifflinburg, 1. _Sullivan County_: Lopez, 7 (4[1], 3[74]). - _Chester County_: Westtown, 1[1]; Valley Forge, 1[1]; W Bradford - Township, 1[1]; no locality more definite than county, 3. - _Philadelphia County_: Holmsburg, 2[1]. _Bucks County_: 1[1]. - _Pike County_: Milford, 1. - - =Rhode Island.= _Providence County_: Chepachet, 1. _Washington - County_: Lake Warden, 2. - - =Quebec.= _Megantic County_: Black Lake 1[77]. _County_ in - question: Meach Lake, 1[77]. - - =South Carolina.= _York County_: 5 mi. E York, 1[11]. _Laurens - County_: Laurens, 1[39]. - - =Tennessee.= _Campbell County_: Highcliff, 1. _Carter? County_: - Roan Mts., 1[2]. _Hamilton County_: Walden Ridge, near Soddy, 3. - - =Vermont.= _Windsor County_: Hartland, 1[2]. - - =Virginia.= _Shenandoah County_: Toms Brook, 1. _Arlington - County_: Arlington, 1; Ballston, 1; Alexandria, 1. _Fairfax - County_: Falls Church, 3; Mt. Vernon, 2; no locality more - definite than county, 1. _Prince William County_: Occoquan, 1. - _Essex County_: Montague, 1. _Prince George County_, 1. _Norfolk - County_: Wallaceton, 1. _Grayson County_: Mt Rogers, 3. _County_ - in question: Dismal Swamp, 1; Massanutten Mt., 1. - - =West Virginia.= _Hardy County_, 1. _Pendleton County_: radius of - 2 mi. Smoke Hole, 1[74]. _Greenbriar County_: White Sulphur, - 2[60]. - - =Wisconsin.= _Douglas County_: Gordon, 1[104]. _Vilas County_: - Mamie Lake, 4. _Dunn County_: Colfax, 4[104]; Meridean, 1[104]. - _Door County_: state game farm, 17[104]; no locality more definite - than county, 1[104]. _Dodge County_: Rolling Prairie, 1[50]; - Beaver Dam, 52[50]. _Dane County_: Wingra Lake, 1[104]. _Waukesha - County_: Pewaukee, 2[104]. _Racine County_: Waterford Township, - 2[104]. _Rock County_: Milton, 1[104]; Bowers Lake, 1[104]. - _Walworth County_: Lane's Mill, 8 mi. N Elkhorn, 7 (1[104], - 6[54]); Delavan, 7. - - -=Mustela frenata occisor= (Bangs) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Putorius occisor_ Bangs, Proc. New England Zool. Club, 1:54, June - 9, 1899. - - _Mustela occisor_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, December - 31, 1912. - - _Mustela frenata occisor_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:104, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 9102, coll. of E. A. and - O. Bangs in Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; Bucksport, Hancock County, Maine; - January 15, 1899; obtained by Alvah G. Door but measured and sexed - by O. Bangs. - - The skin is well made and in good condition. It is in full, white - winter-dress with black-tipped tail. The skull has the posterior - half of the left zygomatic arch broken away; otherwise the skull - is unbroken and complete. Left I3 and right P3 are missing. The - teeth otherwise all are present and entire. - - _Range._--Maine; possibly north locally to south side of St. - Lawrence River in Quebec and possibly occurring in western New - Brunswick. Zonal range Canadian and probably Transition. See - figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - noveboracensis_ by a number of average differences including - larger size, relatively longer tail and relatively wider skull - (see p. 225, and measurements on pp. 418, 419). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Five adults yield average and - extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 443 (430-465); - length of tail, 163 (154-175); length of hind foot, 50 (47-54). - Tail averages 58 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind - foot averages more than basal length. - - Female: Measurements of two subadult female topotypes are as - follows: Total length, 346, 318; length of tail, 116, 110; length - of hind foot, 39, 35.5. - - Tail amounts to 50 per cent and 54 per cent of body-length - respectively. Length of hind foot more or less than (about equal - to) basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - are: Total length, 111; length of tail, 50; length of hind foot, - 12.5. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ except - that black tail-tip in series of 10 males in full winter pelage 60 - (45-80) mm. long; thus averaging 39 per cent of length of tail - vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 3 adults): See measurements and - plates 16-18. As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ - except that: Weight, 4.2 (4.1-4.3) grams; basilar length, 45.7 - (44.9-46.9); zygomatic breadth more or less than (about equal to) - distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla; least width of palate rarely less than length of - P4; anterior margin of masseteric fossa behind or directly below - posterior half of m2. - - Female (based on 2 subadults): See measurements and plates 31-33. - As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ except that: - Weight, 2.0 (1.9-2.1) grams; basilar length, 37.3, 38.2. - - Comparison of the skull with that of _M. f. noveboracensis_ is - made in the account of that subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Excepting a specimen in the Academy of Natural Sciences of -Philadelphia, obtained in 1893, and two in the Boston Society of -Natural History, obtained in 1925, I have seen no material of this -subspecies in addition to that examined by Bangs at the time he -prepared the original description in 1899. - -Anderson (1945:56, 57) records a specimen, Canadian National Museum -Catalogue Number 18426, from Kamouraska County, Quebec, as of this -subspecies and thinks that _occisor_ occurs north of Maine "locally to -south side of lower St. Lawrence River in Quebec; probably also in -western New Brunswick." - -So far as the available material of occisor permits one to judge, it is -distinguished from _noveboracensis_ by a combination of characters no -one of which invariably can be relied upon as diagnostic. Employing -adult males, average differences indicate that _M. f. occisor_ is -larger in each of the external and cranial measurements; tail -relatively longer; black tip of tail relatively shorter; mastoid and -zygomatic breadth relatively greater and zygomatic arches more nearly -square posteriorly. - -Considering the large number of specimens of _noveboracensis_ which are -available in comparison with the few of _occisor_ it is not surprising -that some _noveboracensis_ should be found which exceed in size those -of _occisor_. This is the case as regards the basilar length of a very -old male, no. 96518, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Lunenburg, Massachusetts. -Also, the skull is actually broader than any of those of _occisor_. -However, this specimen is much older than any _occisor_ examined. In a -female, no. 4260, Mus. Comp. Zoöl., from Liberty Hill, Connecticut, the -skull is longer (but narrower) than in either of the two available -females of _occisor_. - -The average differences pointed out above which characterize this -extreme northern population of _noveboracensis_-like weasel in -comparison with true _noveboracensis_ without much question are -geographic variations. Whether or not these variations are of a degree -sufficient to warrant nomenclatural recognition is debatable. With -equally scanty material from other regions I have not named variations -seemingly as great as those shown by _occisor_. The paucity of material -of _occisor_ is a handicap in making a decision in this instance. - -Each of the adult and subadult specimens, except the one from Perry, -shows malformation resulting from the infestation of the frontal -sinuses with parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 18, listed by counties from - west to east and unless otherwise indicated in the Museum of - Comparative Zoölogy. - - =Maine.= _Oxford County_: South Andover, 2 (Boston Soc. Nat. - Hist.); Umbagog Lake, 1. _Franklin County_: Seven Pd. Township, 1. - _Piscataquis County_: Grenville, [= Greenville?], 1. _Hancock - County_: Bucksport, 10. _Washington County_: 3rd Mopang Lake, 1 - (Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.); Perry, 1 (Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.). - _County_ in question: Moosehead Lake, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata primulina= Jackson - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Mustela primulina_ Jackson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:123, - May 21, 1913. - - _Putorius noveboracensis_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 166, 1858 - (part). - - _Mustela longicauda longicauda_, Dice, Journ. Mamm., 4:108, May 9, - 1923. - - _Mustela longicauda primulina_, Linsdale, Journ. Mamm., 9:141, May - 9, 1928. - - _Mustela frenata primulina_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:104, November 20, 1936. - - _Mustela frenata_, Leopold and Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:143, July 19, - 1945. - - _Type._--Male?, young, skull and skin; no. 168006, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; 5 miles northeast of Avilla, Jasper - County, Missouri; May 11, 1905; obtained by Hartley H. T. Jackson; - original no. 7869X. - - The skin lacks the distal part of the tail--the part which bears - the black tip. Otherwise the skin is complete and well preserved. - The teeth of the permanent dentition all are present and entire. - The lower jaws are complete and unbroken. The skull is broken - transversely through the interorbital region, transversely through - the braincase and longitudinally through the basioccipital. Both - zygomatic arches are gone. The type is judged to be a male rather - than a female as stated by the original describer, Jackson - (1913:123), whose measurements of hind foot, interorbital - constriction, maxillary tooth-row, and mandibular tooth-row agree - with those of males and are larger than those of any female seen - of this subspecies. - - _Range._--Upper and Lower Austral life-zones west of the - Mississippi River in Missouri and Arkansas, the southeastern half - of Iowa, eastern half of Kansas and Oklahoma, northern Louisiana - and northeastern Texas. Southern and southwestern limits of range - undetermined. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - noveboracensis_ in males by interorbital breadth averaging less - than 24 per cent of basilar length, orbitonasal length averaging - less than 34 per cent of basilar length or 64 per cent of mastoid - breadth, tympanic bullae as much inflated anteromedially as - posteromedially, and in females by orbitonasal length amounting to - less than two-thirds of mastoid breadth, by zygomatic breadth - averaging more than 21 mm., and by anterolateral margin of - tympanic bulla projecting below squamosal; from _M. f. spadix_ by - least width of color of under parts amounting to less than 40 per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, by absence of - color of underparts on hind leg below knee, and by smaller size - (hind foot less than 50 in males and 40 in females; orbitonasal - length less than 15.5 in males and 13.5 in females; length of - tooth-rows less than 18 in males and 15.7 in females; mastoid - breadth less than 25.5 in males and 22 in females); from _M. f. - longicauda_ by Brussels Brown rather than near (_h_) Clay Color of - upper parts, least width of underparts less than 40 per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts, absence of color of - underparts on hind leg below knee, zygomatic breadth less than - 28.8 in males and 24.1 in females; from _M. f. neomexicana_ by - Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts, - in absence of white frontal spot and broad white bands on sides of - head, in anterolaterally rounded, rather than "square," tympanic - bullae and in zygomatic breadth of less than 30 in males and 24 in - females; from _M. f. frenata_ and _M. f. texensis_ by absence of - white facial markings and smaller size (basilar length of adult - males less than 47, tail-length less than 155 in males, and hind - foot less than 40 in females); from _M. f. arthuri_ by less evenly - spreading zygomatic arches (see pls. 16, 17 and 18), greater - inflation of the tympanic bullae anteromedially and more nearly - straight (less convex) dorsal outline of skull. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Eighteen adults and subadults from - Douglas County, Kansas, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 397 (371-440); length of tail, 133 - (120-147); length of hind foot, 43 (40-47). Tail averages 50 per - cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot averages less - than basal length. Corresponding measurements, originally taken in - inches and fractions thereof, of 9 adults and subadults from Boone - County, Arkansas, are as follows: 413 (384-438); 138 (127-155); 41 - (38-44). - - Female: Six adults and subadults from Douglas County, Kansas, - yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, - 339 (317-355); length of tail, 107 (95-115); length of hind foot, - 35 (34-37). Tail averages 46 per cent of length of head and body. - Length of hind foot less than basal length. Corresponding - measurements, originally taken in inches and fractions thereof, of - 5 adults and subadults from Boone County, Arkansas, are as - follows: 355 (332-397); 113 (101-127); 33 (29-38). - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, - in Douglas County, Kansas, are: Total length, 58; length of tail, - 26; length of hind foot, 8. An adult male from Boone Co., Iowa, - weighed 293 grams. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black or dark brown (often - both colors in same specimen) and extending beyond ear; carpal - vibrissae colored either like underparts or upper parts and - extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as - shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, Brussels Brown to near (14 _n_) - Brussels Brown, or tones 2 to 4 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, pl. 301. Chin and rarely upper lips white. Remainder of - underparts Picric Yellow to Primuline Yellow. In winter, color - essentially the same except for smoke-gray effect in upper parts - and more whitish in underparts. Tip of tail at all times black. - Upper parts of uniform color except for occasional darkening of - nose and mid-dorsal region. Color of underparts extends distally - on posterior sides of forelegs onto antipalmar faces of toes, on - medial sides of hind legs only to a point between knee and ankle. - Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of 21 - males from Lawrence, Kansas, 23 (9-35) per cent of greatest width - of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series, most of - which are in full winter pelage, 52 (40-70) mm. long; thus longer - than hind foot and averaging 39 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on ten adults from Douglas County, - Kansas): See measurements and plates 16-18; weight, 3.7 (3.3-4.2) - grams; basilar length, 44.8 (43.8-46.0); zygomatic breadth more or - less (less in 80 per cent) than distance between condylar foramen - and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior end - of tympanic bulla (less in 70 per cent); mastoid breadth more or - less (less in 80 per cent) than postpalatal length; postorbital - breadth less than length of upper premolars and, except in one - specimen, more than width of basioccipital measured from medial - margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - interorbital breadth more or less (less in 70 per cent) than - distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; - least width of palate less than outside length of P4 (except in - one specimen); anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior - to foramen ovale as width of 2-1/2 to 5 upper incisors; height of - tympanic bulla more (except in one specimen) than distance from - its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla - more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer - (except in one specimen) than rostrum; anterior margin of - masseteric fossa behind or just below posterior eighth of m1. - - Female (based on 5 adults and subadults from Douglas County, - Kansas): See measurements and plates 31-33; weight, 2.2 (2.0-2.4) - grams; basilar length, 38.9 (37.6-40.7); zygomatic breadth less - than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between - anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and except - in one specimen, more than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - least width of palate less than greatest length of P4; tympanic - bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 5 upper - incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less than distance from - its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla - more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer - than rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 41 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. noveboracensis_ from Massachusetts, -that of the male of _primulina_, in dorsal view, is seen to be shorter -anteriorly to the postorbital processes and to have a more marked -postorbital constriction. In lateral view the dorsal outline of the -skull of _primulina_ is less concave in the postorbital region. In -ventral view the skull of _primulina_ is seen to be wider across the -mastoid processes and zygomatic arches but the most pronounced -difference is in the tympanic bullae. In _noveboracensis_ each bulla is -scooped out on the anterior part of the medial face and appears to be -narrower anteriorly than posteriorly whereas in _primulina_ the -anterior part of the medial face is not scooped out but is moderately -inflated and the bulla appears to be of uniform breadth anteriorly and -posteriorly. By actual measurement the breadth of the bulla averages 59 -per cent of its length in _primulina_ but only 50 per cent in -_noveboracensis_. Other respects in which the skull of the male of -_primulina_ differs from that of _noveboracensis_ are as follows: -Linear measurements of teeth more; relative to the basilar length, the -length of the tooth-rows averages more, whereas the interorbital -breadth and orbitonasal length are less. - -When skulls of females are compared, each of the differences mentioned -above is found to apply, except that the degree of difference is in -some parts greater, for example, in the tympanic bullae. In -_primulina_, the bulla is in general like that of the male -_noveboracensis_, whereas in the female _noveboracensis_ it is less -inflated, especially anteromedially, shorter, relatively narrower, and -in ventral view projects little or none below the squamosal floor of -the braincase. The breadth of the bulla averages 51 per cent of its -length in _primulina_ but only 47 per cent in _noveboracensis_. The -bullae project below the basioccipital on the average, for a distance -of 2.9 millimeters in female _primulina_ and only 2.3 millimeters in -female _noveboracensis_. In _primulina_ the temporal ridges are well -developed and fuse to form a low sagittal crest, but in -_noveboracensis_ the ridges are absent. Also, in _primulina_ the -mastoid processes project farther laterally beyond the braincase. The -skull of female _noveboracensis_ is much lighter than that of -_primulina_. Average weights of the two are 1.7 and 2.2 grams. The -skulls of females of _primulina_ and _noveboracensis_ differ more than -do the skulls of males. - -Compared with the skull of _spadix_, that of the male, and the female, -of _primulina_ averages smaller in every part measured. Expressed in -percentages of the basilar length, the two depth measurements of the -skulls are not significantly different, but, excluding the measurements -of the bullae and teeth, the other cranial measurements are less. The -main difference in relative proportions is in the tympanic bullae which -average only a half millimeter shorter in males of _primulina_ and one -and one-tenth millimeters shorter in females. The bullae are, -therefore, relative to the basilar length, longer in _primulina_. The -skull of _primulina_, then, differs from that of _spadix_ mainly in -smaller size and relatively longer tympanic bullae, especially in -males. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. longicauda_, that of both sexes of -_primulina_ averages smaller in every part measured, except in males -where the length of the tympanic bulla, and breadth and length of M1 -are the same or slightly larger in _primulina_. Relative to the basilar -length, the length of the tympanic bullae, and in females only, the -depth measurements are greater in _primulina_ but all the others, in -both sexes, are less. These ratios reflect the relative narrowness of -the skull of _primulina_. Upon direct comparison the narrowness is -especially noticeable in the interorbital region, mastoid region, -tympanic bullae, and across the zygomata. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. neomexicana_ that of both sexes of -_primulina_ averages smaller in every part measured. Excepting the -measurements of the teeth, most of the other measurements are -constantly larger. Relative to the basilar length, the length of -tooth-rows and length of tympanic bulla are more, but excepting the -depth measurements, the others are less. Still other differences are, -in _primulina_, less well-developed sagittal crest, anterolateral -corner of bulla rounded rather than "square," and in males a -transversely convex rather than flat interorbital region. - -Compared with _M. f. frenata_ and _M. f. texensis_, the skulls of males -of _primulina_ differ in being smaller in every part measured but -relative to the basilar length, have longer tooth-rows, a lesser -zygomatic breadth and are less constricted interorbitally. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. olivacea_, those of both sexes of -_primulina_ average smaller in every part measured, have shallower -(dorsoventrally) tympanic bullae, a lower sagittal crest and slightly -weaker postorbital processes on the frontals. Relative to the basilar -length, the several cranial measurements are about the same. - -Comparison of the skull with that of _M. f. arthuri_ has been made in -the account of that subspecies. - -_Remarks._--The first specimens of this race known to have been -preserved in study collections are one in the United States National -Museum, taken at Bridge, Carroll County, Missouri, many years ago by J. -Burbage, and less than a dozen specimens preserved before 1900 from -eastern Kansas in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. -In 1913 Hartley H. T. Jackson bestowed a name on this animal on the -basis of two specimens taken by him in southwestern Missouri. Later, -through the efforts of Charles D. Bunker, and his associates at the -University of Kansas, nearly 100 specimens were saved from eastern -Kansas, principally from Douglas County. In the course of the present -study, Lawrence V. Compton obtained a topotype for the California -Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy, and with the assistance of Mr. B. G. -Roberts, a good series of specimens from Boone County, Arkansas, was -preserved in the same museum. In the early years of the 20th Century, -the late B. H. Bailey at Coe College, Iowa, collected specimens from -that state. The specimens from these several sources suffice to give a -relatively clear idea of the characters of this subspecies. - -_Mustela frenata primulina_ is closely related to _M. f. -noveboracensis_, from which, on the average, it differs in the lighter -color of the upper parts of the summer coat, in the more intense -coloring of the underparts, and in certain cranial features pointed out -above. In the southern part of its range, however, _noveboracensis_ has -the underparts only a little less intensely colored with yellow than -_primulina_. Also, the skull of the one topotype from 7-1/2 miles -southeast of Carthage, a subadult male in brown, winter pelage, is -almost exactly intermediate between that of _noveboracensis_ from -Massachusetts and _primulina_ of Douglas County, Kansas, and Boone -County, Arkansas. _M. f. primulina_ often has the underparts white in -winter, as does this topotype which agrees with the average of -_noveboracensis_ in small size of teeth and narrowness across the -mastoid processes and zygomatic arches. However, it agrees with -_primulina_ in shape and relative size of the rostrum. It is almost -exactly intermediate in shape and width of the tympanic bullae. - -Three other males, but no females, all in winter pelage, are available -from eastern Missouri. Of the two from Silex, Lincoln County, one is -nearer _noveboracensis_ and the other nearer _primulina_ on the basis -of cranial characters. The third specimen, from four miles south of -Lesterville, so far as I can determine by examination of individual -cranial characters and tabulation of results, is exactly intermediate. -Final decision on the proper allocation of specimens from the parts of -Missouri represented can best be made when skulls of females are -available. From the fact that the skull of the female referred to -_noveboracensis_ from Golconda, Illinois, shows almost as many -characters of _primulina_ as of _noveboracensis_, it is judged that -females from as far west as Silex and Lesterville, Missouri, will show -even more characters of _primulina_ and so be referable to that form. -If this supposition be correct, the present reference of the almost -exactly intermediate males, from eastern Missouri, will stand; -otherwise, it may not. - -Additional intergrades with _noveboracensis_ are available from eastern -Iowa. Of five specimens from Hillsboro, Iowa, two males and a female -have tympanic bullae like those of _primulina_ but the other two males -have bullae like those of _noveboracensis_. The female is smaller than -_primulina_ and in this small size and in general configuration of the -skull, viewed dorsally, is more nearly like _noveboracensis_. As a -whole, the population averages almost exactly intermediate. The same is -true of 3 males and one female from Muscatine. The subadult male from -Keosaqua, to my eye, resembles _noveboracensis_ in the greater length -of the skull anteriorly to the postorbital processes, and in the -relative narrowness across the mastoidal region, but otherwise is more -like that of _primulina_. Two males and one female from Tipton, -although in each instance variously intermediate, are as a whole nearer -_primulina_, No. 2865, Coe College, male adult, from Cedar Rapids, has -characters of the three races, _spadix_, _noveboracensis_ and -_primulina_. In the skull, the width suggests _spadix_, the narrow -mastoid region, _noveboracensis_, and the tympanic bullae are as in -_spadix_ or _primulina_. One male, no. 12, Coe College, from Dubuque, -is as narrow across the mastoid region as is _noveboracensis_ although -the bullae are well inflated as in _primulina_. The skull, without -corresponding skin, of a female, no. 140a, Iowa State College, from -Green's Island, also resembles _noveboracensis_ in narrowness of the -mastoidal region, and in small size of skull, but in larger teeth, -broader tympanic bullae, and sagittal crest is referable to -_primulina_. Of two females from Vinton, one adult is typical of -_primulina_ but the other, a subadult, is practically indistinguishable -from female _noveboracensis_, from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Three males -from Vinton agree well with _primulina_ except that the interorbital -region is wider than average and thereby suggests _spadix_ or -_noveboracensis_. An adult female from New Hartford also is typical of -_primulina_ except for the broader interorbital region. Three males -from Fayette are typical of _primulina_. - -Other specimens from Iowa are intergrades with _spadix_, or if not with -_spadix_, with the animal of northwestern Iowa which in some ways -combines the characters of _longicauda_ and _spadix_. For example, no. -2665, Coe College, an adult male from Davenport, has the anterior part -of the skull (all that is preserved) heavily ridged as in _spadix_ and -in addition, the underparts are marked with the shade of reddish -displayed by topotypes of _spadix_ and with some yellowish as seen in -_longicauda_. The color pattern, however, is as in _primulina_. A young -male, no. C-51, Iowa State College, from Kelley, Story County, has -anteriorly truncate bullae as are more frequently found in the -_longicauda-spadix_ stock of northwestern Iowa, than in _primulina_. In -other respects, the animal, in so far as can be judged from the broken -skull, agrees with _primulina_ as it certainly does in color, color -pattern, and external measurements. An adult male, no. 499a, Iowa State -College, from 2 miles east of Ledges St. Park, in Boone County, in -short body, size of teeth, and size of skull, in so far as the broken -parts can be measured, resembles _primulina_ more closely than it does -any other subspecies. The long tail, long hind foot, wide extent of the -light-colored underparts, and extension of the color of the underparts -onto the hind feet are more as in _spadix_. Other intergrades with -_spadix_ from Iowa are mentioned in the account of _spadix_. - -The specimen from Swartz, Louisiana, suggests intergradation with -_arthuri_ in that the anteromedial part of the tympanic bulla is less -inflated than in typical _primulina_. - -Intergrades with _longicauda_ are available from Riley and Pratt -counties, Kansas. No. 7182, Univ. Kans., subadult male in winter -pelage, from near Winkler, has a skull of larger size as in -_longicauda_ with which race it seems to agree in large size of body, -tail and hind foot, although the collector's measurements are lacking. -Color pattern and relative proportions of the skull throughout are as -in _primulina_. The young male, no. 3495, Univ. Kans., from Pratt, -Kansas, agrees in external measurements and large size of skull with -_longicauda_, but has the color and color pattern precisely as in -_primulina_. The teeth are smaller as in _primulina_. Immaturity -prevents judging of its relationships on the basis of relative -proportions of the skull. - -The two specimens, skins only, available from Oklahoma, are -provisionally referred to _primulina_. These are remarkable for the -restriction of the color of the underparts and for the intensity of the -yellow coloration of the underparts. The specimen from Norman has the -color of the underparts entirely absent from the hind legs and not -extending posteriorly to the penis. On the chest and lower throat, -large spots of color of the upper parts are present and the yellow area -of the underparts on the belly is narrower than in any other specimen -of _primulina_ examined. The specimen from 8 miles northwest of -Stillwater has the color of the underparts only a little less -restricted although this color does extend over the inguinal region -almost to the knees. The skin of the posterior part of the body of a -weasel is available from 10 miles south of Sulphur Springs, Texas. It, -likewise, is only provisionally referred to _primulina_. The coloration -is about as in the specimens from Oklahoma but the distribution of the -color of the underparts cannot be made out. - -The dark color of the upper parts occurs far westward in animals which -otherwise display characters of _longicauda_. Among these intergrades, -the larger size of _longicauda_ generally is combined with this dark -color. This geographic behavior of the dark color of the upper parts is -analogous to the condition described in _M. f. spadix_. Stated in -another way, the dark color of the upper parts is the character, of the -eastern animal, last to disappear as one goes westward across the -Mississippi Valley toward the range of _longicauda_ which is a -subspecies of markedly different size, shape of skull, and coloration. - -Only two of 29 specimens from Kansas show infestation of the frontal -sinuses. All four of the specimens from Missouri have the frontal -sinuses malformed as do 9 of the 14 from Arkansas examined in this -respect. - -An adult female from Boone County, Iowa, bears the date May 9, 1938, -and the annotation by T. G. Scott, "Fox-killed." - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 131, arranged alphabetically - by states and from north to south by counties in each state. - Except as otherwise indicated, specimens are in the University of - Kansas, Museum of Natural History. - - =Arkansas.= _Boone County_: 3 mi. E Bergman, 4[74]; 3 mi. SE - Bergman, 1[74]; 3 mi. S Bergman, 1[74]; 3 mi. SW Bergman, 1[74]; 4 - mi. SE Bergman, 2[74]; 5 mi. SE Bergman, 1[74]; 4-1/2 mi. SE - Bergman, 3[74]; 5 mi. SE Bergman, 1[74]; 5 mi. S Bergman, 2[74]; 5 - mi. SW Bergman, 2[74]. _Washington County_: Fayetteville, 1[96]. - _Crawford County_: 10 mi. S Winslow, 1. _Sebastian County_: Fort - Smith, 1[91]. - - =Iowa.= _Fayette County_: Fayette, 3[12]. _Dubuque County_: - Dubuque, 1[12]; Green's Island, 1[65]. _Butler County_: New - Hartford, 1[12]. _Hardin County_: Union, 1[65]. _Benton County_: - Vinton, 5[12]. _Linn County_: Cedar Rapids, 1[12]. _Boone County_: - Worth Township, Sec. 21, 1[65]; 2 mi. E Ledges St. Park, 1[65]. - _Story County_: Kelley, 1[65]. _Cedar County_: Tipton, 3[12]. - _Scott County_: Davenport, 2[12]. _Muscatine County_: Muscatine, - 4[12]. _Henry County_: Hillsboro, 5[91]. _Van Buren County_: - Keosaqua, 1[65]; no locality more definite than county, 1[50]. - _Taylor County_, 1. - - =Kansas.= _Riley County_: near Winkler, 1. _Pottawatomie County_: - Onaga, 1[83]. _Atchison County_: Doniphan Lake, 1; 5 mi. NE - Muscotah, 1; no locality more definite than county, 1. _Douglas - County_: Lawrence, 8; 6 mi. NW Lawrence, 1; 1-1/2 mi. W Lawrence, - 1; 6 mi. S Lawrence, 1; 7 to 7-1/2 mi. SW Lawrence, 14; 10 mi. W - Lawrence, 1; Clinton, 4; Baldwin, 1; no locality more than county, - 29 (2[74]). _Woodson County_: 1-1/2 mi. S Neosho Falls, 1[59]. - _Greenwood County_: 8 mi. SW Toronto, 2. _Pratt County_: Pratt, 1. - - =Louisiana.= _Quachita Parish_: Swartz, 1[71]. - - =Missouri.= _Carroll County_: Bridge Creek, 1[91]. _Lincoln - County_: Silex, 1[74]; 1 mi. E Silex, 1[74]. _Reynolds County_: 4 - mi. S Lesterville, 1[74]. _Jasper County_: 5 mi. NE Avilla, 1[91]; - 7-1/2 mi. SE Carthage, 1[74]. - - =Oklahoma.= _Payne County_: 8 mi. NW Stillwater, 1[82]. _Cleveland - County_: Norman, 1[100]. - - =Texas.= _Hopkins County_: 10 mi. S Sulphur Springs, 1[43]. - - -=Mustela frenata arthuri= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17 and 18 - - _Mustela noveboracensis arthuri_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 40:193, December 2, 1927. - - _Mustela frenata arthuri_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:105, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 37515, Mus. Vert. - Zoöl.; Remy, St. James Parish, Louisiana; December 15, 1926; - obtained by Stanley C. Arthur. - - The skin is stuffed and well preserved. The skull (plates 16-18) - is unbroken. The teeth all are present and entire. The presence of - a well-developed scrotal pouch shows the specimen to be a male. - Contrary to what was stated in the original description the - specimen was taken in 1926 and not in 1925. - - _Range._--Lower Austral Life-zone of southeastern Texas, - Louisiana, and into Mississippi. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition (of males)._--Differs from _M. - f. olivacea_ in smaller size (adult males with hind foot and - basilar length less than 45), depth of skull at anterior margin of - basioccipital, ignoring sagittal crest, amounting to more than 63 - per cent of mastoid breadth, and greater convexity of dorsal - outline of skull in longitudinal axis (see pls. 16-18); from _M. - f. noveboracensis_, in males, by zygomatic breadth not less than - distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla and by convex dorsal outline of skull in - longitudinal axis; from _M. f. primulina_ by evenly spreading - zygomatic arches, lesser inflation of tympanic bullae - anteromedially than posteromedially, and convex dorsal outline of - skull in longitudinal axis; from _M. f. texensis_ and _M. f. - frenata_ by absence of white facial markings and postorbital - breadth more than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The type, a subadult male, measures - (inches and quarter fractions thereof, transposed into - millimeters) as follows: Total length, 390; length of tail, 113; - length of hind foot, 44. Tail is 41 per cent as long as head and - body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - Typical female unknown. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, or dark brown (both - colors in the type) and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae - same color as underparts and extending to within 3.5 millimeters - of apical pad of fifth digit. Hairiness of foot-soles in type - slightly less than shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Upper parts in summer tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, pl. 304; underparts as described in _M. f. - olivacea_. In winter, upper parts (based on type) near (1) - Brussels Brown or grayer than tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, pl. 304, darker on top of head from nose to a line - connecting posterior margins of ears. Chin and posterior third of - each upper lip white. Remainder of underparts white with wash of - Warm Buff. Tip of tail black. Color of underparts extends distally - on posterior sides of forelegs over toes but represented on - antipalmar faces of feet by only a few scattered hairs. Color of - underparts extends distally on medial sides of hind limbs only to - knees. Least width of color of underparts amounting to 15 per cent - of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail 50 - mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and 44 per cent as long as - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type and 2 subadults): See - measurements and plates 16-18. As described in _M. f. - noveboracensis_ except that: Weight, 4.0 (3.7-4.3) grams; basilar - length, 43.5 (43.3-43.6); zygomatic breadth not less than distance - between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars; - interorbital breadth more than distance between foramen opticum - and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more - or less than length of P4; tympanic bulla longer than rostrum. - - Female: Typical skull unknown. The skull from 12 miles east of - Eagle Lake, Texas, lacks the convexity in the dorsal longitudinal - axis and the skull agrees with those of larger individuals of - _primulina_ except that the anteromedial faces of the tympanic - bullae are less inflated, and the mastoid and zygomatic breadths - are greater than in any female seen of _primulina_. Probably this - greater breadth is the result of intergradation with _M. f. - frenata_ to the westward. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. olivacea_ that of _arthuri_ differs -as follows: Averaging smaller in every part measured; basilar length 5 -mm. less; by weight a fourth lighter; relative to basilar length, -interorbital breadth greater and zygomatic and especially mastoid -breadth less; dorsal outline of skull more convex in longitudinal axis; -tympanic bullae narrower and less inflated especially on anteromedial -faces. Compared with the skull of _noveboracensis_ that of _arthuri_ -has the zygomatic breadth equal to or exceeding the distance from the -anterior palatine foramen to the anterior margin of the tympanic bulla, -whereas the zygomatic breadth is less than this distance in -_noveboracensis_. Also, in _arthuri_, the rostrum is relatively -shorter, the braincase is more inflated anteriorly, the zygomatic -arches are more uniformly spreading, and the dorsal outline of the -skull is distinctly convex, both transversely and longitudinally, -whereas it is transversely more nearly flat in _noveboracensis_ and -longitudinally is concave in the interorbital region. - -Compared with _M. f. primulina_, _arthuri_ has narrower bullae, which -are much less inflated on their anteromedial faces, a less marked -postorbital constriction, a braincase which is narrower across the -mastoid region and broader anteriorly, and a skull, which, in -longitudinal axis, has the dorsal outline markedly more convex. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. texensis_ that of _arthuri_ is -smaller in every part measured; length one-fifth less; one-half as -heavy; postorbital constriction less marked; braincase relatively -narrower posteriorly and tympanic bullae less inflated especially -anteromedially. Compared with the skull of _M. f. frenata_ that of -_arthuri_ is smaller in every part measured; basilar length 6 mm. less; -a third lighter; postorbital constriction less marked; relative to the -basilar length the rostrum is broader, longer and deeper; the zygomatic -expanse and breadth of the braincase across the mastoids is less; the -dorsal profile of the skull is more convex in longitudinal axis; -zygomata evenly spreading rather than abruptly protruding from skull -posteriorly; tympanic bullae less inflated anteromedially. - -_Remarks._--In 1926, Stanley C. Arthur, then Director of the Division -of Wild Life, for the Louisiana State Department of Conservation, -obtained specimens of this weasel. Some of them were mounted and the -remainder were placed in the collections of the United States National -Museum and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy. In 1938 to 1940 George H. -Lowery saved specimens from Baton Rouge, which showed the color of the -summer pelage and revealed that the size of males was more than was -indicated by the original materials. In 1940 and 1941 Rollin H. Baker -obtained specimens from eastern Texas which greatly extended the known -geographic range. - -In addition to the localities represented by specimens examined, Arthur -(1928:117) has recorded specimens from Greensburg, St. Helena Parish; -Braithwaite, Plaquemines Parish; Geismar, Assumption Parish; Laurel -Hill, West Feliciana Parish; French Settlement, Livingston Parish; and -Kentwood, Tangipahoa Parish. All these localities lie within the -eastern half of southern Louisiana. A skin-only, no. 38902, Mus. Vert. -Zoöl., obtained from a fur buyer by Stanley C. Arthur, was taken in -Mississippi "south of Jackson." Possibly it is of the subspecies -_arthuri_. - -Intergradation with _M. f. olivacea_ is indicated by a specimen from -Mobile County, Alabama, commented on in the account of _olivacea_. -Intergradation with _primulina_ is indicated by the shape of the -anteromedial part of the bullae of the specimen from Swartz, Louisiana, -that is referred to _primulina_. The lack of specimens from the -northern two-thirds of Mississippi and from western Tennessee, prevents -any definite statement as to the limits of range of _arthuri_ in those -areas. In comparison with animals from the type locality, the slightly -larger size of the adult male from Baton Rouge, and the still larger -size of the adult male of _primulina_ from Swartz, Louisiana, suggests -that the _olivacea_ "influence" may extend farther west in the -latitude of northern Louisiana than anywhere else. - -None of the skulls examined shows malformation of the frontal sinuses -such as results from infestation by parasites in some races. Arthur -(1928:115) speaks of the ". . . cut-over swamp land, where the tupelo -and cypress have been removed, . . ." as constituting suitable habitat -for this animal. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 13, as follows: - - =Texas.= _Colorado County_: 12 mi. N Eagle Lake, 1[43]; 5 mi. W - Eagle Lake, 1[43]; 3 mi. S Garwood, 1[43]. - - =Louisiana.= _East Baton Rouge Parish_: Baton Rouge, 4[71]. - _Livingston Parish_: Springville, 1[74]. _Saint James Parish_: - Convent, 1[91]; Remy, 2 (1[74], 1[45]). _Assumption Parish_: near - Lake Verret, 1[45]. - - =Mississippi.= _Harrison County_: Saucier, 1[71]. - - -=Mustela frenata olivacea= Howell - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Mustela peninsulae olivacea_ Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 26:139, May 21, 1913. - - _Mustela frenata olivacea_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:104, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 180802, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surveys Coll.; Autaugaville, Autauga County, Alabama; - December 22, 1912; obtained by L. S. Golsan. - - The skull (plates 16-18), although cracked at two places in the - interorbital region, is in one piece and not warped out of shape. - The teeth all are present and entire. The skin is exceptionally - well made and in perfect condition except for the extreme tip of - the tail which is broken off. - - _Range._--Lower and Upper Austral life-zones in eastern - Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and northern - Florida. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - peninsulae_ in finer, softer pelage and shorter (less than 15.8 in - ad. [F]) tympanic bullae; from _M. f. noveboracensis_, in adult - males by wider tympanic bulla which is more than rather than less - than 8.5, in adult females by total length which is more than - rather than less than 345, and by mastoid breadth which is more - than rather than less than distance between articular faces of - exoccipital condyle and glenoid fossa; from _M. f. arthuri_ in - larger size (adult males with hind foot and basilar length each - more than 45); depth of skull at anterior margin of basioccipital, - ignoring sagittal crest, amounting to less than 63 per cent of - mastoid breadth, and lesser convexity of dorsal outline of skull - in longitudinal axis (See pls. 16-18). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male and female: External measurements - of adults are available as follows: - - Length Length - Catalogue Sex Locality Total of of hind - no. length tail foot - 47165 [M] Box Springs, 454 160 48 - Talbot Co., Georgia - - 47166 [M] Box Springs, 435 147 47 - Talbot Co., Georgia - - 47167 [M] Box Springs, 422 145 45 - Talbot Co., Georgia - - 41023 [M] Thomas Co., 443 140 47 - Georgia - - 41025 [M] Grady Co., 395 142 47 - Georgia - - 223880 [M] Okefinokee Swamp, 416 145 49 - Georgia - - 198 [M] Okefinokee Swamp, 425 140 48 - Georgia - - Average 7 [M] 427 146 47 - - 49385 [F] Gainesville, 396 124 45* - Alachua Co., Florida - - 41024 [F] Thomas Co., 380 125 41 - Georgia - - 51527 [F] Talbot Co., 376 128 43 - Georgia - * [not typical] - - The length of the hind foot averages less than the basal length in - both males and females. The tail averages 52 per cent as long as - the head and body in males and 51 per cent in females. Average - differences in measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, - 49; length of tail, 19; length of hind foot, 5. An adult male, no. - 41023, and an adult female, no. 41024, each taken in February, - 1929, on the Sinkola Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia, weighed - 15 ounces (425 grams) and 7 ounces (198 grams) respectively - according to Charles O. Handley. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, - except that hairiness of foot-soles slightly less than shown in - figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near tone 4 of Burnt Umber of - Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. In winter lighter, between tones - 3 and 4 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301. Dark spot - at each angle of mouth present or absent. Underparts ranging from - Massicot Yellow to Cream Buff except on chin and upper lips which - are white. Tip of tail black. Upper parts of uniform color. Color - of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over - antipalmar faces of toes and on medial sides of hind limbs to - ankles. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series - of five males from Talbot Co., Georgia, 29 (extremes 24-34) per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail - in same series, averaging 65 (extremes 60-70) mm. long, thus - longer than hind foot and averaging 43 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - The spot at the angle of the mouth is absent in one-third of the - specimens examined. The upper lips are white in specimens from the - southern part of the range of _olivacea_ but in the northern part - of the range of the subspecies the upper lips are dark colored as - in _noveboracensis_. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 5 adults from Talbot Co., - Georgia): See measurements and plates 16-18; weight, 5.3 (5.0-6.4) - grams; basilar length, 48.3 (45.8-50.1); zygomatic breadth more or - less (usually less) than distance between condylar foramen and M1 - and more or less (usually more) than distance between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid - breadth more or less than (averaging about equal to) postpalatal - length; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars - and more or less than (about equal to) width of basioccipital - measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to - its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than (about equal - to) distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic - bulla; least width of palate less than greatest length of P4; - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 3 to 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla - not less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; - length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and - premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum (one exception); - anterior margin of masseteric fossa below posterior half of m2. - - Female (based on 2 adults from Thomas Co., Ga., and one from - Talbot Co., Ga.): See measurements and plates 31-33; weight, 3.8 - (3.5-4.0) grams; basilar length, 43.4 (42.7-44.0); zygomatic - breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than - between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and - more or less (usually more) than width of basioccipital measured - from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its - opposite; least width of palate less than greatest length of P4; - tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to - 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla not less - (usually more) than distance from its anterior margin to foramen - ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar - and premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 28 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. peninsulae_, of which only one good -skull, and that a female, is available, that of _M. f. olivacea_ -averages smaller and has relatively and actually smaller and less -inflated bullae. As compared with the skull of _M. f. noveboracensis_, -that of _olivacea_ in the case of males is larger in every part -measured and relative to the basilar length is broader across the -zygomatic arches and mastoids. However, the rostrum and interorbital -region are relatively narrower. The orbitonasal length is relatively -less. The tympanic bullae are broader and more inflated. The same -differences hold as between females of _noveboracensis_ and _olivacea_. -Indeed, the females of these two races differ more than do the males. -Additional, selected differential cranial characters in the females -are, in _olivacea_, as follows: Weight averaging 3.8 grams rather than -1.7 grams; braincase with, rather than without, sagittal crest; -anterior border of tympanic bulla separated from foramen ovale by -breadth of less than, rather than breadth of more than, 4 upper -incisors (including I3); height of tympanic bulla not less than, rather -than less than, distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; -squamosal bone, between anterior margin of tympanic bulla and foramen -ovale, ventrally concave rather than ventrally convex. Comparisons of -the skulls with those of _M. f. arthuri_ and _M. f. primulina_ are made -in the accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Excepting two young specimens from South Carolina in the -Charleston Museum, no specimens of this race of large weasel seem to -have been preserved until Arthur H. Howell, in the course of his study -of the mammals of Alabama, procured specimens on which his name, -_olivacea_, was based. Later, Francis Harper obtained three instructive -specimens from Okefinokee Swamp. Really adequate material, for the -localities represented, owes its preservation to the alertness of -Charles O. Handley, when he resided at Thomasville, Georgia, and to -Hallie E. Fuller of Geneva, Talbot Co., Georgia. - -The distinctness of _M. f. olivacea_ from _M. f. peninsulae_ is not -satisfactorily established due to inadequate material of _peninsulae_. -Differences shown by the specimens seen indicate that, as compared with -_olivacea_, _peninsulae_ is larger, has transversely wider -light-colored underparts which possess more yellow, and a larger skull -with more inflated tympanic bullae. In each of these characters, -_olivacea_ is intermediate between _noveboracensis_ on the north and -_peninsulae_ on the south. The question arises, therefore, whether the -animals here recognized under the name _olivacea_ really constitute a -recognizable subspecies or instead are only representatives of a -subspecies which reaches its extreme development in Florida. In the -latter event, the name _peninsulae_ would apply to all. Examination of -more material from Florida, especially from the southern half of -Florida, will be necessary to answer this question. - -This large weasel of the southeastern United States is remarkably -different from _noveboracensis_. Indeed, were it not for actual -intergrades such as the two from Fort Payne, Alabama, and York, South -Carolina, which are described in the account of _M. f. noveboracensis_, -and the six specimens from northwestern Alabama, which are referred to -_olivacea_, the systematist, I believe, would have little or no -hesitancy in designating the two as distinct species, especially on the -basis of differences to be seen in the skull. - -Not only are the two forms structurally more different than usually is -the case but between two geographically, adjacent subspecies of the -same species of mammal, but the belt where intergradation occurs -appears to be narrow. Nevertheless, when material of the two races is -laid out in geographic order, and examined in mass, certain features -are seen to undergo gradual change as a person's eye travels from -specimens from, say, the center of the range of _noveboracensis_ to -specimens from southern localities adjoining the territory occupied by -_olivacea_. One of these features subject to gradual change is the -color of the underparts. Beginning at the Adirondacks of New York -where a large number of the specimens have white underparts, the -underparts become more intensely yellowish southward through the range -of _noveboracensis_ into that of _olivacea_. Indeed, this progressive -trend seems to continue right on southward through the range of -_olivacea_ into that of _peninsulae_. Turning in the opposite direction -we find that the least width of the underparts decreases gradually -northward toward the range of _noveboracensis_. There is, likewise, a -decrease to the northward in length of the skull and relative, as well -as actual, narrowing of the braincase and tympanic bullae. However, in -least width of color of underparts and the mentioned cranial features, -the trend stops relatively abruptly at the southern boundary of the -geographic range of _noveboracensis_ and does not continue on, -northward, into the range of _noveboracensis_ as is the case with the -change in intensity of yellowness of the underparts. - -Two males, in the United States National Museum, Biological Surveys -Collection, from near Leighton, Alabama, no. 178386 from the Tennessee -River nine miles north [of Leighton?] and no. 180240 from La Grange -Mountain, although clearly referable to _olivacea_ on the basis of -cranial characters, show some approach to _noveboracensis_ in lesser -size of the skull and agree with _noveboracensis_ in the narrowness of -the color of the underparts. Also, these specimens, like others from -the northern part of the range of _olivacea_, for instance, no 31.227, -Charleston Museum, from Mayesville, South Carolina, have the color of -the underparts extended only part way out on the hind limb toward the -foot. In specimens of _olivacea_ from the southern part of its range -the color of the underparts is extended onto the hind feet and this -trend reaches its extreme in _peninsulae_, specimens of which have the -feet and larger parts of the limbs marked with the light color of the -underparts. - -An adult female, no. 32.32, Charleston Museum, although typical of -_olivacea_ in most respects, is nevertheless an intergrade. The teeth -are as small as in some specimens of _noveboracensis_. The size of the -skull is only slightly nearer that of _olivacea_ than it is to that of -_noveboracensis_. The proportions of the skull, however, are distinctly -those of _olivacea_. - -Five other specimens, from northwestern Alabama, namely two from eight -miles north of Nauvoo, two from Shoal Creek, and one from White Creek, -also show intergradation between _noveboracensis_ and _olivacea_. The -remarks concerning color and color pattern of the specimens from -Leighton apply equally well to the five from northwestern Alabama. In -cranial characters, no. 51658 from Shoal Creek is referable to -_olivacea_, as also is no. 51677 from the same place, providing it is a -female rather than a male as sexed by the collector. No. 57146 from -White Creek also is referable to _olivacea_ although the skull shows -some approach to that of _noveboracensis_. Of the two males from near -Nauvoo, no. 51652 is to me indistinguishable from _noveboracensis_, but -no. 51653 does have some characters of _olivacea_, although on the -whole, the latter, too, seems to be a little nearer _noveboracensis_ -than _olivacea_. However, because the mean of these seven specimens -from northwestern Alabama is nearer _olivacea_ than _noveboracensis_ -the former name may be applied. - -Another specimen from "Souinlonie" Creek, Clark County, Mississippi, -has the coloration and rostral configuration of _primulina_, narrow -mastoidal breadth and smaller teeth of _noveboracensis_ and skull of -large size with "full" braincase as in _olivacea_. No. 235364, U. S. -Nat. Mus., from the Mobile River at the "L. and N. RR. Crossing," -Mobile County, Alabama, although definitely _olivacea_, shows approach -to _arthuri_ in that the dorsal outline of the skull is longitudinally -more convex and the tympanic bullae are less inflated than in -_olivacea_ and in that the color of the underparts is almost exactly as -in the type specimen of _arthuri_. The young specimen labeled as from -"Silver Springs," Florida, has large tympanic bullae (17 mm. long) and -several characters that show its relationship to _peninsulae_ as that -race is now understood. Because the sex is unknown the identification -as _olivacea_ is tentative and is made on the assumption that the -specimen is a male. If it is instead a female, the animal is referable -to _peninsulae_. - -An adult, female specimen in the Charleston Museum, no. 27.239.1, taken -at St. Matthews, South Carolina, on December 8, 1927, contained four -embryos which averaged 19 mm. in length and 47.75 centigrams in weight. -Another adult female, in the Charleston Museum, no. 32.32, taken on -February 21, 1932, at the same place, has prominent mammae, and the -collector has noted that two were slightly active. - -Sixteen of twenty-nine adults examined show infestation of the frontal -sinuses by parasites. However, in none is the malformation of the -frontal region so great as frequently occurs in _M. f. noveboracensis_. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 52, arranged alphabetically - by states and from north to south by counties in each state. - Except as otherwise indicated specimens are in the University of - California Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy. - - =Alabama.= _Lawrence County_: White Creek, 1; Little Sand Mt., - Shoal Creek, 2. _Winston County_: 7-1/2 mi. N Nauvoo, 1; 8 mi. N - Nauvoo, 1. _Lauderdale County_: near Leighton, 9 mi. N Tennessee - River, 1[91]. _Colbert County_: Leighton, 1[91]. _Autauga County_: - Autaugaville, 1[91]. _Dale County_: Midland City, 1[91]. _Mobile - County_: Mobile River, 12 mi. NE Mobile, 1[91]. - - =Florida.= _Alachua County_: Gainesville, 4[61]. _Marion County_: - "Silver Springs," 1. - - =Georgia.= _Spalding County_, 1. _Lamar County_, 1. _Talbot - County_: southwest part of county, 1; Box Springs, near Geneva, 3; - Upatoie Creek, 1 mi. SW Box Springs, 2; 3 mi. SE Geneva, 1; 4 mi. - W Geneva, 1; 5 mi. W Geneva, 1; 2 mi. E Geneva, 1. _Chattahoochee - County_, 2. _Grady County_: Beachton, 3[91]; locality no more - definite than county, 4. _Thomas County_: Sinkola Plantation, 2; - locality no more definite than county, 2. _Charlton County_: 1/2 - mi. E Chesser's Island, Okefinokee Swamp, 1[58]. _County_ in - question: Billy's Island, Okefinokee Swamp, 1[91]; Okefinokee - Swamp, 1[58]. - - =Mississippi.= _Clark County_: Souinlonie Creek, 1. - - =South Carolina.= _Darlington County_: Society Hill, 1[91]. - _Sumter County_: Mayesville, 1[11]. _Calhoun County_: St. - Matthews, 2[11]. _Georgetown County_: Sampit, 1[11]. Charleston - County: Rantowles, 1[11]; 8 mi. N Charleston, 1[11]. _Beaufort - County_: Yemassee, 1[2]. - - -=Mustela frenata peninsulae= (Rhoads) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17 and 18 - - _Putorius peninsulae_ Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, - 1894:152, June 19, 1894; Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 10:10, February 25, 1896. - - _Mustela peninsulae_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela p. peninsulae_, Bailey, Bailey Mus. and Library Nat. - Hist., 1(no. 5):1, December 1, 1930. - - _Mustela frenata peninsulae_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:105, September 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Female, young, part skull and skin; no. 8515, Acad. Nat. - Sci. Philadelphia; Hudson's, Pasco County [14 miles north of - Tarpon Springs], Florida; before 1895; obtained by W. S. - Dickinson. - - The skull has been cut vertically in two at the plane of the - glenoid fossae. These fossae and all the cranium posterior to them - are missing. In addition to the part of the cranium anterior to - the glenoid fossae, the lower jaws are preserved complete. The - teeth all are present and entire. The prominent sutures on the - rostrum and palate show the specimen to be young and its small - size leaves but little doubt that the animal was a female. The - light facial markings are more extensive than in any of the - referred specimens. In the type these light facial markings - consist of a median isolated spot immediately in front of the - ears, a larger one on the nose, with an interrupted bar on each - side extending posteroventrally in front of and anterior to the - eye, a wider bar, on each side, extending anterodorsally between - the ear and eye and finally an isolated spot at the anterior - border of each ear. The skin is stuffed and in fair condition - except that the vertebrae remain in the tail. - - _Range._--Austral and probably Tropical life-zones of Florida - south of latitude 29°. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - olivacea_ in coarser pelage and larger tympanic bullae. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: No external measurements available. - Female: The type a young animal and no. 2379, an adult from Tarpon - Springs, measure respectively as follows: Total length, 375, 378; - length of tail, 100, 130; length of hind foot, 40, 44.5. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ - except that hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Upper parts (in winter) near tone 3 of Burnt Umber of - Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. Dark spot at each angle of mouth - present or absent. Tip of tail black. Underparts Reed Yellow - except on chin and usually on legs where white. Upper lips white - entirely around. Upper parts of uniform color. Color of underparts - extends distally on legs over both sides of feet and on front legs - over wrists. Proximal part of tail slightly lighter below than - above. Least width of color of underparts, in seven specimens, - averaging 41 (extremes 31-52) per cent of greatest width of color - of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in each of two females, 45 mm. - long; thus slightly longer than hind foot and amounting to 36 per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - The spot at the angle of the mouth is absent in four of the ten - specimens and is present on both sides in the other six. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on an adult from Apopka and the - anterior part of an adult from Enterprise): See measurements and - plates 16-18. As described in _Mustela frenata olivacea_ except - that: Weight, 7.0 grams; basilar length, 49.8. - - Female (based on an adult from Tarpon Springs, Florida): See - measurements. As described in _Mustela frenata olivacea_ except - that: Weight, 4.7 grams; basilar length, 44.2; zygomatic breadth - more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla. - -In comparison with _M. f. olivacea_, the insufficient material of _M. -f. peninsulae_ suggests that its skull averages larger and has -relatively as well as actually larger and more inflated tympanic -bullae. - -_Remarks._--The first published mention of this weasel seems to have -been the original description which appeared in 1894. This description -was based on a single specimen sent to Samuel N. Rhoads by W. S. -Dickinson, who, in the following year, procured another specimen at -Tarpon Springs. So far as known only eight other specimens, as listed -under "_Specimens examined_," have found their way into collections of -study specimens. - -H. H. Bailey (1930:1) credits the range of this subspecies as extending -south "to the shores of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, where ever -high ground occurs." - -Evidence of intergradation between _M. f. peninsulae_ and _M. f. -olivacea_ is provided by specimens of _olivacea_ from Gainesville, -Florida, and the Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia. These specimens, on the -average, have the color of the underparts wider, the skull larger, and -the tympanic bullae relatively larger than do specimens of _olivacea_ -from farther north. In these features, approach to _M. f. peninsulae_ -is shown. - -Light facial markings occur in this subspecies. They are similar to -those possessed by weasels which occur at the same latitude and under -corresponding climatic conditions on the Pacific Coast. The type -specimen and one from Tarpon Springs have white facial markings. Two of -the three specimens from Apopka also show white facial markings, -although in reduced amount. One of the four specimens of _M. f. -olivacea_ from Gainesville, Florida, has well-developed light (white) -facial markings. Also of the four specimens of _M. f. olivacea_ -examined from Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia, one has prominent white facial -markings. However, in it the pattern is so unusual as to suggest that -it is an instance of partial albinism rather than an outcropping of a -racial tendency, or a pattern of coloration induced by climatic -factors. - -None of the eight available skulls show any infestation of the frontal -sinuses by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 10, arranged by counties from - west to east. - - =Florida.= _Pasco County_: Hudson's, 1[1]. _Pinellas County_: - Tarpon Springs, 1[1]. _Hernando County_, 1[91]. _Polk County_: - Auburndale, 1[91]; no locality more definite than county, 1[91]. - _Orange County_: Apopka, 3[61]. _Volusia County_: Enterprise, - 1[60]. _Seminole County_: Osceola, 1[2]. - - -=Mustela frenata spadix= (Bangs) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Putorius longicauda spadix_ Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 10:8, February 25, 1896; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:21, figs. - 10, 11, June 30, 1896; Cory, Mamm. Illinois and Wisconsin, p. - 374, 1912. - - _Mustela longicauda spadix_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, - December 31, 1912; Bailey, Journ. Mamm., 10:156, May 9, 1929. - - _Mustela longicauda_, Johnson, Journ. Mamm., 11:439, November 11, - 1930. - - _Mustela noveboracensis_, Murie, Journ. Mamm., 16:321, November 15, - 1935. - - _Mustela frenata spadix_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:105, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, young, skull and skin; no. 3265/1786, Amer. Mus. - Nat. Hist.; Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota; June 25, - 1889; obtained by Edgar A. Mearns; original no. 812. - - The skull is complete although there are fractures on the top of - the braincase, on the right side of the braincase and at the - middle of the right zygomatic arch. The teeth all are present and - entire. The skin, although overstuffed, is complete, well - preserved, and in summer pelage. - - _Range._--Upper Austral and Transition life-zones of Minnesota, - northern and western Iowa, southeastern North Dakota, eastern part - of South Dakota, and northeastern Nebraska. See figure 29 on page - 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - noveboracensis_ and _M. f. primulina_ in that specimens of all - ages have least width of color of underparts amounting to more - than 41 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, and - have light color of underparts extended onto hind foot rather than - stopped short of ankle; adults with hind feet more than 50 in - males and 40 in females; orbitonasal length more than 15.5 in - males and 13.5 in females; length of tooth-rows more than 18.0 in - males and 15.7 in females; mastoid breadth more than 25.5 in males - and 22.0 in females. From _M. f. longicauda_ by color darker than - near (_h_) Clay Color, in males by a flattened occiput in which - the depth of the skull, exclusive of the sagittal crest and taken - at the anterior border of the basioccipital, amounts to less than - 58 per cent of the mastoid breadth. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Three adults from Elk River, - Minnesota, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: - Total length, 458 (444-467); length of tail, 154 (140-165); length - of hind foot, 55 (52-59). Tail averages 51 per cent as long as - head and body. Length of hind foot averages more than basal - length. Corresponding measurements of three subadults from - Madison, Minnesota, are as follows: 453 (438-469); 157 (152-165); - 50 (47-51). Tail averages 53 per cent as long as head and body. - - Female: Three adults from Elk River, Minnesota, yield average and - extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 387 (380-391); - length of tail, 131 (121-138); length of hind foot, 44 (43-46). - Tail averages 51 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind - foot more or less than (approximately equal to) basal length. - Corresponding measurements of two adults and one subadult from - Madison, Minnesota, are as follows: 385 (379-396); 137 (119-159); - 42 (38-44). Tail averages 55 per cent as long as head and body. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - from Elk River, are: Total length, 71; length of tail, 23; length - of hind foot, 11. At Madison, corresponding differences are 68, - 20, and 8. Two adult females from Elk River, Minnesota, weigh 205 - and 210 grams. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown, or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles (in summer - pelage) as shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Winter pelage all white except tip of tail. In southern - part of range sometimes assumes a brown winter coat. Summer pelage - with upper parts ranging from near (16´) Cinnamon Brown to Vandyke - Brown. Chin and upper lips white. Remainder of underparts ranging - from near (a) Olive Ocher to Ochraceous Buff and Pale Orange - Yellow. Tip of tail at all times black. Upper parts of uniform - color except for occasional slight darkening of nose. Color of - underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over - toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and ankles, on medial sides of - hind limbs to ankle, over antiplantar faces of toes and - distomedial fourth of each tarsus, and over proximal fifth to - third of under side of tail. Least width of color of underparts - averaging (in 3 specimens from Elk River) 54 (47-59) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail - averaging same length as hind foot and 28 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. Save for the greater width of the light-colored - underparts and relatively short black tip of the tail, both - features of _M. f. longicauda_, _spadix_ is variously - intermediate, depending on locality, as between _noveboracensis_ - and _longicauda_. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 3 adults from Elk River, - Minn.): See measurements and plates 16-18. As described in - _Mustela frenata longicauda_ except that: Weight, 5.6 (5.0-6.5); - basilar length, 49.0 (48.7-49.2); zygomatic breadth sometimes less - than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more or less (about - equal to) width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of - one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital - breadth more or less than distance between foramen opticum and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic - bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 to 5 upper - incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less than distance from - its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla - less than length of rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa - below talonid of m1. - - Female (based on 4 adults from Elk River, Minn.): See measurements - and plates 31-33. As described in _Mustela frenata longicauda_ - except that: Weight, 3.5 (3.3-4.0) grams; basilar length, 42.9 - (42.3-43.2); least width of palate more or less than greatest - length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as - width of 3 to 5 upper incisors. - - The skull of the female averages 33 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -Skulls of adult males of _spadix_ from Elk River, Minnesota, as -compared with those of _longicauda_ from Alberta, are larger in every -part measured. Relative to the basilar length these skulls of _spadix_ -are broader across the mastoid region, narrower across the zygomata, -deeper through the plane of the postorbital processes, shallower -through the braincase and have relatively shorter tympanic bullae. -Whereas the tympanic bullae of _longicauda_ are, on the average, -approximately as long as the rostrum (orbitonasal length), in _spadix_ -the rostrum is longer than the bulla. Viewed posteriorly, the braincase -of _spadix_ is seen to be much shallower and wider than that of -_longicauda_. Indeed, the depth of the braincase, measured at the -anterior end of the basioccipital, amounts to only 56 per cent of the -mastoid breadth in _spadix_ as against 61 per cent in _longicauda_. The -longer, waistlike, postorbital constriction, relatively smaller -braincase, and especially the relatively narrower zygomatic expanse in -_spadix_ imparts to its skull a more slender appearance than has the -skull of _longicauda_. These differences are not shown by the skulls of -females. To be sure, _spadix_, in most of its cranial measurements, -averages slightly larger, has a relatively shallower braincase and is -relatively deeper through the postorbital processes, but these -differences are so slight that inclusion of one more specimen, of -slightly different proportions, in the average might cause the average -measurements to read as they do in _longicauda_. - -Compared with _noveboracensis_, from Massachusetts, adult skulls of -_spadix_, taking sex into account, are larger in every part measured -and are relatively as well as actually wider and deeper throughout. -Also, in _spadix_: Sagittal and lambdoidal crests higher, especially in -females; anterior margin of tympanic bulla projecting up sharply from -squamosal; occiput more flattened in posterior view; tooth-rows -relatively and actually longer but orbitonasal length relatively -shorter; postorbital processes more robust; zygomatic arches widely -bowed outward rather than evenly rounded; canines larger; squamosal -less swollen ventrally, especially in females. Between _noveboracensis_ -and _spadix_, the differential cranial characters are greater in number -and degree between females than between males. Comparison of the skull -with that of _M. f. primulina_ is made in discussion of that -subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Edgar A. Mearns in 1889 and the early nineties took several -specimens of this weasel and it was principally on these that Bangs in -1896 (p. 8) based his description. The best material, however, is that -from Elk River, Minnesota, collected in later years by Bernard Bailey, -and supplemented by one specimen taken in 1885 by Vernon Bailey and -another by his sister Anna Bailey in 1891 at the same place. - -_Mustela frenata spadix_ has just one structural feature of a "unique" -kind which serves to differentiate it from the geographically adjoining -subspecies. This feature is large size. The other diagnostic characters -ascribed to _spadix_ are of an intermediate sort--intermediate as -between two extremes, one found to the westward in _longicauda_ and the -other to the eastward in _noveboracensis_. For example, the -dark-colored upper parts are merely darker than in _longicauda_ and -merely lighter than in _noveboracensis_. The color is not "different"; -it is only "intermediate." Furthermore, each of the characters ascribed -to _spadix_, including large size itself, undergoes change from one -part of its geographic range to another; the characters are not -constant over a wide area. Indeed, excepting the large size which -remains relatively uniform over the northern two-thirds of the range, -no two localities have been found from which the specimens can be said -really to agree in characters. - -By way of illustration, the coloration of the upper parts may be cited. -Near the range of _noveboracensis_ the average coloration of -individuals from one locality is only a little lighter than in -_noveboracensis_. Farther westward the average coloration is a little -lighter and farther westward yet, toward the range of the extremely -light colored _longicauda_, the average coloration is lighter still. -Although all these animals are darker than _longicauda_ and lighter -than _noveboracensis_, those from the three places do not agree among -themselves. Because of the lack of more than one character of a -"unique" kind and because of the inconstancy, geographically, of other -characters, and for that matter, lack of constancy geographically in -combination of characters, the writer regards _spadix_ as a barely -recognizable subspecies. - -Examination of the specimens of _spadix_ shows that the individual -variation in a single species is greater in a region of intergradation -than it is some distance inside the borders of the geographic range of -a well-marked subspecies. This is illustrated by three specimens of _M. -f. spadix_ in fresh summer pelage from the single locality, Elk River, -Minnesota. In these, the color of the upper parts varies from a little -darker than Cinnamon Brown to Vandyke Brown. At any one locality well -within the range of _longicauda_, or _noveboracensis_, there is nowhere -nearly so much variation in color, even in much larger series of -specimens. - -Study of the specimens here assigned to _spadix_ reveals that some -features regarded as of diagnostic value for one or the other of the -two races, _longicauda_ and _noveboracensis_, behave differently. For -example, the dark coloration of the upper parts, which is -characteristic of _noveboracensis_, manifests itself far westward -within the range of _spadix_ whereas the wider extent of the -light-colored underparts, which is characteristic of _longicauda_, and -the Olive Ocher, rather than Pale Orange Yellow, color of these -underparts, are seen in varying degree all the way across the range of -_spadix_. Thus, these animals are colored above like _noveboracensis_ -and below like _longicauda_, but not _vice versa_. In these animals, -then, the _longicauda_ type of underparts is dominant, in one sense of -the word, over the _noveboracensis_ type of underparts, and the -_noveboracensis_ type of upper parts is dominant over the _longicauda_ -type of upper parts. Each of these features is subject to actual -intergradation and does not always behave as a "unit character," that -is to say, one which is either present or absent. However, the -_noveboracensis_ type of upper parts is carried much farther west -before being diluted than is the _noveboracensis_ type of underparts. -Indeed, within the range of _noveboracensis_ itself, the broad extent -of the _longicauda_ type of underparts is manifest. This is, of course, -near the western margin of the range of _noveboracensis_. - -The large size of males of _spadix_, as exemplified by specimens from -Elk River (see measurements on p. 421), seems to be retained across the -northern part of the range here assigned to the subspecies. This larger -size than is found in _longicauda_ from Alberta, is shown also by some -specimens from eastern North Dakota which are assigned to _longicauda_. -However, the average of these Dakotan specimens, all characters -considered, is nearer to my concept of _longicauda_. - -Inspection of the cranial measurements of _spadix_ shows also that in -addition to its large size it is distinguishable from any one of the -geographically adjoining races by its relatively (to basilar length) -greater, as well as actually greater, mastoidal breadth. This might be -included with size as a unique character distinguishing _spadix_ from -_longicauda_ and _noveboracensis_. However, it is not clear whether or -not this greater mastoidal breadth is more than a function of the large -size. - -Excepting the greater mastoidal breadth and generally larger size of -the skull, the cranial features distinguishing males of _spadix_ from -_longicauda_ are features in which _spadix_ shows approach to -_noveboracensis_. This is true, in _spadix_, of the relatively longer -(in comparison with _longicauda_) rostrum, relatively lesser zygomatic -breadth, relatively shallower braincase measured at the anterior end of -the basioccipital, and relatively deeper skull as measured at the -posterior borders of the last upper molars. This same approach to -_noveboracensis_ already has been pointed out with respect to color of -the upper parts and is evident also in the relative shortness of the -tail which averages only 51 per cent of the length of the head and body -rather than 55 per cent as in _longicauda_. - -Because the _longicauda_ type of animal previously has been regarded as -specifically distinct from the _noveboracensis_ type of animal, comment -is offered below on selected specimens, referred to _spadix_, which are -regarded as intergrades with _noveboracensis_ or with other subspecies. - -No. 8722, Univ. Wisconsin, adult male, in the white winter coat, from -north central Itasca County, Minnesota, obviously has characters of _M. -f. spadix_ or _longicauda_ that occur to the west and _M. f. -noveboracensis_ of the east. Selected outstanding characters of -_longicauda_ are its long tail, anteriorly truncate tympanic bullae -and large teeth. Characters indicating its affinities with -_noveboracensis_ are smaller size of skull, general narrowness of -skull, and relatively low tympanic bullae. The skull is intermediate as -regards several individual structural features. For example, although -long and narrow and in this feature more nearly approaching -_noveboracensis_, the skull is wider than usual in that subspecies and -thus approaches that of _longicauda_ or _spadix_. The hind foot, in the -dried state, measures 47 millimeters. This large hind foot, obviously -long tail (the specimen lacks external measurements), and anteriorly -truncate bullae constitute basis for here referring the specimen to -_spadix_. However, the seemingly small size of the body and the narrow -skull clearly show relationship to _noveboracensis_. - -Specimens, referred to _spadix_, from northern Iowa, are instructive as -showing what happens where the ranges of _noveboracensis_, _primulina_, -_spadix_, and perhaps _longicauda_, meet. No. 47167, Univ. Mich. Mus. -Zoöl., a nearly adult female, taken on November 22, 1915, at Island, -Clay County, and in process of assuming a brown winter pelage, retains -enough of the dark summer pelage to show that the color was slightly -lighter than average for _spadix_. The color pattern, white lips, and -extension of light color of the underparts onto the feet, agrees with -_spadix_ or _longicauda_ as does also the long tooth-row. The overall -length of the skull is intermediate between that of _spadix_ and -_primulina_. The proportions of the anterior part of the skull and of -the tympanic bullae resemble those found in _primulina_. A subadult -male skull only, no. 123846, American Museum of Natural History, from -Webb, Clay County, shows approach to _primulina_ in the narrowness of -the rostrum. - -A young male from Ruthven, Iowa, no. 48340, Univ. Michigan, has a large -skull approaching in size that of _spadix_, has the _longicauda-spadix_ -type of light-colored underparts and color pattern, and is slightly -darker above than true _longicauda_. Another subadult male in the white -winter coat from Palo Alto County, no. 35756, Univ. Michigan, has a -large skull, which shows approach to _primulina_ in its narrowness -anteriorly and in some other features. Although the tail is of moderate -length, the body is large as in _spadix_ or _longicauda_, and the -length of the hind foot suggests _spadix_ or _longicauda_. - -A subadult male, no. 425a, Iowa State College, from Manson, Iowa, in -brown winter pelage, agrees with _primulina_ in the restriction of the -area of the light color of the underparts and in less expanded -zygomatic arches. The teeth are intermediate in size between those of -_noveboracensis_ and _primulina_ on the one hand and those of _spadix_ -and _longicauda_ on the other. In other respects it agrees with, or is -more nearly like, _spadix_. - -An adult female, no. 426a, Iowa State College, from Barnum, in the -brown winter coat, agrees with _primulina_ except that the orbitonasal -length of the skull is more as in _spadix_ and the presence of some -light color on the lower part of the hind legs suggests _spadix_. The -skull only, no. 440a, Iowa State College, labeled merely Webster -County, Iowa, is almost a duplicate of no. 426a. A subadult male, no. -427a, Iowa State College, from Moorland, Iowa, only about six miles -southeast of Barnum, likewise is indistinguishable from _primulina_ -except for having a white winter coat and in being relatively broad in -the mastoidal region. Nevertheless, both of these animals are here -referred to _spadix_ because the average of specimens from this general -area is nearer that of _spadix_. No. 497a, Iowa State College, an adult -female in white winter pelage, from Ames, approaches _primulina_ in the -narrow rostrum and smaller teeth but otherwise approaches or even -agrees with _spadix_. - -Two adult males, without external measurements, from Pilot Mound, Iowa, -have skulls quite like males of _longicauda_ from Alberta. The only -approach noted to eastern forms is the restricted color of the -underparts on no. 2856, Coe College, which has a brown winter coat. The -color of the underparts is not extended so far out on the feet as in -_longicauda_. Also the tympanic bullae of this specimen are a trifle -narrower. The other male, no. 2652, is in the white winter coat. The -one female from the same place, no. 2660, Coe College, in brown winter -pelage, has a skull notably unlike that of _longicauda_ or _spadix_; -the skull is narrower and practically indistinguishable from that of -the largest female skull of _primulina_ available from Lawrence, -Kansas, save that the tooth-row is much longer. The color pattern also -agrees with that of _primulina_ or _noveboracensis_ in that the color -of the underparts extends only as far as the knee on the hind legs and -is narrow on the belly. Nevertheless, another adult female, no. 120a -from Amaqua Township, some 6 miles southwest of Pilot Mound, is in all -respects typical of _spadix_. This is the more remarkable because -another comparable specimen from less than 20 miles to the southwest in -Worth Township is equally typical of _primulina_. - -Two young females from Chester, Iowa, nos. 2656 and 2874/2873, Coe -College, have skulls larger than those of corresponding age of -_primulina_ or _noveboracensis_. The color is as in spadix. The color -pattern of the underparts also is as in _spadix_ or _longicauda_ except -that the width of the area of light color on the belly is restricted -somewhat although not so much as in _noveboracensis_ or _primulina_. -Of four males from the same place, also in the collection of Coe -College, no. A2874 is a white skin only and does not provide diagnostic -characters. The three other males, each in summer pelage, are marked -and colored as are the two females from the same place except that male -no. 2861 has the color of the underparts so much attenuated on the hind -legs that it barely, uninterruptedly, extends to the feet. No. 2658 is -young, or perhaps barely subadult. The skull is large and referable to -_spadix_. The two adults, nos. 2861 and 2657, differ cranially from -typical (Elk River, Minn.) _spadix_ only in being slightly narrower -across the mastoids and in having the bullae a little narrower. In -these departures they show some approach to _primulina_ and to -_noveboracensis_. Another male, subadult, no. 2867, Coe College, from -Decorah, which has acquired half of the white winter coat, agrees with -the males from Chester except that the preorbital part of the skull is -shortened much as in some specimens of _primulina_. - -From Lansing, in extreme northeastern Iowa, a large subadult male, no. -2864, Coe College, of 453 mm. in total length and half through with -acquiring the white winter coat, agrees with the males previously -described from Chester except in having the palate narrower as in -_noveboracensis_. The adult female available from Lansing, no. -2863/2862, Coe College, in white winter pelage except for the top of -the head, although a large skin, has a skull smaller than that of any -_spadix_ or _longicauda_ and of about the same size as that of no. -3838, Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., of _primulina_, from Lawrence, -Kansas, except that the skull of no. 2863/2862 is much narrower across -the mastoids. This specimen, then, shows approach to _noveboracensis_ -in narrowness of the mastoidal region, to _primulina_ in other respects -and to _spadix_. - -Many of these instructive specimens from Iowa, made available to the -present writer by Mr. W. F. Kubichek, were brought together at the Coe -College Museum by the late B. H. Bailey. Most of them were obtained -from trappers who did not supply the conventional external measurements -taken in the flesh. Even though these are lacking, the specimens -clearly show that actual intergradation occurs where the ranges of _M. -f. longicauda_, _spadix_, _noveboracensis_ and _primulina_ meet. - -The dark color of the upper parts, restriction of the color of the -underparts on the ankles with the result that the color reaches the -toes in interrupted fashion, and large skull, of no. 18912 of the -Museum of the University of South Dakota, from Roberts County, South -Dakota, clearly place this specimen with _spadix_, rather than with -_longicauda_. Likewise, male, subadult, no. 11376, Univ. South Dakota, -from Clay County, South Dakota, is referable to _spadix_. Although -without external measurements, the specimen obviously is large. The -patch of summer pelage on its head and neck is darker than the summer -pelage of _longicauda_, and the orbitonasal length is greater than the -length of the tympanic bullae; all these features are characters of -_spadix_. The adult male from Fort Sisseton, South Dakota, no. 188407, -United States National Museum, figured by Merriam (1896, p. 20, figs. -7-9), is almost exactly intermediate between _longicauda_ and _spadix_, -although here referred to the latter. - -Five specimens, nos. 147375, 147432, 147762, 148720 and 148721, U. S. -Nat. Mus., including 3 skulls only from Beemer, Cuming County, -Nebraska, are intergrades between _M. f. longicauda_, _M. f. primulina_ -and _M. f. spadix_. One skin is in white winter pelage and the other, a -female, is in summer pelage which in coloration and color pattern -agrees with that of _spadix_. External measurements of the male agree -with those of _longicauda_. Measurements of the female agree with those -of _spadix_ except that the tail is shorter as in _primulina_. The -skulls are as long as in _longicauda_ but are more slender than in -either _longicauda_ or _spadix_ although nearer the latter in this -respect. In dorsal aspect, the skulls especially posteriorly to the -orbital region, resemble _primulina_. All points considered, the -animals seem best referred to _spadix_. - -Although the degree of development of certain morphological features -has been settled upon as indicative of the race _spadix_, some doubt -remains as to where the western boundary of its range should be shown. -This results from the fact that color has been taken into account as -one diagnostic feature and this feature is lacking in the white winter -specimens which, from the following places, are all that are available: -Kittson County, Minnesota; Moorhead, Minnesota; Casselton and Valley -City in North Dakota; Armour, South Dakota and Clay County, South -Dakota. In summary, more specimens in the summer coat will be required -to establish definitely the boundary between the ranges of _longicauda_ -and _spadix_. - -Surber (1932:49) has referred to additional specimens of this weasel in -the University of Minnesota Museum as from Winona, Hennepin and Isanti -counties of that state. - -At Elk River, Minnesota, B. Bailey (1929:156) found this species to be -about half as abundant as _Mustela cicognanii_ and that it is "more -often found in the open timber and about the dry ridges and fields." -Of seventeen adult or subadult skulls of this race from Minnesota, ten -have obvious marks of infestation of the frontal sinuses. In no skull, -however, has the infestation resulted in so much malformation, as -occurs in _noveboracensis_. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 76, arranged alphabetically - by states and from north to south by counties in each state. - - =Iowa.= _Lyon County_: Granite, 1[65]. _Howard County_: Chester, - 6[12]. _Winneshiek County_: Decorah, 1[12]; 8 mi. NE Ossian, - 1[76]. _Allamakee County_: Lansing, 2[12]. _Clay County_: Island, - 1[76]; Webb, 1[2]. _Palo Alto County_: Ruthven, 1[76]; no locality - more definite than county, 1[76]. _Calhoun County_: Manson, 1[65]. - _Webster County_: Barnum, 1[65]; Moorland, 1[65]; no locality more - definite than county, 1[65]. _Boone County_: Pilot Mound, 3[12]; - Amaqua Township, Sec. 19, 1[65]. _Story County_: Ames, 1[65]. - - =Minnesota.= _Kittson County_, 1[2]. _Roseau County_: 2-1/2 mi. SW - Roseau, Jadis Township, 1[14]. _Itasca County_: T. 61N, R. 26W, - 1[104]. _Clay County_: Moorhead, 2[9]. _Atkin County_: Atkin, - 1[50]. _Otter Tail County_: Lake Lizzie, 1[9]; Parkers Prairie, - 1[57]. _Grant County_: 3 mi. NW Barrett, 1[76]. _Benton_ (now - Mille Lacs?) _County_: Princeton, 1[91]. _Sherburne County_: Elk - River, 14 (6[59], 4[14], 3[91], 1[74]). _Hennepin County_: Fort - Snelling, 6 (5[2], 1[91]). _Carver? County_: Chaska, 1[60]. _Lac - qui Parle County_: Madison, 5 (3[91], 2[1]); no locality more - definite than county, 2 (1[68], 1[75]). _Yellow Medicine County_: - Wood Lake, 1[2]. _Blue Earth County_: Rapidan, 1[64]. _County_ in - question: Moore Lake, 1[91]. - - =Nebraska.= _Cuming County_: Beemer, 5[91]. - - =North Dakota.= _Cass County_: Fargo, 1[91]; Casselton, 1[91]. - _Dickey County_: Oakes, 1[91]. - - =South Dakota.= _Roberts County_, 1[102]. _Marshall County_: Fort - Sisseton, 1[91]. _Douglas County_: Armour, 1[14]. _Clay County_, - 1[102]. - - -=Mustela frenata longicauda= Bonaparte - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Mustela longicauda_ Bonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., - 2:38, 1838. - - _Putorius longicauda_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 169, 1858; Coues, - Fur-bearing animals, p. 136, 1877; Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 10:7, figs. 1, 1a of pls. 1, 2 and 3, February 25, - 1896; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:19, pl. 3, figs. 3, 3a, 4, 4a, - pl. 5, figs. 1, 1a, text figs. 7-9, June 30, 1896. - - _Mustela longicauda longicauda_, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 49:166, - January 8, 1927. - - _Mustela frenata longicauda_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:105, November 20, 1936; Hall, Canadian Field-Nat., - 52:108, October, 1938. - - _Mustela frenata_, Sowls, Journ. Mamm., 29:126, May 14, 1948. - - _Type._--Possibly not in existence. No. 43.3.3.3 [from Carlton - House, Saskatchewan] in the British Museum of Natural History has - been regarded by several zoölogists as the type. It is a subadult - female, skull and skin, from North America. See the account of _M. - erminea cicognanii_ for reasons for and reasons against regarding - this specimen as the holotype. - - No. 43.3.3.3 from the collection of Dr. John Richardson is in the - white winter coat and now (Sept. 24, 1937) is prepared as a study - skin. Evidences of its once having been mounted are: holes in the - soles of the hind feet for supporting-wires, large straight wire - in the tail, folds in the skin of the now backward-projecting hind - feet, and unevenness of the skin on the back resulting from - straightening out the specimen. The tip of the tail and some skin - from the middle of the belly are missing. Otherwise the skin is - intact. The skull is that of an animal in its first year, lacks - the zygomatic arch on each side, but otherwise is complete and - unbroken. The teeth all are present and entire except that p2 on - the right side is missing from its alveolus. - - _Range._--Transition and Upper Sonoran life-zones of the Great - Plains, southward from central Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern - Manitoba through eastern Montana, the Dakotas and Nebraska into - southeastern Wyoming, northeastern Colorado and western Kansas. - See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - primulina_ in near (_h_) Clay Color rather than Brussels Brown of - upper parts, least width of color of underparts more than 40 per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, color of - underparts extended onto hind foot rather than stopped short of - ankle, zygomatic breadth more than 28.8 in adult males and more - than 24.1 in adult females; from _M. f. spadix_ in lighter color - being near (_h_) Clay Color, in males by deeper occiput in which - the depth of the skull, exclusive of the sagittal crest and taken - at the anterior border of the basioccipital amounts to more than - 59 per cent of the mastoid breadth; from _M. f. oribasus_ in near - (_h_) Clay Color rather than near (14_n_) Brussels Brown color of - the upper parts and in males by deeper occiput in which the depth - of the skull, exclusive of the sagittal crest and taken at the - anterior border of the basioccipital, amounts to more than 59 per - cent of the mastoid breadth; from _M. f. alleni_ in larger size, - adult males having a total length of more than 400 millimeters, - hind foot more than 45, basilar length more than 43.5, and females - having a total length of more than 375 and basilar length not less - than 40.0; from _M. f. nevadensis_ in near (_h_) Clay Color rather - than near (14_n_ to 1) Brussels Brown of upper parts, basilar - length more than 40 in females and averaging more than 45 in - males; from _M. f. neomexicana_ by near (_h_) Clay Color rather - than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts, absence of white and - Argus Brown facial markings, and length of tooth-rows amounting to - more than 37 per cent of basilar length. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Five adults from Alberta yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 438 - (418-473); length of tail, 158 (140-193); length of hind foot, 50 - (46-54). Tail averages 56 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot averaging more than basal length. - Corresponding measurements of five adults and subadults from North - Dakota are as follows: 465 (445-516); 164 (150-179); 51 (50-54). - Tail averages 55 per cent as long as head and body. - - Female: Six adults (Alberta, 4; Saskatchewan, 1; Manitoba, 1) - yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, - 401 (383-425); length of tail, 145 (141-159); length of hind foot, - 43 (41-44). Tail averages 57 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot more or less than (approximately equal to) - basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - are: Total length, 37; length of tail, 13; length of hind foot, 7. - General comparisons indicate that the Alberta-taken males may not - attain so large a size as those from some other areas. Thus the - differences in external measurements might be some greater - elsewhere, say, in North Dakota. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles (in summer - pelage) only slightly greater than shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Winter pelage all white except tip of tail. Summer - pelage with upper parts near (_h_) Clay Color or near tone 3 and 4 - of Snuff Brown of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 303. Chin and upper - lips white. Remainder of underparts ranging from near (_a_) Olive - Ocher to near (16´) Ochraceous Buff. Upper parts of uniform color - except for occasional darkening of head in front of ears. Color of - underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over - toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial sides of - hind limbs to ankles over antiplantar faces of toes and - distomedial third of each tarsus, and over proximal fourth to - third of under side of tail. Least width of color of underparts - averaging, in a series of 10 males from Alberta, 58 (45-60) per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Corresponding - figures for 10 females from the same place are 57 (50-74). Black - tip of tail in same series of males, most of which are in full - summer pelage, averaging 43 (35-60) mm. long. Thus, averaging - shorter than hind foot and 27 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - As compared with _M. f. neomexicana_, _longicauda_ lacks the white - facial markings, black ears, black forehead and nose, but - otherwise is similarly colored. As compared with _M. f. - nevadensis_, _M. f. oribasus_ and _M. f. spadix_, each of color - pattern similar to _longicauda_, selected differences of - _longicauda_ are its much lighter color, especially of the upper - parts, with less conspicuous darkening on the nose. From _M. f. - primulina_, _longicauda_ differs in lighter color of upper parts, - reddish rather than yellowish underparts, and light rather than - dark-colored hind feet. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 5 adults from Alberta): See - measurements and plates 16-18; weight, 4.7 (4.6-4.9) grams; - basilar length, 46.0 (44.7-46.8); zygomatic breadth more than - distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid - breadth more than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth less - than length of upper premolars and more than width of - basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum - posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth greater than - distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum more or less (usually less) than length - of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than greatest length - of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to - foramen ovale as width of 3 to 4 (including I3) upper incisors; - height of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior - margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length - of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than - rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below talonid of m1 - or anterior half of m2. - - Female (based on 5 adults: Alberta, 3; N. D., 1; Sask., 1.): See - measurements and plates 31-33; weight, 3.1 (2.8-3.5) grams; - basilar length, 42.3 (40.0-43.7); zygomatic breadth more or less - (approximately equal to) than distance between condylar foramen - and M1 or that between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of - upper premolars and more or less than width of basioccipital - measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to - its opposite; least width of palate not more than greatest length - of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width - of 3 to 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla - not less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; - length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and - premolar tooth-rows and longer or shorter than rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 34 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - - Comparisons of the skull with those of _M. f. primulina_, _M. f. - spadix_, _M. f. oribasus_, _M. f. alleni_, _M. f. nevadensis_, and - _M. f. neomexicana_ are made in accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Richardson's (1829:47) account on which Bonaparte may be -said to have based his name, records measurements in inches and lines -which I transpose into millimeters as follows: Total length, 440 mm.; -length of head and body, 305; length of tail (vertebrae), 135; length -of tail (including fur), 164 mm. Specimen no. 43.3.3.3 in the British -Museum, which has by some persons been regarded as the type, yields -measurements as follows: Total length, 408 (which allows for 15 mm. -loss of the fleshy part of the end of the tail); length of head and -body, 272; length of tail (vertebrae), 136 (= 121 + 15); length of tail -(including fur), 162 (142 + 20 mm. that appears to have been lost). -Richardson's specimen would appear to have been of unusual proportions -and to have been larger than no. 43.3.3.3. Some reasons for and reasons -against regarding this specimen as the holotype are given in the -account of _M. erminea cicognanii_. - -The name _longicauda_ was applied to practically all long-tailed -weasels of the western United States at one time but as one after -another of the geographic variants in the mountainous regions were -designated as separable, the name _longicauda_ came to be restricted to -the light-colored, relatively large, animal of the Great Plains. - -The intergradation of _longicauda_ with _spadix_ and _oribasus_ has -been commented on in the discussions of those subspecies. The larger -size and darker color of specimens referred to _longicauda_ from Devils -Lake and Grafton, North Dakota, are features indicative of -intergradation there with _spadix_. Two young females from Waterton -Lake Park, Alberta, by their darker than average color, suggest -intergradation with _oribasus_, as, for that matter, does the specimen -from Waterton Lake [= Chief Mountain Lake, in Montana] itself, which, -however, is even darker than the two specimens taken on the Canadian -side of the line and hence is referred to _oribasus_. An adult female, -no. 175586, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Moose Pass, Alberta, examined after -the above was written, is larger than any other female seen of -_longicauda_ and in this respect may show approach to _oribasus_, which -in the northern part of its range is of large size as judged by males -from the Bowron Lake region. - -One male, no. 8564, Nat. Mus. Canada, from Max Lake, Turtle Mountain, -Manitoba, presents puzzling characters. The external measurements of -465, 170, and 57, are in keeping with the great length of the skull -which has a basilar length of 48.8. The tooth-rows are 19.3 in length -and the mastoid breadth, 25.4. The relative narrowness indicated by the -mastoid breadth is maintained throughout the skull. The only other -specimens relating to the Turtle Mountains that have been seen are two -male, skins without measurements or corresponding skulls, nos. 38902 -and 38903, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., labeled as from either "Stump Lake or -Turtle Mts.," North Dakota. One of these, no. 38902, is much darker -than the other. Possibly it is from the Turtle Mountains and the other, -lighter-colored one, is from Stump Lake. Study of additional specimens -from the Turtle Mountains might show the existence there of a distinct -race. - -Four specimens, in the collection of Myron Swenk, from Inland, Clay -County, Nebraska, are instructive as showing how intergradation occurs -between _primulina_ and _longicauda_. A subadult male, no. 10, is -intermediate in external measurements and in color but in each instance -is nearer _primulina_. The same is true of the least width of the color -of the underparts. The color of the underparts extends uninterruptedly -over the hind legs to the toes as in _longicauda_, but is absent from -the underside of the tail as in _primulina_. In the skull, the basilar -length, breadth of bulla, and size of teeth are nearer _longicauda_, as -are also the ratios to the basilar length of the length of tooth-rows, -breadth of the rostrum, length of the tympanic bulla, and depth of the -braincase at the anterior margin of the basioccipital. Ratios to the -basilar length of the interorbital breadth, mastoid breadth, zygomatic -breadth, and depth of the skull at the posterior borders of the upper -molars are nearer to those of _primulina_. The relatively long rostrum, -as represented by the orbitonasal length, is nearest to that of -_spadix_. A young, almost subadult, female, no. 7, agrees with -_primulina_ in color, color pattern, and length of hind foot. The other -external measurements are intermediate, but nearer those of -_primulina_. Size of skull and teeth are as in _longicauda_. Relative -proportions of parts of the skull are not diagnostic in specimens as -young as this female. An adult female, skull only, no. 8, agrees with, -or approaches nearer to, _longicauda_ in size of skull and teeth and in -relative proportion of every part studied. A juvenile, skull only, of -questionable sex, no. 9, provides no diagnostic characters. On the -basis of color, these specimens from Inland are distinctly nearer -_primulina_. On the basis of cranial characters they are distinctly -nearer _longicauda_. External measurements are intermediate and are a -little nearer those of _primulina_. By placing the most weight on the -cranial characters, the animals may be referred to _longicauda_. The -same may be said of 2 skins, one skin with a skull, from Hastings, -Nebraska. In each skin the color-pattern is as in _primulina_; in one -the under side of the tail is nevertheless lighter-colored more as in -_longicauda_ and the skull, adult male 121651 American Museum of -Natural History, approaches nearer to _primulina_ in narrowness but has -the large teeth of _longicauda_. - -Intergradation with _neomexicana_ is suggested by one specimen, no. -7936, Univ. Kans., from Thomas County, Kansas, which has well-developed -white facial markings. - -The specimen, no. 180, Kansas Agric. College, from Glasco, is mounted, -of large size, in white winter pelage, and lacks external measurements. -On the basis of its obvious large size, and a hind foot measurement of -49 millimeters obtained from the mounted skin, the animal is -provisionally referred to _longicauda_ rather than to _primulina_. - -_Putorius culbertsoni_ is a name now credited to Coues (1877:136). -Although Coues probably intended only to indicate that Baird wrote this -name on the labels of two specimens in the mammal collection of the -Smithsonian Institution, Coues gave an "indication" of the application -of the name by publishing at the same time the catalogue numbers of -specimens whose labels bore the name and thus, in accordance with -article 21 of the International Rules of Zoölogical Nomenclature, -himself becomes the author of the name. Of the two specimens mentioned -by Coues, only the first recorded by him, no. 4320 (with skull no. -37995, U. S. Nat. Mus.), can now be found. - -Fortunately, the skull of this specimen labeled (see Lyon and Osgood, -1909:218) as taken at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, is well preserved. Its -only defects are a fracture in the left zygomatic arch and the absence -of parts of each of the first lower molars. In deciding on the -subspecific application of the name _Putorius culbertsoni_ Coues, the -skull of the type must be principally relied upon, for there is -available only one other specimen, a skin only (no. 12596, U. S. Nat. -Mus.), from the same place, and it, like the type, is in white winter -pelage and lacks flesh measurements. - -The ranges as now known of three subspecies of _Mustela frenata_ -approach near to Fort Laramie. These are _M. f. longicauda_, _M. f. -alleni_, and _M. f. nevadensis_. The skull of the type of _culbertsoni_ -is not typical of any one of the three mentioned races. The small size -of its teeth and relative (to basilar length) shallowness of the -frontal region of the skull through the postorbital processes of the -frontal are as in _nevadensis_. The zygomatic arches are not so greatly -expanded as in some specimens of _longicauda_ and are more like the -average for _nevadensis_ or _alleni_, as also is the relatively (to -basilar length) long orbitonasal length. However, each of these -characters is subject to variation and alone is not surely diagnostic, -especially toward the margin of the range of any one of the subspecies -concerned. The same may be said of the relatively great breadth of the -skull interorbitally--a feature typically found in _longicauda_. More -important, in my estimation, is the large size of the skull; all parts -measured (excepting the teeth, the depth at the posterior border of the -last upper molars, the zygomatic breadth, and the depth of the tympanic -bullae) equal or approach nearest to the average for males of -_longicauda_ of similar age. - -The small size of _alleni_ prevents its identification with -_culbertsoni_. The question of application lies between _nevadensis_ -and _longicauda_. If the long-tailed weasel at Fort Laramie is found to -be referable to the race earlier named _longicauda_, no change in -current nomenclature will be effected. If, on the other hand, the -long-tailed weasel from Fort Laramie is found to be referable to -_nevadensis_ this name will have to fall before the earlier proposed -name _culbertsoni_. There is, however, a third possibility, namely, -that the long-tailed weasel of the Transition and Upper Sonoran zones -of southern Wyoming and northern Colorado, as for example, at Lay, -Colorado, may represent a recognizable race characterized by size about -as in _longicauda_, relative proportions of skull about as in -_nevadensis_ and coloration intermediate, to which the name -_culbertsoni_ may apply. For more detailed discussion of this -possibility, see remarks under _M. f. nevadensis_. - -Satisfactory application of the name _Putorius culbertsoni_ Coues -requires an adequate series of adult specimens, of both sexes in the -summer coat with external measurements taken in the flesh, from the -type locality and like material from elsewhere in southern Wyoming. On -the evidence furnished by the skull of the type of _culbertsoni_, that -name tentatively is placed in the synonomy of _longicauda_. - -Only 2 of 25 adults examined for malformation of the frontal sinuses by -parasites showed evidence of disease. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 138, arranged alphabetically - by provinces and states and further by districts or counties from - north to south except as otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise - indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States - National Museum. - - =Alberta.= St. Albert, 1; S. Edmonton, 3; Islay, 4[77]; Battle - River, south of Camrose, 1[77]; Daysland, 1[77]; Moose Pass, 1; - Blindman River, 2 (1[75], 1[2]); Red Deer, 3 (2[2], 1[60]); - Bearberry Creek near Sundre, 1[77]; Canad. Nat. Park, N.W. - Territory, 1[60]; Red Deer River, Didsbury, 1; Canmore, 1; - Calgary, 11 (6[60], 2[1], 1[86]); Red Deer River, 3[2]; Little - Sandhill Creek, Red Deer River, 1[77]; Waterton Lake Park, 2[77]; - Sweetgrass Hills, 1[77]; Alberta, 1[14]. - - =Colorado.= _Yuma County_: Wray 4 (1[88], 3[74]). - - =Kansas.= _Rawlins County_: 7 mi. N, 3 mi. W Beardsley, 1[74]; 6 - mi. S and 2 mi. E Atwood, 1[74]; 15 mi. SE Atwood, 1[74]. _Thomas - County_: near Brewster, 2[93]; no locality more definite than - county, 2[93]. _Trego County_, 2 (1[2]). _Cloud County_: Glasco, - 1[67]. - - =Manitoba.= Portage la Prairie, 3[75]; Carberry, 2 (1[2], 1[1]); - Carman, 1[60]; Max Lake, Turtle Mt., 1[77]. - - =Montana.= _Glacier County_: St. Marys Lake, 1; Blackfoot, 1: - Blackfoot Agency, 1. _Blaine County_: 6 mi. east Chinook, 1[74]. - _Pondera County_: 1/2 mi. SE Conrad, 1[74]. _Toole County_: Shelby - Junction, 1. _Hill County_: Havre, 1. _Fergus County_: Moccasin - Mts., 5 mi. NW Hilger, 1; 7 mi. NE Hilger, 1. _Rosebud County_: - 3/4 mi. N Ingomar, 1. _County_ in question, Milk River, 2. - - =Nebraska.= _Dawes County_: Chadron, 2[35]. _Cherry County_: - Kennedy, 1; no locality more definite than county, 1. _Brown - County_: Long Pine, 1[68]. _Antelope County_: Neligh, 1[35]. - _Adams County_: Hastings, 2[2]. _Clay County_: Inland, 4[35]. - - =North Dakota= (arranged by counties from west to east). _Divide - County_: Crosby, 1. _Mountrail County_: Lostwood, 1. Little - Missouri River, 1. _Golden Valley County_: Sentinel Butte, 1. - _Billings County_: Medora, 1[60]. _McLean County_: 3 mi. W - Elbowoods, 1. _Oliver County_: Ft. Clark, 2. _Morton County_: - Mandan, 1. _Sioux County_: 3 mi. N Cannonball, 1. _Logan County_: - 6 mi. SW Napoleon, 1. _Rolette County_: Turtle Mts., 1[76]; Fish - Lake, 1. _Benson County_: Ft. Totten, 3[14]; Sully Hill Nat. Park, - 1. _Ramsey County_: Devils Lake, 2. Stump Lake or Turtle Mts., - 2[2]. _Nelson County_: Stump Lake, 1. _Grand County_: Larimore, 1. - _Walsh County_: Grafton, 11 (4[76], 3[74], 2[2]). _Stutsman - County_: Jamestown, 1. _Barnes County_: Valley City, 1. - - =Saskatchewan.= Wingard, 5; Osier, 2[75]; Simpson, 1[2]; Touchwood - Hills, 4[7]; South arm Last Mountain Lake, 1[77]; Rush Lake - (Assiniboia, N.W.T.), 2[75]. - - =South Dakota.= _Pennington County_: Rapid City, 1. - - =Wyoming.= _Goshen County_: Fort Laramie, 2. - - -=Mustela frenata oribasus= (Bangs) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32, 33 and 40 - - _Putorius (Arctogale) longicauda oribasus_ Bangs, Proc. New England - Zoöl. Club, 1:81, December 27, 1899. - - _Putorius longicauda_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 136, 1877 - (part). - - _Mustela longicauda oribasus_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:98, December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela longicauda oribasa_, Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., - 40:368, November 5, 1934. - - _Mustela frenata oribasa_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 437:105, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Female, adult, skull and skin; no. 9058, collection of E. - A. and O. Bangs, but now in collection of Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; source - of Kettle River, 7500 feet [the summit between middle fork of - Kettle River and Cherry Creek at Pinnacles--oral information from - the collector, Feb. 12, 1936], British Columbia; September 10, - 1898; obtained by Allan Brooks; original no. 1368. - - The skull (plate 40) is complete and unbroken. The teeth all are - present and entire except right I^3 which has the anterior half - broken away. The skin is complete, fairly well made, and in summer - pelage. - - _Range._--Canadian and Hudsonian life-zones from near 56°N in the - Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta and Ootsa Lake - along the Fraser and Chilcotin rivers south to Alta Lake, in the - Caribou and Monashee mountains, probably in the Selkirks and - Rockies, and through the Rockies of Montana into extreme northern - Wyoming. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - longicauda_ by near (14 _n_) Brussels Brown rather than near (_h_) - Clay Color of upper parts and in males by relatively shallower - occiput in which the depth of the skull, exclusive of the sagittal - crest and taken at the anterior border of the basioccipital, - amounts to less than 59 per cent of the mastoid breadth; from _M. - f. nevadensis_ by greater average size, see measurements. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Two adults from Florence, Montana, - measure as follows: Total length, 440, 440; length of tail, 165, - 161; length of hind foot, 47, 49. Corresponding measurements of an - adult male from Quesnel, British Columbia, are: 443; 168; 55. Tail - amounts to 60, 58, and 61 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot averages more than basal length. - - Female: The type specimen, the only typical adult or subadult - specimen of this sex of which external measurements are available, - measures: Total length, 392, length of tail, 150, length of hind - foot, 46. Tail is 63 per cent as long as head and body. Length of - hind foot amounts to more than basal length. - - The differences in external measurements, between the one female - and the average of the three males are: Total length, 49; length - of tail, 15; length of hind foot, 4. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae brown or white (often both - colors in same specimen) and extending beyond ear; carpal - vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to or beyond - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles (in summer - pelage) slightly less than shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near (14 _n_) Brussels Brown, - more blackish and less reddish than tone 4 of Burnt Umber of - Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304; in type near tone 4, pl. 301 of - Oberthür and Dauthenay. Underparts, in summer, Buff Yellow or near - (20 _c_) Amber Yellow. In winter, all white except tip of tail - which is at all times black. Upper parts of uniform color except - for occasional slight darkening of top of head and along - mid-dorsal line of back. Color of underparts extends distally on - posterior sides of forelegs over feet, on medial sides of hind - limbs over antiplantar faces of toes and over proximal two-thirds - of ventral side of tail. Least width of color of underparts - amounting to 43 per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts, 75 per cent in male from 4 miles northeast of Quesnel, - British Columbia, and 52 (33-66) in four males from Montana. Black - tip of tail in four males from Montana averaging 50 (44-60) mm. - long. Thus averaging approximately as long as hind foot and 33 per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - Color not different than in many specimens of _M. f. nevadensis_. - Color comparison with _M. f. longicauda_ has been made in the - account of that subspecies. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 5 adults and 2 subadults from - British Columbia and 4 adults from Montana): See measurements and - plates 16-18. As described in _Mustela frenata longicauda_ except - that: Weight, 5.0 (3.8-6.0) grams; basilar length, 46.7 - (43.6-48.8); postorbital breadth in one of nine instances less - than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one - foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth - more or less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of - tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior - to foramen ovale as width of 2-1/2 to 5 upper incisors; length of - tympanic bulla not less than length of lower molar and premolar - tooth-row and shorter than rostrum. - - Female (based on the type, specimen): See measurements and plates - 31-33, 40. As described in _Mustela frenata longicauda_ except - that: Weight, 3.5 grams; basilar length, 41.6 mm.; zygomatic - breadth more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than - width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen - lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more than - outside length of P^{4}; tympanic bulla as far posterior to - foramen ovale as width of 4-1/2 upper incisors; height of tympanic - bulla less than distance from anterior margin of tympanic bulla to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla less than length of - rostrum. If more than one skull were available of the female of - _oribasus_ it is believed that the description would agree with - that of _longicauda_ in nearly all features. - - The skull of the female is 30 per cent lighter than that of the - average male. - -Comparison with _longicauda_ reveals that, on the average, skulls of -males are larger, relative to the basilar length broader across the -mastoids, shallower through the braincase as measured at the anterior -end of the basioccipital exclusive of the sagittal crest, with longer -rostrum. Compared with _nevadensis_, the skull averages larger in all -measurements taken, and has a relatively broader rostrum, relatively -greater mastoid breadth and a braincase which is shallower relative to -the basilar length. By weight, the skull of _nevadensis_ is a fourth -lighter, and in linear measurements 5 to 18 per cent smaller. - -_Remarks._--Some of the specimens from Montana, which here are referred -to _oribasus_, more than half a century ago were listed by Coues -(1877:138) under the name _longicauda_. It was not until 1899 that this -race was given a name by Bangs, who at that time (1899B:81) accurately -made out the distinctive color features. Distinctive cranial characters -cannot be described with assurance even now because there still are too -few specimens. - -The type specimen, at one time examined by the present writer, has on -the stuffed skin no well-developed mammae, scrotal pouch, or other -visible sexual part. Probably the collector's sex mark for female is -correct. - -As judged by the two skulls of subadult males from the Barkerville -region, individuals of this race attain larger size than do those of -_longicauda_. On the basis of larger size than either _longicauda_ or -_nevadensis_, the specimens from the Rocky Mountains of Montana and two -from northern Wyoming are referred to this race. The short, wide, flat, -tympanic bullae, relatively great mastoidal breadth, and some other -features of the specimen from Donovan, Montana, point toward -_oribasus_, whereas nearly as many more cranial features, in this -instance mainly differences in size, are indicative of _nevadensis_ to -which race the specimen might almost equally well be referred. Another -male from Darby, in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, has a slightly -longer hind foot than those from Florence, but a female from Hamilton, -agrees more nearly with _nevadensis_. The average of all the specimens -from the Bitterroot Valley is a little nearer _oribasus_. Four skulls -from Buffalo, Wyoming, here referred to _nevadensis_ show approach to -_oribasus_ in size of skull. The specimens from Big Snowy Mountains, -and the Highwood Mountains of Montana are too young clearly to show -size of the adult skull, but are distinctly darker colored than -_longicauda_ of the plains country proper. Of two subadult females from -Tacy, Montana, the color of the one in summer pelage is distinctly -nearer that of _oribasus_ and _nevadensis_ than it is to that of -_longicauda_ to which some approach in color might be expected. The -reduced size of both of the specimens is further suggestive of -_nevadensis_ and it may be that adult specimens from these more eastern -mountainous areas in Montana will show that _nevadensis_ is the name -proper to apply to animals of this region. - -Intergradation with _nevadensis_ is suggested by specimens collected -from along the upper reaches of Okanagan Lake, British Columbia, by -Major Allan Brooks and Mr. J. A. Munro and by a series of skulls from -Ione, Pend Orielle County, Washington, lent me by Mr. Walter Dalquest. -At each place, the average of all specimens is nearest to that of -_nevadensis_. - -Specimens from near Waterton Lake show several steps in the transition -from the light-colored _longicauda_ type of coloration to the darker -coloration characterizing _oribasus_. One taken here, at a time when -the body of water referred to seems to have been known as Chief -Mountain Lake, is barely dark enough to be placed with _oribasus_. Two -other specimens from across the Canadian Border labeled as "Waterton -Lake Park" are slightly lighter colored above, and on this account are -placed with _longicauda_. - -The two adult males from Lillooet, British Columbia, are referable to -_oribasus_ although neither is quite typical. One has a saturated -coloration suggestive of that of _altifrontalis_ and the skull is -shorter and broader than in other specimens of _oribasus_. The female -from Lillooet, skin alone, no. 916, Prov. Mus., B. C. is small for -_oribasus_. The female, no. 1539, collection of Kenneth Racey, from -Alta Lake, in brown winter pelage, in almost every measurement falls -nearly midway between _altifrontalis_ and _oribasus_ but slightly -nearer the latter. The skull from Chezacut and 3 animals from Wistaria, -British Columbia, probably are females and show a greater average size -than specimens from farther to the southeast. For example, the basilar -length of the skull, 44.8 (44.3 to 45.1), exceeds that of the type -specimen. The animals from Wistaria on Ootsa Lake furnish the -northwesternmost station of occurrence of which I have record for this -subspecies. - -The northernmost records of occurrence, at "Clearwater River, Peace -River, B. C," and at Little Prairie, are furnished by a white skin -without skull, no. 257450, U. S. Nat. Mus., purchased on August 2, -1932, at the place mentioned by W. H. Sheldon and Richard Borden, and a -skull with white winter skin, no. 3585, Provincial Museum, British -Columbia, respectively. The characters distinguishing _longicauda_ and -_oribasus_ are not shown by white winter skins; the skull shows some -features of _longicauda_, and the reference of these specimens to -_oribasus_ rather than _longicauda_ is tentative. - -Only the skull from Little Prairie shows evidence of infestation of the -frontal sinuses by parasites. In the Barkerville area of British -Columbia, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas T. McCabe obtained only 2 skulls of this -subspecies from a total of 238 weasel skulls gathered by local -trappers. The others were _Mustela erminea_. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 46, listed by localities from - north to south and unless otherwise indicated, in the United - States National Museum. - - =British Columbia.= West of Hudson Hope, 1[7]; Clearwater River, - tributary to Peace River, 1; Little Prairie, a few miles south of - Peace River and about 40 miles west of the main highway between - Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, 1[85]; Wistaria, 3[85]; Four Mile - Creek, 4 mi. NE Quesnel, 1[21]; Isaacs Lake, 3200 ft., 1[74]; - Barkerville region, 1[74]; Clear River, 4800 ft., 1[74]; Chezacut, - 1[31]; Lillooet 3 (2[77], 1[85]); Alta Lake, 1[31]; source of - Kettle River, 7500 ft., 1[75]; E side Beaverfoot Range, 4000 to - 4500 ft. between Fraser Creek and 6 mi. SE of Fraser Creek, 1[74]; - Cranbrook, 1[86]; head of Cross River, 10 mi. below Assiniboine - Pass, 1[7]; camp east of "Kootanie," 1[7]; camp east of Kootanie - River, 1[7]. - - =Alberta.= Thoral Creek, 7000 ft., 50 mi. NE Jasper, 1[2]. - - =Montana.= _Glacier? County_: Chief Mt. Lake (= Waterton Lake), 1. - _Flathead County_: Columbia Falls, 1. _Chouteau? County_: Highwood - Mts., 1. _Fergus? County_: Big Snowy Mts., 1. _Wheatland County_: - Harlowton, 1[74]. _Ravalli County_: Florence, 2; Hamilton, 1[56]; - Darby, 1[56]; Carlos [= Charlos] Heights, 2[74]; Tin Cup District, - 2[74]; no locality more definite than county, 2[74]. _Beaverhead - County_: Donovan, 1. _Madison County_: Sheridan, 1[74]. _Gallatin - County_: Ranch 7-11, Eldridge, 1[60]. _Stillwater County_: Tacy, - 2[76]. _County_ in question: Gallatin Valley, 1; Yellowstone Park, - 1[75]. - - =Wyoming.= Glen Creek, Mammoth Hot Springs, 1. _Park County_: Four - Bears, 1[2]. - - -=Mustela frenata alleni= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 18, 19, 20, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Putorius alleni_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:24, June 30, 1896. - - _Mustela alleni_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:99, December - 31, 1912. - - _Mustela frenata alleni_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:106, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 186451, U. S. Nat. Mus. - (formerly 4485/5120, collection of Dr. C. Hart Merriam); Custer, - South Dakota; obtained by Vernon Bailey; original no. 90. - - The skull is complete and unbroken. The upper incisors are - missing. All the other teeth are present although the premolars, - and especially the canines, are much worn, possibly as the result - of the animal's efforts to free itself from a trap. The skin is - fairly well made, in a good state of preservation, and entire. - - _Range._--Canadian, Transition and Upper Sonoran life-zones of the - Black Hills of South Dakota and adjacent semi-bad-land territory - of Wyoming and Nebraska southward to Mitchell, Scottsbluff County. - See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - longicauda_ in smaller size, adult males having a total length of - less than 400, hind foot less than 45, basilar length less than - 43.5, and in adult females total length less than 375, and basilar - length less than 40; from _M. f. nevadensis_ in near Clay Color - rather than near (14 _n_ to _l_) Brussels Brown of upper parts in - summer. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: External measurements of the type - specimen are: Total length, 372; length of tail, 137; length of - hind foot, 44. Tail is 58 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot more than basal length. - - Female: No external measurements for typical adults are available. - No. M1 #41 from Mitchell, Scottsbluff Co., Nebraska, an adult - female which is an intergrade with the larger _M. f. longicauda_, - measures as follows: Total length, 367; length of tail, 120; - length of hind foot, 41. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae dark brown or white and - extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts - and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of - foot-soles (in summer pelage) as shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Winter pelage unknown; probably white except, of course, - tip of tail. Summer pelage as described in _Mustela frenata - longicauda_ except that: Least width of color of underparts - averaging, in 3 males from Black Hills, 54 (38-62) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail - averaging 43 (40-45) mm. long. Thus, averaging approximately same - length as hind foot and in type specimen amounting to 33 per cent - of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on the type and no. 7440 Amer. - Mus. Nat. Hist., from Hill City, S. Dak.): See measurements and - plates 18-20. As described in _Mustela frenata longicauda_ except - that: Weight, 3.1 (3.0-3.2) grams; basilar length, 41.0 - (40.9-41.0); mastoid breadth not less than postpalatal length; - breadth of rostrum more than length of P4; anterior margin of - tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 to - 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less than - distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale. - - Female (based on no. 7441, American Mus. Nat. Hist., from Black - Hills, S. Dak.): See measurements and plates 31-33. As described - in _Mustela frenata longicauda_ except that: Weight, 2.0 grams; - basilar length 37.6. The skull of the female is 35 per cent - lighter than the average for the two males. - - Comparison with _M. f. longicauda_ and _M. f. nevadensis_ reveals - that the tympanic bullae average more nearly flat and that the - skull is smaller. - -_Remarks._--Animals of this subspecies were described and named by -Merriam in 1896 as a distinct species on the basis of two or possibly -three specimens from the Black Hills of South Dakota and the name seems -never to have been applied to specimens from other regions. Vernon -Bailey obtained only the one specimen, the type, on his trip in 1888, -but two more were obtained for the American Museum of Natural History -by Walter Granger in 1894. - -_Mustela frenata alleni_ combines the light coloration of _M. f. -longicauda_ with the small size of _M. f. nevadensis_. Indeed, the size -may average less than that of _nevadensis_. _M. f. alleni_ seems to -reach its extreme of small size in the Black Hills of South Dakota. -Specimens from Mitchell, Scottsbluff County, Nebraska, here referred -to alleni are of larger size and in this respect are intermediate -between the subspecies _alleni_ and _longicauda_. Of the two specimens -available from Chadron, Nebraska, and here referred to as _longicauda_, -the female, M1 #6, is almost exactly intermediate in size between -_alleni_ and _longicauda_, whereas the male, Ml #11, is as large as the -average-sized _longicauda_. - -None of the nine skulls (5 adults) shows malformation resulting from -the infestation of the frontal sinuses with parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 10, as follows. - - =Wyoming.= _Crook County_: Sundance, 1[91]. - - =South Dakota.= _Pennington County_: Hill City, 1[2]; 20 mi. N Elk - Mt, 1[91]. _County_ in question: Black Hills, 1[2]. _Custer - County_: Custer, 2 (1[91], 1[2]). - - =Nebraska.= _Scottsbluff County_: Mitchell, 4[35]. - - -=Mustela frenata arizonensis= (Mearns) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 19, 20, 21, 31, 32 and 33 - - _Putorius arizonensis_ Mearns, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:234, - June, 1891; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:22, fig. 12, June 30, - 1896. - - _Mustela arizonensis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:99, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela frenata arizonensis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:106, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Female, adult, skull and skin; no. 2490/1886, Amer. Mus. - Nat. Hist.; San Francisco Forest [then (1886?), Yavapai County], - Arizona; June 20, 1886; obtained by Edgar A. Mearns. - - The skull (plates 31-33) is complete and unbroken save for a small - puncture in the right squamosal. The incisors above and below and - M^2 and P^2 on each side are missing. Four canines are preserved - separately. Otherwise the teeth are in place. The skin has been - taken down from a mount. Some hair has been lost from in front of - the ears. Seven mammae are evident and show the animal to have - been nursing young. The slightly faded color was mentioned by - Mearns in the original description. He says (1891:234): "The - memorandum of the colors was made before skinning, the specimen - having been subsequently preserved in a solution of alum and salt, - which extracted much of the coloring matter." - - _Range._--Transition to Hudsonian life-zones of Arizona and - extreme western New Mexico, along the Colorado River, and south of - the Little Colorado River, from San Francisco Mountain region - along Mogollon Plateau to extreme western New Mexico. See figure - 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - neomexicana_ by near (14 _n_) Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn - Brown color of upper parts, in absence rather than presence of - white frontal spot continuous with color of underparts, in basilar - length of less than 44 in males and 39.3 in females; from _M. f. - nevadensis_ in that total length averages less than 375 in males - and 330 in females, basilar length averaging less than 41 in males - and less than 36.7 in females. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: No. 24679/32071, from - Springerville, and no. 248993 from the Kaibab Plateau, measure - respectively, as follows: Total length, 363, 367; length of tail, - 140, 143; length of hind foot, 41.5, 41.0. Tail is 63, and 64 per - cent as long as head and body. These males, the only specimens of - that sex of which external measurements are available, probably - are grading toward _nevadensis_ and therefore are nontypical. - - Female: Three specimens, one young from Little Spring, a subadult - from Deadmans Flat and the type specimen, measure respectively as - follows: Total length, 323, 296, 302; length of tail, 110, 101, - 109; length of hind foot, 38, 33, 36. These average, 307, 107, 36. - Tail averages 53 per cent as long as head and body. - - Differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total - length, 56; length of tail, 39; hind foot, 5.5. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot soles (in summer - pelage) about as shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Winter pelage unknown. Summer pelage with upper parts - near (14 n) Brussels Brown or tone 2 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, Pl. 301, darker on top of head from nose to line - connecting posterior margins of ears. Tip of tail always black. - Chin and upper lips white. Remainder of underparts Buff Yellow to - Straw Yellow and rarely Ochraceous Buff. Color of underparts - extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto - antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial sides of hind legs - to ankles and over antiplantar faces of toes, medial third of - tarsus, and over proximal fifth to fourth of ventral side of tail. - Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 8 specimens, 44 - (29-54) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black - tip of tail, in four females averaging 35 (33-38) mm. long. Thus, - averaging shorter than hind foot and 32 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. Three of the eight specimens before me (no. 242671 - from 25 mi. SE Flagstaff, not available at time of this - accounting) have the dark spot near the angle of the mouth faintly - indicated, whereas the other five lack the spots. The color is as - in _M. f. nevadensis_. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 55211, 65231, and 248993; see - p. 422): See measurements and plates 19-21; weight 2.7 and 3.1 - grams; basilar length, 40.4; zygomatic breadth more than distance - between condylar foramen and Ml or than between anterior palatine - foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth - more than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth less than length - of upper premolars and more than width of basioccipital measured - from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its - opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than distance between - foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of - rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate - more or less than medial length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic - bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3-1/2 - (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than - distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of - tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar-premolar tooth-row - and longer or shorter than rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric - fossa below talonid of m1. - - Female (based on the type specimen): See measurements and plates - 31-33; weight, 1.6 grams; basilar length, 35.5; zygomatic breadth - less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more than - distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla (nearly equal in each instance); postorbital - breadth less than length of upper premolars and greater (7.1-8.4) - than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one - foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate - equal to inside length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to - foramen ovale as width of 3 (including I3) upper incisors; height - of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar-premolar tooth-row and greater than length of rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 41 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. nevadensis_, that of _arizonensis_ is -smaller, less heavily ridged and has more inflated tympanic bullae and -a relatively greater mastoid breadth. Comparison with the skull of _M. -f. neomexicana_ is made in the account of that subspecies. - -_Remarks._--In 1891 Mearns (234-235) named this weasel as a full -species on the basis of two individuals taken by him in 1886 and 1887. -Since that time only a few additional specimens have been preserved. -Only four are adults. Although this material does not permit of a -definition of the subspecies as precise as could be wished, still, it -clearly shows that the animals from the plateau region of Arizona are -recognizably different from those farther north in the Sierra Nevada of -California and those of the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin region -northward to the Canadian border. These more northern animals have gone -by Mearns' name, _arizonensis_, since the date of its proposal until -1939 when the name _nevadensis_ was proposed. - -The smaller size, especially of the skull, and the greater inflation of -the tympanic bullae are the outstanding characters which distinguish -_arizonensis_ from the similarly marked _nevadensis_. The bullae are -relatively much inflated throughout but especially so on the -posteromedial parts. - -Although the three adult males and two subadult females available of -this subspecies are smaller in most parts measured than any of the -scores of _nevadensis_ of similar age that have been measured, overlap -in size probably will be found as additional specimens of _arizonensis_ -become available. A young female, no. 18513, coll. D. R. Dickey, from -Little Spring, does have certain cranial measurements as large as are -found in the minimum-sized _nevadensis_ from farther north. - -Intergradation with the two subspecies whose geographic ranges adjoin -that of _arizonensis_ is indicated by specimens at hand. One of these -is the adult male from 25 miles southeast of Flagstaff, which shows -decided approach to _neomexicana_, in color and in possessing white -facial markings less well developed than in _neomexicana_. Even better -developed white facial markings, with intervening blackish coloration, -are displayed by no. 148271, U. S. Nat. Mus., from 8500 feet altitude -on Willow Creek, New Mexico. This subadult female shows approach to -_neomexicana_ also in larger size of the skull and entire animal. The -great inflation of the posterior part of each of its bullae and the -dark color of the upper parts are characters of _arizonensis_. The -color of the underparts stops at the ankles leaving the hind feet dark -colored, in which respect the specimen is unlike either _neomexicana_ -or _arizonensis_. If additional specimens showing the same characters -as this one be found at other nearby localities they probably should be -given recognition as a separate subspecies. For the present it seems -best to regard the specimen merely as an intergrade. Although it might, -with almost equal propriety, be referred to either _neomexicana_ or -_arizonensis_, the specimen is here placed with the latter. The -subadult male from Springerville, Arizona, is of larger size than the -topotypical male of _arizonensis_ and in this respect shows slight -approach to _nevadensis_. The narrower mastoidal breadth and slightly -less inflated tympanic bullae of the male from the Kaibab Plateau may -reflect merely individual variation or may represent intergradation in -these features with _nevadensis_. - -The statement made by Merriam (1896:22) that, "The type specimen . . . -is an immature female and is of unusually small size. A male obtained -by him [Mearns] near the same place is of the normal size, as is -another male in the Department collection from Springerville, Ariz., -collected by E. W. Nelson," needs correction. The female is not -immature. The specimen obtained by Mearns near the same place probably -refers to Amer. Mus. No. 2489, from Quaking Asp Settlement, which lacks -both the skull and external measurements. As stuffed it is of small -size for a male. The male from Springerville, as shown by the external -and cranial measurements, is not of normal (_i. e._ average) size, but -is smaller than the average for the other populations of similarly -colored weasels referred to by Merriam (_op. cit._) as _arizonensis_ -but here described under the name _nevadensis_. - -None of the skulls shows signs of infestation of the frontal sinuses by -parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 17, arranged alphabetically - by states and from north to south by counties in each state. - Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the collection of the - United States National Museum. - - =Arizona.= _Coconino County_: VT Park, Kaibab Plateau, 1; Deadman - Flat, 6400 ft., 1[74]; Little Spring, 1[59]; Government Prairie, - near Parks, 1[74]; _Coconino? County_: San Francisco Forest - (Yavapai Co., in 1886), 1[2]; 25 mi. SE Flagstaff, 1; Quaking Asp - Settlement, 1[2]. _Apache County_: Springerville, 1; North Fork - White River, White Mts., 8200 ft., 4[87]; head San Francisco - River, Judd Ranch, Alpine, 1[74]; 2 mi. SE Big Lake Knoll, 8700 - ft., 24 mi. S Springerville, 1[74]. _Greenlee County_: S end Blue - Range, 9000 ft., Prieto Plateau, 1; Beaver Creek, 7000 ft., 1[74]. - - =New Mexico.= _Grant County_: Mogollon Mts., Willow Creek, 8500 - ft., 1. - - -=Mustela frenata nevadensis= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 19, 20, 21, 33, 34, 35 and 39 - - _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:91, November 20, 1936. - - _Putorius longicauda_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 136, 1877 - (part); Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 5:83, July 30, 1891. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Putorius arizonensis_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:22, figs. 13, - 14, June 30, 1896 (part); Stephens, Mammals of California, p. - 247, 1906. - - _Mustela arizonensis_, Grinnell and Swarth, Univ. California Publ. - Zoöl., 10:376, October 31, 1913; Whitlow and Hall, Univ. - California Publ. Zoöl., 40:247, September 30, 1933. - - _Mustela arizonensis arizonensis_, Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. - Zoöl., 40:102, September 26, 1933. - - _Mustela frenata_, Boyer, Journ. Mamm., 24:99, February 20, 1943. - - _Type._--Female, adult, skull and skin; no. 41053, Mus. Vert. - Zoöl.; three miles east Baker, White Pine County, Nevada; May 30, - 1929; obtained by E. R. Hall and W. C. Russell; original no. 2674, - E. R. H. - - The skull (plates 33-35) is complete and unbroken. The teeth all - are present and entire. The skin is fairly well made. Eight mammae - are evident and show the animal to have been nursing young. - - _Range._--Altitudinally, 700 feet at Wenatchee, Washington, to the - highest parts of the mountains of the western United States; Upper - Sonoran Life-zone to Arctic Alpine Life-zone; southern British - Columbia in the Cascades and territory west to Monashee Mountains, - and Nelson, southward in the Cascades of northern Washington, over - western Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada to northeastern - Arizona and northern New Mexico; westward from the eastern base of - the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to the western base of the Sierra - Nevada and Cascades of California and to the Cascades of southern - Oregon. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. oribasus_ - by smaller average size, see measurements; from _M. f. longicauda_ - by near (14 _n_ to _l_) Brussels Brown rather than near (_h_) Clay - Color of the upper parts, and in males by a shallower occiput in - which the depth of the skull, exclusive of the sagittal crest, and - taken at the anterior border of the basioccipital, amounts to - less than 59 per cent of the mastoid breadth; from _M. f. alleni_ - by near (14 _n_ to _l_) Brussels Brown rather than near (_h_) Clay - Color of upper parts in summer; from _M. f. neomexicana_ by near - (14 _n_ to _l_) Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color - of upper parts, in absence of white frontal spot continuous with - color of underparts, in basilar length of less than 46 in males - and 40 in females; from _M. f. arizonensis_ by total length - averaging more than 375 in males and 330 in females, basilar - length averaging more than 41 in males and 36.7 in females; from - _M. f. inyoensis_ by absence of white facial markings; from _M. f. - pulchra_ by absence of light facial markings, near (14 _n_ to _l_) - Brussels Brown rather than near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown color of - upper parts, and lesser size, hind foot less than 40 in females - and basilar length averaging less than 46.0 in males; from _M. f. - xanthogenys_ by absence of light facial markings and near (14 _n_ - to _l_) Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper - parts; from _M. f. munda_ by absence of white facial markings, - presence of color of underparts on ventral face of proximal third - of tail, and hind foot of less than 50 in males; from _M. f. - saturata_ by presence of light color of underparts on tail and - ankle and in lesser average breadth across mastoid processes of - skull (see measurements); from _M. f. oregonensis_ by absence of - nasofrontal white patch, presence of light color of underparts on - ventral face of tail, and shorter skull, which, relative to its - length in males, is deeper through the braincase; from _M. f. - washingtoni_ by presence of light color of underparts on ventral - face of tail, by skull which in male relative to basilar length is - shorter in the preorbital region and wider across the zygomata and - mastoid processes, and in female has longer preorbital region and - larger bullae (see measurements); from _M. f. altifrontalis_ by - lighter colored upper parts which are tones 1 to 3 of Raw Umber, - pl. 301, rather than tone 4 of Brownish Drab, pl. 302, of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, by Buff-Yellow to Straw Yellow rather than near - (14´ _a_ to 16´ _c_) Ochraceous-Buff color of underparts, by least - width of color of underparts amounting to more than 37 per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts, by presence of color of - underparts on ventral side of tail and on hind leg over ankle, and - by lesser depth of skull through frontal region; from _M. f. - effera_ by larger size, males averaging 12-1/2 per cent larger in - external measurements, 8 per cent larger in linear measurements of - skull, and 22 per cent heavier in weight of skull, total length - averaging 400 rather than 360, basilar length averaging 43.6 - rather than 40.5. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Twenty-one adults from the southern - half of the Sierra Nevada of California yield average and extreme - measurements as follows: Total length, 400 (356-428); length of - tail, 150 (125-178); length of hind foot, 46.1 (42-50). Tail - averages 60 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot - averaging more than basal length. Corresponding measurements of - twelve adults from extreme southern and southwestern Colorado are - as follows: 407 (355-431); 150 (133-170); 46.0 (42-49). - - Female: Ten adults from the Sierra Nevada of California yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 349 - (336-362); length of tail, 127 (120-133); length of hind foot, - 36.3 (32-39). Tail averages 57 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot less than basal length. Corresponding - measurements of ten adults from the Rocky Mountains of central - Colorado are as follows: 347 (325-375); 123 (111-141); 40 - (32-43). - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, - in the Sierras of California are: Total length, 51; length of - tail, 23; length of hind foot, 9.8. Weight of 7 adult males from - California is 267 (226-345) grams. Two adult females from there - weigh 148 and 115 grams and 3 from White Pine County, Nevada, 134, - 122 and 124, giving an average of 129 grams. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles (in summer - pelage) about as shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near (14 _n_ to _l_) Brussels - Brown or tones 1 to 3 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. - 301, darker on top of head from nose to line connecting posterior - margins of ears. Chin and upper lips white. Remainder of - underparts Buff-Yellow to Straw Yellow and sometimes - Ochraceous-Buff especially in young, and in some adults from - southern Colorado. In winter, all white, except tip of tail, or - upper parts near (_j_) Snuff Brown or lighter than Brussels Brown - with a smoked effect, and underparts white. Tip of tail at all - times black. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior - sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and - wrists, on medial sides of hind legs to ankles, over antiplantar - faces of toes, medial third of tarsus and usually over proximal - tenth to three-fourths of ventral side of tail. Least width of - color of underparts averaging, in a series of twenty males from - the southern half of the Sierra Nevada of California, 59 (37-76) - per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. In seven males - from southern Colorado corresponding percentages are 55 (37-71). - Black tip of tail in series from Sierra Nevada averaging 50 - (40-60) mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and averaging 33-1/3 - per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 25 adults, from Sierra Nevada - of California): See measurements and plates 19-21; weight, 3.7 - (2.9-4.9) grams; basilar length, 43.6 (40.6-46.1); zygomatic - breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and M1 (save - in four instances) and more than distance between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla (save in - two specimens); mastoid breadth more (80 per cent of specimens) or - less (20 per cent) than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth - less than length of upper premolars and more or less than width of - basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum - posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than - distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; - least width of palate less than medial length of P4 (except in two - specimens); anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to - foramen ovale as width of 3 to 5 upper incisors; height of - tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum; - anterior margin of masseteric fossa not carried farther forward - than point directly below hypoconid of m1. - - Female (based on ten adults from Sierra Nevada of California): See - measurements and plates 33-35; weight, 2.2 (1.8-2.4) grams; - basilar length, 38.2 (36.7-39.5); zygomatic breadth more (except - in one specimen) than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and - more (save in two specimens) than distance between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and less - than (except in one specimen) width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - least width of palate more or less than either outside or inside - length of P4 but generally less than inside length; tympanic bulla - as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 5-1/2 upper - incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less (usually more) - than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of - tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar - tooth-row and more or less than length of rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 41 per cent lighter than that of - the average male. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. longicauda_, that of both sexes -averages smaller in every measurement taken. Males of _nevadensis_, on -the average, relative to the basilar length, are narrower in the -interorbital region and across the zygomata but have the orbitonasal -length greater. Stated in another way, the rostrum of _longicauda_ -appears to be shorter and broader and the zygomata are more expanded. -Females of _nevadensis_, on the average, relative to the basilar length -are narrower across the mastoid processes and zygomata and have the -braincase deeper at the anterior margin of the basioccipital. Also in -_nevadensis_ the mastoid processes do not project so far laterally -beyond the braincase, the lambdoidal crest and postorbital processes -are less well developed and except in the interparietal region, the -temporal ridges hardly meet and they form a sagittal furrow rather than -a low sagittal crest which characterizes adult females of _longicauda_. -Each of these differences separating the females of _longicauda_ from -those of _nevadensis_ are of the same nature, although not necessarily -of the same degree, as those which appear in _longicauda_ with -increasing age. The differences mentioned above are readily appreciable -when series of specimens are compared. However, none of the differences -is of great degree, and most parts of the skulls of the two subspecies -are of similar relative proportions. Even so, there is but little -overlap in actual size. Comparisons with the skulls of _M. f. -oribasus_, _alleni_, _neomexicana_, _arizonensis_, _inyoensis_, -_pulchra_, _xanthogenys_, _munda_, _saturata_, _oregonensis_, -_washingtoni_, _altifrontalis_, and _effera_ are made in the accounts -of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--The populations to which the name _nevadensis_ at present -is assigned have gone by the name _arizonensis_ since Mearns proposed -this name in 1891. Before that time Coues (1877:141) had included -individuals of this race under the name _Putorius longicauda_. - -Among the populations here assigned to _M. f. nevadensis_, there is -some geographic variation but it is of lesser degree than in most other -species of mammals which range over the same region. Comparison of 20 -adult males from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with 25 adult males -from a place as far distant as the Sierra Nevada of California shows -that the two populations closely resemble each other. The specimens -from Colorado average a trifle wider across the zygomata, have a longer -body and therefore relatively shorter tail, and, except in southern -Colorado, a slightly longer hind foot. Comparison of ten adult females -from each of the two areas reveals that those from Colorado have a -markedly longer hind foot, and a tail somewhat shorter relative to the -length of the body. The mentioned differences are the only ones found -among the great number of points investigated, except that as remarked -by Merriam (1896:23) the Sierran animal has the yellow of the -underparts reaching farther up under the chin, the underside of the -tail on the average is more suffused with yellowish and the white on -the upper lip is more extensive. As regards the last mentioned feature, -my check of 34 skins from Colorado reveals that the white extends all -the way around the upper lip in every specimen but one, whereas in 69 -specimens from the Sierra Nevada the white extends all the way around -the upper lip in only 39. However, as further remarked by Merriam -(_loc. cit._), not only this but the other color features are -inconstant in addition to being slight. When the occurrence of the dark -spots near the angles of the mouth are tabulated, it is found that in -33 Colorado-taken specimens they are absent in 19, faintly indicated in -13, and well developed in 1. In 62 California-taken specimens they are -absent in 37, faintly indicated in 20, and well developed in 5. - -In northwestern Colorado, southern Wyoming, and possibly through the -Bear River Divide into southeastern Idaho, long-tailed weasels here -referred to _nevadensis_ approach _longicauda_ in large size and -occasionally in other features, more closely than do specimens of -_nevadensis_ from most other places in its range. This tendency is -thought to be significant for much of the area in question lies in or -below the Transition Life-zone, the same life zones in which farther to -the eastward true _longicauda_ occurs. - -One specimen that illustrates this approach to _longicauda_ is an adult -male, no. 2334, collection of E. R. Warren, from 6160 feet, Lay, Routt -[now Moffat] County, Colorado. In large size and, relative to the -basilar length, shorter rostrum and shorter tympanic bullae, it agrees -with _longicauda_ but the darker color and, relative to the basilar -length, narrowness of the rostrum, interorbital region, zygomatic -expanse and the shallowness through the region of the postorbital -processes place it with _nevadensis_. Of two other specimens from -Steamboat Springs, Routt County, a young male, no. 4010, in the -collection of E. R. Warren, has a hind foot (50 mm.) as long as in -_longicauda_; and the other, no. 138195, U. S. Nat. Mus., an adult -male, agrees well enough in size and proportions with _nevadensis_ but -has the coloration typical of _longicauda_. - -From Wyoming, one subadult female, no. 177553, U. S. Nat. Mus., from -Garrett, is intermediate in size and coloration but is nearer to -_nevadensis_ in these particulars, as it is in all other points -considered except size of the molar teeth which are as large as in -_longicauda_ and larger than in any female _nevadensis_ from Colorado -or California. Another female, an adult, no. 179304, U. S. Nat. Mus., -from Lonetree, Wyoming, agrees with _longicauda_ in size of skull. -Indeed, ten of seventeen cranial measurements exceed the maximum for -Colorado-taken _nevadensis_. Where differences exist in relative -proportions of the skull as expressed in percentages of the basilar -length, the specimen approaches _nevadensis_ in 5 instances and -_longicauda_ in only 3. The color is intermediate but much nearer that -of _nevadensis_ with which the animal agrees also in external -measurements. Ten subadults (5 of each sex) from within 12 miles of -Laramie (not Fort Laramie) show greater resemblance to _nevadensis_ but -definitely approach _longicauda_. Average external measurements are: -[M], 408, 155, 44; [F], 361, 134, 40. The two other specimens examined -from this general locality, a young female, no. 2711, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., -from Fort Bridger, and a subadult female, no. 188377, U. S. Nat. Mus., -from Bridger Pass, show no departures from _nevadensis_ of similar age. - -The specimens from scattered localities in the Transition Life-zone of -northwestern Colorado and southern Wyoming are larger than _nevadensis_ -is elsewhere, and also in certain other features resemble _longicauda_ -of the plains to the eastward. Everything considered, the animals in -question are much more like _nevadensis_ than _longicauda_. Study of -more specimens, especially from Wyoming, might provide grounds for -recognizing as a different subspecies the animals in this large area -comprising parts of Colorado and Wyoming from which so few specimens -now are available. Possibly the name _Putorius culbertsoni_ Coues would -apply. Decision on that point will require adequate material from the -type locality, Fort Laramie. See discussion of this name under _M. f. -longicauda_. - -In southeastern Idaho males are larger than they are at most other -places within the range of _nevadensis_. An average of 7 adults and -subadults from Pegram, Montpelier, Springfield, and the vicinity of -Pocatello, reveals, when compared with the average of _nevadensis_ from -Colorado and that of _longicauda_ from the Great Plains, that this -population from southeastern Idaho is nearest to _longicauda_ in linear -measurements of the orbitonasal length, mastoid breadth, length of -tympanic bullae, and as expressed in percentage of the basilar length, -length of tooth-row, breadth of rostrum, and zygomatic breadth. In all -other points of size, relative proportions and color, the animals -approach nearer to, or actually agree with, _nevadensis_. - -The specimens commented upon clearly show intergradation between -_nevadensis_ and _longicauda_. Similarly, the specimens from -Scottsbluff County, Nebraska, here referred to _M. f. alleni_, by their -larger size suggest intergradation of that subspecies with the larger -_nevadensis-longicauda_ stock although the approach is more toward -_longicauda_ than _nevadensis_. Between _oribasus_ and _nevadensis_, -however, there is no lack of material showing intergradation. As set -forth in the account of _oribasus_, specimens from Montana are truly -intermediate structurally as well as geographically. - -Intergradation with _washingtoni_ is shown by specimens from the -northern part of the Cascade Range in Chelan and Okanogan counties, -Washington. The adult male, U. S. Nat. Mus., no. 235183, from Bald -Mountain, is referable to _washingtoni_ on the basis of cranial -characters but all the other adult and subadult specimens examined from -Chelan and Okanogan counties are nearer _nevadensis_ on the basis of -cranial characters. Indeed, some show no approach to _washingtoni_ in -cranial characters. As might be expected on geographic grounds, the -specimen from Easton, U. S. Nat. Mus., male subadult, no. 116870, shows -approach to _washingtoni_. This is true of the coloration of the hind -limbs, small size of the tympanic bullae, and relatively greater length -of the preorbital part of the skull. However, the greater width of the -light color of the underparts and relatively great breadth across the -mastoid processes and zygomatic arches are points of agreement with -_nevadensis_. Similarly, a series of 7 specimens from the Entait River, -20 miles above its mouth, in tone of color is nearer to _washingtoni_, -as is one of the two skulls of adult males in length of the preorbital -region. However, in greater breadth of the skull otherwise, and in the -relatively great width of the light color of the underparts, the -animals are nearer to _nevadensis_, to which they are here referred. -Some of these characters mentioned above in which departure is shown -from typical _nevadensis_ are characters that show approach to -_altifrontalis_. This is especially true of the more intense coloration -and restriction of the color of the underparts. - -Complete intergradation with _effera_ is shown by specimens from -southern Oregon. The change from small _effera_ to the larger -_nevadensis_ here is gradual; consequently in northeastern California -and southern Oregon the size increases gradually to the northward. -Specimens showing complete intergradation with _oregonensis_ and -_saturata_ are wanting. However, one specimen from Crescent Lake -suggests _oregonensis_ in having near (18) apricot yellow underparts -such as occur frequently in _oregonensis_. Also some specimens from -northern California approach _saturata_ in having the color of the -underparts reduced in the extent to which it reaches out on the under -side of the tail. This fact and the consideration that the two races -are less different from one another than are other kinds which -definitely are known to intergrade leave no doubt but that material -from the intervening localities would show complete intergradation. - -Intergradation between _nevadensis_ and _munda_ is indicated by -specimens from South Yolla Bolly Mountain, Trinity County, which are -commented on at greater length in the account of _M. f. munda_. _M. f. -inyoensis_ is so closely related to _nevadensis_ as to leave no doubt -that specimens from suitable localities will show actual -intergradation. That intergradation occurs directly with the bridled -weasel of the interior valleys of California, _M. f. xanthogenys_, is -shown by specimens from along the west-facing flank of the southern -part of the Sierra Nevada. Probably intergradation occurs all along the -Sierra Nevada on the western slope but specimens are lacking to show -this. Weasels are known to occur in the foothill territory and the -lesser attention given to this region by mammal collectors than to the -higher parts of the mountains may explain the lack of preserved -specimens. Individual specimens, here referred to _nevadensis_, but, -showing varying degrees of approach to _xanthogenys_ are as follows: A -female from Hume; a male and a female from 8000 feet elevation, Monache -Meadows; a male from 9800 feet elevation on the east fork of the Kaweah -River; and 7 specimens, probably one family, from one-half mile south -of Mineral King, 7850 feet. Of the specimens from 7850 feet, the adult -male has no light facial markings and the head is only slightly darker -than the back. The adult female has much restricted, light facial -markings and the intervening areas are darker than in the male. The -five juveniles trapped in the same burrow as the female, each has more -extensive light facial markings than the adult female although the area -of this varies from only slightly more than in the female to as much as -in typical specimens of _xanthogenys_. Also, the dark color of the head -in these five specimens averages darker than in _nevadensis_ and more -as in weasels to the southwestward especially _latirostra_. One of the -five juveniles is lighter colored over all of the upper parts than -_nevadensis_ and is suggestive of _xanthogenys_ in this respect. -Finally, the adult male has on the underparts small spots of ochraceous -orange suggestive of _latirostra_ and some individuals of _pulchra_. -No. 30655/42628, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken on Mount Whitney, also shows -white facial markings and some other features of the valley-inhabiting -_xanthogenys_. A suggestion of intergradation with _arizonensis_ is -furnished by specimens, referred to that race, from Springerville and -the Kaibab Plateau. No specimens happen to be available from the region -in which intergradation would be expected between _nevadensis_ and -_neomexicana_. Since _neomexicana_ and _arizonensis_ intergrade it is -probable that _nevadensis_ also will be found to intergrade with -_neomexicana_. In summary, _nevadensis_ is judged to intergrade with -each of the subspecies of _Mustela frenata_ whose range adjoins that of -_nevadensis_. - -This subspecies is remarkably free from injury to the frontal sinuses -such as result from the presence of parasites. In 98 adults from -Oregon, California, Nevada, and Colorado, no malformation was noted. -Only 1 of the 26 specimens from Washington was malformed and it was an -intergrade with _washingtoni_. The single adult from New Mexico was -diseased, as were 3 of the 6 from British Columbia, 1 of the 20 from -Idaho, and 1 of the 7 from Utah. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 568, arranged alphabetically - by provinces and states and from north to south by counties in - each state. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the - collection of the United States National Museum. - - =Arizona.= _Apache County_: 15 mi. E Luka Chu Kai Navajo School, - 8000 ft., 2. - - =British Columbia.= Monte Cr., 20 mi. E Kamloops, 1[21]; Sicamous, - 2; Okanagan, 18 (7[2], 6[85], 1[75], 1[86]); Monashee Pass, 1[31]; - Swan Lake, near Okanagan Landing, 1[22]; Okanagan Landing, 11 - (2[74], 3[31], 3[86], 3[22]); Vernon, 1[74]; Hope-Princeton - Summit, 5600 ft., 1[77]; Hope, 1[20]; Similkameen, 1[77]; - Osoyoos-Bridesville Summit, 1[77]; Anarchist Mt., Osoyoos, 1[31]; - Myer's Creek, 1[77]; Rossland, Mt. Glory, 7000 ft, 1[77]; Cascade, - 1[77]; Nelson, 1. - - =California.= _Siskiyou County_: Hornbrook, 1; Tule Lake Refuge, - 5[74]; Upper Mud Creek, 6700 ft., Mt. Shasta, 3; Mt. Shasta, 1. - _Modoc County_: Goose Lake, 1[20]; Joseph Creek, 1[74]; 5280 ft., - Parker Creek, near Alturas, 1[74]; Warner Mts., near Alturas, - 1[8]; 5 mi. NW Eagle Peak, 7000 ft., 2[74]; Shields Creek, 5000 - ft., 1[74]; Jess Valley, 1[8]. _Shasta County_: Cassel, 1. _Lassen - County_: 3 mi. W Eagle Lake, 5800 ft., 1[74]; 4 mi. S Eagle Lake, - 6000 ft., 2[74]; Mill Creek, 5000 ft., S base Mt. Lassen, 1; 6 mi. - SW Calneva, 1. _Tehama County_: Dale's, 600 ft., on Paines Creek, - 1[74]. _Plumas County_: Kelly's, 2 mi. S Willow Lake, 5200 ft., - 3[74]; Quincy, 4[68]; Beckwith, Sierra Valley, 1. _Butte County_: - Jonesville, 1[74]. _Sierra_ _County_: Little Truckee River, 6500 - ft., 3 mi. N Independence Lake, 2[42]. _Nevada County_: - Independence Lake, 1[74]. _Placer County_: Donner, 3; 2 mi. W Soda - Springs Station, 6500 ft., 1[74]; Blue Canyon, 5000 ft., 2 - (1[74]); 4 mi. S Tahoe City, 1[74]. _Eldorado County_: 5 mi. S - Tallac, 6300 ft., 1; Gilmore Lake, Mt. Tallac, 2[74]; Mt. Tallac, - 1[68]; Phillips, 1[59]. _Alpine County_: 8000 ft., Hope Valley, 1; - 8000 ft., Silver Creek, 1. _Tuolumne County_: Strawberry, 5200 - ft., 1[74]; 9300 ft., Ten Lakes, Yosemite Park, 1[74]; Tuolumne - Meadows, 8600 ft., Yosemite Park, 1[74]; Tuolumne Meadows (Soda - Springs), 1; Tuolumne Meadows, 8500 ft., Yosemite Park, 1[74]; - Sequoia, 1. _Mariposa County_: Chinquapin, 6256 ft., 2[74]; Merced - Grove Big Trees, 5400 ft., 1[74]; Wawona, 1; no locality more - definite than county, 1. _Madera County_: Bass Lake, 1[74]. _Mono - County_: Tioga Crest, near Tioga Pass, 4[74]; Warren Creek, 1[74]; - Tioga Lake, 1[74]; Ellery Lake, 9600 ft., 1[74]; Mono Lake P. O., - Mono Lake, 1[74]; Walker Lake, 8000 ft., 2[74]; Pine City, 1; - Mammoth, 13 (12[59], 1[14]); 10300 ft., near Big Prospector - Meadow, White Mts., 2[74]. _Inyo County_: Little Onion Valley, - 7500 ft., 1[74]; N Fork Bishop Cr., 10500 ft., 1[74]; S fork - Bishop Cr., Andrews Camp, 8000 ft., 1[74]; South Lake, S Fk. - Bishop Cr., 9750 ft., 1[74]; Lamarck Cr., 9900 ft., 15 mi. SW - Bishop, 1[74]. _Fresno County_: Hume, 1. _Tulare County_: Mt. - Whitney, 2; Whitney Meadow, 9800 ft., 1[74]; Monache Meadow, 8000 - ft., 3[74]; E fork Kaweah River, 9800 ft., 1; 1/2 mi. S Mineral - King, 7850 ft., 7[52]; Quaking Aspen Meadow, 7500 ft., 1[52]. - - =Colorado.= _Moffat County_: Lay, 1[19]. _Routt County_: Steamboat - Springs, 2 (1[19]); no locality more definite than county, 1[57]. - _Jackson County_: Higho, North Park, 8400 ft., 1; Buffalo or - Illinois Creek, "near Rand," 6[74]. _Washington County_: 6 mi. NE - Hillrose, 1[74]. _Larimer County_: Estes Park, 2 (1[2], 1[7]); - Pinewood, 1; Loveland, 2 (1[57]); no locality more definite than - county, 1[7]. _Rio Blanco County_: Compass Creek, 9000 ft., 1[2]; - White River, 6200 ft., 1[21]; Piceance Creek, 6200 ft., 1[2]; Dry - Fork, 6200-6600 ft., 4[2]; Meeker, 1; Marvine, 1[74]. _Grand - County_: Crembling [= Kremmling?], 1[50]; Middle Park, 1[57]. - _Boulder County_: Foot Mt. Meeker, 8700 ft., 1[2]; Silver Lake - Mine, 1[60]; Boulder, 1[60]; Dixie Lake, 2 (1[2], 1[57]); Caribou, - 1[2]; no locality more definite than county, 1. _Clear Creek - County_?: Grays Peak, 1[93]. _Jefferson County_: 7000 ft., Mt. - Parks, 1[57]; 6 mi. W Denver, 1[57]. _Adams County_: Barr, 1[2]; - near East Lake, 2[57]. _Denver County_: Denver, 2 (1[2], 1[74]). - _Arapahoe County_: Littleton, 1[19]. _Summit County_: - Breckenridge, 1[57]. _Eagle County_: Eagle, 9500 ft., 1[104]. - _Park County_: Jefferson, 4 (1[2]); 12800 ft., Mt. Bross, 1[57]. - _Mesa County_: Tunnel, 1. _Montrose County_: near Crawford, Clear - Fork of Smiths Fork, 1[19]; Coventry, 3 (1[19]); Naturita, 1; - Paradox, 1[94]; West Paradox Valley, 1[57]. _Pitkin County_: - Placita, 2[26]. _Gunnison County_: Marble, 1[26], Crested Butte, - 2[19]; Deckers Ranch, Crested Butte, 2[19]; Sapinero, 7245 ft., - 1[19]. _Chaffee County_: Buena Vista, 1[76]; Hancock, 1[16]; - Salida, 5[19]. _Teller County_: Glencore, Pikes Peak, 1[76]. _El - Paso County_: Monument, 1[76]; Seven Lakes, 1[19]; Lake Moraine, - 10250 ft., 1[19]; Colorado Springs, 6000 ft., 1[19]; 5 mi. E Sand - Creek, Colorado Springs, 1[19]; no locality more definite than - county, 1[50]. _Saguache County_: Villa Grove, 1[19]; Pierce - Place, Cochetopa Nat. Forest, 1; Houselog Creek, Cochetopa Nat. - Forest, 1; P. Tevebaugh's Ranch, near Cochetopa Pass, 1; P. - Tevebaugh's Ranch, 9 mi. S Cochetopa Pass, 1. _Rio Grande County_: - between Monte Vista and Del Norte, 1[88]. _Archuleta County_: - Upper Navajo River, 2[57]; Navajo River, 5 (4[57], 1[2]); Chromo, - 2[57]. _Conejos County_: Osier, 3[57]. _Montezuma County_: Ure - Peak, 1[57]. _County_ in question: Del Norte Peak, 1[76]; no - locality more definite than state, 4[75]. - - =Idaho.= _Latah County_: Cedar Mt., 4000 ft., 12 mi. NE Moscow, - 1[55]; Moscow and 1/2 mi. W, 2[97]. _Idaho County_: Lochsa River - (= Locksaw Fork), 1; between Selway Riv., and S Fork Clearwater - Riv., 8[74]; Selway Divide, 8[74]; Pilot Creek, 2[74]; Newsome - Cr., 1[74]. _Lemhi County_: Salmon River Mts., (now Lemhi Mts.), - 8000 ft., 5; Leadore, 3. _Adams County_: summit Smith Mt., 7500 - ft., 1[41]. _Washington County_: Midvale, 2. _Custer County_: - Pahsimeroi Mts., 1; Double Springs, 16 mi. NE Dickey, 1[74]; - Mackay?, 1; Stanley Lake, 1. _Payette County_: 2 mi. S Payette, - 1[74]. _Fremont County_: 17 mi. E, 4 mi. N Ashton, 6275 ft., - 2[74]. _Teton County_: 3 mi. S Victor, 1[74]. _Jefferson County_: - 20 mi. W Camas, 1. _Blaine County_: Sawtooth City, 1; Ketchum, 5 - (3[50], 2[75]). _Canyon County_: Nampa 3. _Clark County_: Dry - Creek, Targhee Nat. Forest, 1[2]; Birch Creek, 2. _County_ in - question: North fork of Teton River, 1. _Bingham County_: Shelley, - 1; Alridge, 2; Springfield, 1. _Lincoln County_: Shoshone, 1. - _Minidoka County_: 1/4 mi. E Heyburn Bridge, 1[74]. _Power - County_: 4 mi. NW American Falls, 1[74]. _Bannock County_: 3 mi. N - Schutt's Mine, Ross Creek, 1[74]; 3 mi. N Pocatello, 1[74]; near - (within 10 miles of) Pocatello, 1[74]; 3 mi. S Pocatello, 1[74]; 1 - mi. E Portneuf, 1[74]; 2 mi. up Mink Creek, 2 (1[74], 1[41]); - Inkom, 2; Swan Lake, 1. _Owyhee County_: 5 mi. SE Riddle, 1; Three - Creek, 2. _Cassia County_: Elba, 1[52]. _Bear Lake County_: - Geneva, 6171 ft., 1[74]; Montpelier, 1; Paris, 6000 ft., 1[6]; - Pegram, 2. - - =Nevada.= _Humboldt County_: Alder Creek, 7000 ft., Pine Forest - Mts., 1[74]; head of Big Creek, 8000 ft., Pine Forest Mts., 1[74]; - Cottonwood Range, 1; Calico Mt., Little Owyhee R., 1; Mahogany, - Little Owyhee R., 2; Sulphur, 1. _Pershing County_: Lovelocks, 1. - _Elko County_: Mountain City, 3; Three Lakes, Ruby Mts., 1[41]. - _Washoe County_: Pyramid Lake, 1; 3 mi. E Reno, 1[74]; Incline - Creek, 7100 ft., 1[74]; 2-1/2 mi. S Incline, 6250 ft., 1[74]; E - side Marlette Lake, 8000 ft., 1[74]; Marlette Lake, 8000 ft., - 1[74]. _Ormsby County_: 1/2 mi. S Marlette Lake, 8150 ft., 1[74]. - _Churchill County_: 4 mi. W Fallon, 1[74]; 3 mi. W Fallon, 1[74]; - 2 mi. W Fallon, 1[74]; Fallon, 3970 ft., 1[74]. 5 mi. S Fallon, - 4000 ft., 1[74]; 8 mi. S and 3 mi. E Fallon, 1[74]. _Douglas - County_: Mt. Siegel, 1[60]. _Mineral County_: Lapon Cañon, 8900 - ft., Mt. Grant, 1. _Nye County_: Arc Dome, 1; 10700 ft., 1/2 mi. - SW Jefferson Peak, Toquima Range, 1[74]. _White Pine County_: 3 - mi. E Baker, 1[74]; Baker Creek, 6600 ft., 4[74]; Baker Creek, - 8400 to 8450 ft., 4[74]; Gleason Creek, 7500 ft., 1[74]. - _Esmeralda County_: Arlemont, 4850 ft., Fish Lake Valley, 1[74]. - _Lincoln County_: 3 mi. S Crystal Spring, 3900 ft., Pahranagat - Valley, 1[27]. - - =New Mexico.= _Taos County_: 2 mi. N Twining, 10500 ft., 1; Taos, - 2. _Santa Fe County_: 11600 ft., Pecos Baldy, 1. _San Miguel - County_: 8000 ft., above Willis, Pecos River, Forest Reserve, - 2[75]; Ribera, 1. - - =Oregon= (by counties from west to east). _Jackson County_: - Rustler Peak, Crater Nat. Forest, 1[46]; Siskiyou (probably south - of), 2. _Klamath County_: 20 mi. W Crescent, 1[101]; Anna Creek, - Mt. Mazama, 2; S Boundary Crater Lake Nat. Park, 1[74]; Fort - Klamath, 15; Upper Klamath Lake, 2[4]; Klamath Falls, 1[75]. _Lake - County_: Dog Lake Ranger Station, 30 mi. SW Lakeview, 1. _Harney - County_: Camp Harney, 2[75]; Burns, 2 (1[101]); 20 mi. S Burns, - 1[46]; Narrows, 1[59]; Voltage, 1; Shirk P. O., 2; Keiger Gorge, - Steen Mts., 4. _Malheur County_: Riverside, 1; 2 mi. NW Riverside, - 2; Barren Valley, Cord, 1; Cedar Mts., 2; Cow Creek Lake, 1; - Jordan Valley, 1. _County_ in question: Sageview, 1. - - =Utah.= _Cache County_: Logan, 1[74]. _Rich County_: 8000 ft., - near Laketown, 1. _Boxelder County_: Willard, 1[103]. _Salt Lake - County_: Salt Lake City, 1[74]; Barclay, 6500 ft., Wasatch Mts., - 1; Mill Creek, 1[103]. _Utah County_: Provo Bench, 2[6]; Aspen - Grove, Mt. Timpanogos, 1[6]; Payson, 1[6]. _Juab County_: between - Santaquin and Starr, 1[103]. _Uinta County_: Dry Fork Canyon, 20 - mi. NW Vernal, 1[9]. _Carbon County_: Sunnyside, 1[44]; Range - Creek, 1[44]. _Millard County_: Deseret, 1[74]. _Sevier? County_: - Fish Lake Plateau, 1. _Grand County_: Warner Ranger Station, La - Sal Mts., 1[6]. _Beaver County_: Britts Meadows, 11000 ft., Beaver - Range, 1[2]; Britts Meadows, Beaver Range, 1; Puffer Lake, 1[44]. - _Garfield County_: Boulder, 2[6]. _Washington County_: Pine - Valley, 1[44]; St. George, 1. _San Juan County_: Geyser Pass, La - Sal Mts., 2[6]. _County_ in question: Salt Lake, 2; Wasatch Mts., - 1; La Sal Mts., 11000 ft., 1. - - =Washington.= _Okanogan County_: Bald Mt., 6800 ft., 1; Bauerman - Ridge, 6800 ft., Tungsten Mine, 1; Hart Pass, Methow River Trail, - 1[46]; Conconully, 2 (1[51], 1[49]); 5 mi. NW Loomis, 1; Molson, - 3800 ft., 1; Tunk Mt., 3500 ft., 1. _Whatcom County_: Barron, 5000 - ft., 1. _Stevens County_: Colville, 1; Orin, 11[51]. _Pend Oreille - County_: Ione, 6[51]. _Chelan County_: Chelan Mts., 1[2]; Lake - Chelan, 1[46]; Manson, 1; Entiat River, 1680 ft., 20 mi. from - mouth, 7; Dryden, 2[49]; Wenatchee, 1. _Kittitas County_: Easton, - 2 (1[51]); Ellensburg, 1[51]; 4 mi. E Ellensburg, 1[51]. _Grant - County_: Neppel, 1[51]. _Lincoln County_: Sprague, 1. _Spokane - County_: Spokane, 1[94]; Cheney 2[89]. _Whitman County_: Pullman, - 11 (6[55], 1[68], 1[10]); 6 mi. S Pullman, 1. _Garfield County_: - Snake River, 1. _Yakima County_: Yakima, 1[74]; 1 mi. W Moxee, - 1[74]. - - =Wyoming.= NW Wyoming, 1[75]. _Yellowstone National Park_: Lamar - River, 1; Yellowstone Lake, 1. _Park County_: Greybull River, - 1[80]. _Teton County_: Crystal Creek, 2; Jackson, 1; Whetstone - Creek, 2[76]. _Johnson County_: Buffalo, 4 (2[93]). _Fremont - County_: Continental Divide, 20 mi. NW Dubois, 1[75]. _Sublette - County_: Bronx, 1[75]. _Carbon County_: Medicine Bow Mts., 1[75]; - 15 mi. SE Parco, 1[74]. _Albany County_: Garrett, 1; 12 mi. W - Laramie, 1[74]; 7 mi. W Laramie, 2[74]; 5 mi. W Laramie, 4[74]; - "near" Laramie, 1[74]; 3 mi. SW Laramie, 1[74]; 12 mi. S Laramie, - 1[74]. _Uinta County_: Fort Bridger, 6800 ft., 1[74]; Lonetree, 1; - Bridger Pass, 1. _County_ in question: Laramie River, 2. No - locality more definite than state, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata effera= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 19, 20 and 21 - - _Mustela frenata effera_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:93, November 20, 1936. - - _Mustela arizonensis_, Dice, Journ. Mamm., 1:12, November 28, 1919. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 33637, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist.; Ironside, 4000 ft., Malheur County, Oregon; September 8, - 1912; obtained by H. E. Anthony; original no. 267. - - The skull (plates 19-21) is complete and unbroken. The teeth all - are present and entire. The skin, in summer pelage, is well made. - - _Range._--Upper Sonoran to Arctic Alpine life-zones of northern - two-thirds of Oregon east of the Cascades, and southeastern - Washington, south of the Snake River. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nevadensis_ in small size, males averaging 12-1/2 per cent smaller - in external measurements, 8 per cent smaller in linear - measurements of skull, and 22 per cent in weight of skull, total - length averaging 360 rather than 400, condylobasal length - averaging 40.5 rather than 43.6; from _M. f. oregonensis_ in - absence of frontonasal white patch, presence of light color of - underparts on ventral face of tail and smaller skull with basilar - length averaging less than 41.7 in males; from _M. f. washingtoni_ - in presence of light color of underparts on ventral face of tail, - in male skull by linear measurements averaging 7 (5-12) per cent - shorter and relative to basilar length shorter in preorbital - region and broader across mastoid processes and zygomatic arches. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Eight (6 adult and 2 subadult) - males from northeastern Oregon yield average and extreme - measurements as follows: Total length, 360 (340-378); length of - tail, 129 (122-136); length of hind foot, 42 (40-44). Tail - averages 56 (52-59) per cent as long as head and body. Length of - hind foot more or less than (about same as) basal length. - - Female: No. 212423 from Vale, and no. 566 V. B. Scheffer, from 15 - mi. E Ukiah, measure, respectively: Total length, 312, 306; length - of tail, 113, 114; length of hind foot, 35, 35. Tail averages 57 - per cent as long as head and body. - - Differences in external measurements between the one adult female - and the average of the males are: Total length, 51; length of - tail, 16; length of hind foot, 7. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles (in summer - pelage) about as shown in stage 4 of figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near (14 _n_ to _l_) Brussels - Brown or tones 1 to 3 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. - 301, darker on top of head from nose to, or slightly behind, line - connecting posterior margins of ears. Chin and usually all of - upper lips white. Remainder of underparts Buff-Yellow to Straw - Yellow. In winter all white except tip of tail or upper parts near - (_j_) Snuff Brown or lighter than Brussels Brown with a smoked - effect, with underparts white. Tip of tail at all times black. - Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of - forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of toes and wrists, on - medial sides of hind legs to ankles over antiplantar faces of - toes, distomedial third of tarsus and usually over proximal fourth - to three-fourths of ventral side of tail. Least width of color of - underparts averaging, in 15 males, 53 (36-69) per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail averaging 47 - (38-67) mm. long. Thus averaging longer than hind foot, and 36 per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 6 adults from northeastern - Oregon): See measurements and plates 19-21. As described in - _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ except that: Weight, 2.9 (2.5-3.4) - grams; basilar length, 40.5 (39.3-41.8). - - Female (based on no. 212423, adult from Vale): In so far as parts - of the broken skull permit a person to judge, the skull is as - described in _M. f. nevadensis_ except that: Smaller; lighter; - postorbital breadth more than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite. - -As compared with the skull of _M. f. nevadensis_ that of _effera_ -seems, on the average, to have the preorbital part relatively smaller. -Otherwise, the skull is a miniature of the skull of _nevadensis_, -averaging about eight per cent smaller in linear measurements and -weighs twenty-two per cent less. Comparisons of the skull with those of -_M. f. washingtoni_ and _M. f. oregonensis_ are made in accounts of -those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--This geographic race has long borne the name of _Mustela -arizonensis_ (Mearns). Small size differentiates _effera_ from -_nevadensis_ and specimens have been allocated to one or the other -subspecies on the basis of size, or average size when several -individuals are available from one locality. Complete intergradation -with each adjoining subspecies is indicated by numerous specimens, more -of which are assigned to these adjoining subspecies than to _effera_ -itself. - -The minimum of size in _M. f. effera_ is found in the Blue Mountain -region of northeastern Oregon. Specimens from the area intervening -between these mountains and the Cascades average larger but are nearer -the mean of typical _effera_ than they are to the means of -_washingtoni_, _oregonensis_ or _nevadensis_. - -Two males, nos. 204883, adult, and 204884, young, from Sisters, Oregon, -near the eastern base of the Cascades, show approach structurally to -_M. f. washingtoni_ as it is represented at the nearby locality, -Permilia Lake, at the west base of Mount Jefferson. Everything -considered, however, the two specimens from Sisters are nearer to -_effera_. A male from Condon, Oregon, shows approach to the Cascade -race in slightly increased size. - -No perfect skulls of adult females are available from the part of -northwestern Oregon in which _effera_ reaches its typical state of -development as judged by the small size of the skull of the adult male. -Skulls of adult females are available, however, from more nearly -marginal localities. These, though smaller than in _nevadensis_, show -relatively less difference in size when compared with _nevadensis_ than -do skulls of males. Even so the females at these marginal localities -are smaller than those of _nevadensis_ of comparable age and adequate -material of adult female _effera_ from the region where the males -attain their extreme of small size probably will show about the same -relative difference in size between _nevadensis_ and _effera_ as is -known to exist between the adult males of these two subspecies. The -small size of a subadult female, no 74631, U. S. Nat. Mus., from -Asotin, Washington, constitutes partial basis for this opinion. - -Of 14 adults examined none showed malformation of the frontal sinuses -due to infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 53, arranged within each - state by counties from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated - specimens are in the collection of the United States National - Museum. - - =Oregon.= _Wasco County_: 4 mi. S The Dalles, 1[74]; Wapinita, 1; - Antelope, 2; 7 mi. E Antelope, 5. _Gilliam County_: Condon, 1[46]. - _Morrow County_: 10 mi. S Hardman, 1. _Umatilla County_: Umatilla, - 2; 15 mi. E Ukiah, 4000 ft., 1[49]. _Union County_: Elgin, 1; 20 - mi. E Lehman, 1[46]. _Wallowa County_: Horse Creek, 15 mi. N - Paradise, 1; Enterprise, 1[46]; Wallowa Lake, 1[46]; Wallowa - Mts., 8300 ft., 1. _Baker County_: Haines, 1[49]; Anthony, 3[2]; - Bourne, 2. _Grant County_: Long Creek, 1[46]; Canyon Creek, 1[46]; - Strawberry Mts., 2; Silvies, 1[14]. _Crook County_: Prineville, 4. - _Deschutes County_: Sisters, 2; Bend, 1. _Lake County_: 3 mi. W - Stauffer, 1; Fort Rock, 1[46]. _Harney County_: 25 mi. NW Burns, - 1. _Malheur County_: 4000 ft., Ironside, 2[2]; 1-1/2 mi. S Vale, - 2. - - =Washington.= _Walla Walla County_: Prescott, 4 (2[76], 1[60], - 1[74]); Ft. Walla Walla, 2 (1[75]); Wallula, 1[76]. _Asotin - County_: Asotin, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata washingtoni= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 19, 20, 21, 34, 35 and 36 - - _Putorius washingtoni_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:18, pl. 4, figs. - 3, 3a, 4, 4a, June 30, 1896. - - _Mustela washingtoni_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela frenata washingtoni_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:106, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skin and skull; no. 76322, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; Trout Lake, Mt. Adams, Klickitat (?) County, - Washington; December 15, 1895; obtained by D. N. Kaegi; original - no. 2. - - The skull is unbroken. The left incisors above are missing. - Otherwise the teeth are present and entire. The skin is well made, - in brown winter pelage, lacks collector's measurements, has no - bones in the feet, but by large size is judged to be a male. - - _Range._--Altitudinally from near 2000 feet at Trout Lake up to - the highest parts of the Cascade Range from Mount Jefferson, - Oregon, north to Mount Rainier, Washington; Upper Sonoran - Life-zone to Arctic Alpine Life-zone. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - altifrontalis_ in lighter color of upper parts and underparts, - latter ranging from Buff-Yellow to Naples Yellow rather than near - (14 _a_ to 16 _c_) Ochraceous-Buff, in shallower skull in both - sexes (see measurements), in males, a longer preorbital region, - narrower skull with shorter bullae, and in females, a smaller - skull with interorbital breadth averaging less than 24 per cent of - basilar length; from _M. f. nevadensis_ in absence of light color - of underparts on ventral face of tail, in skulls of males, by - longer preorbital region and narrower skull across mastoid - processes and zygomatic arches, in skulls of females, by shorter - preorbital region, and smaller bullae (see measurements); from _M. - f. effera_ in absence of light color of underparts on ventral face - of tail, in skulls of males, by linear measurements averaging 7 - (5-12) per cent larger, and relative to basilar length, longer in - the preorbital region and narrower across mastoid processes and - zygomatic arches; from _M. f. oregonensis_ in absence of - frontonasal white patch, longer skull in males, which in - percentage of basilar length has, on the average, orbitonasal - length amounting to more than 35, mastoid breadth less than 55, - and zygomatic breadth less than 63, and in females, smaller skull - with least width of palate less than length of P4, upper - tooth-rows less than 38-1/2 per cent of basilar length, bullae - smaller, averaging less than 13.4 in length. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Fifteen subadult topotypes yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 400 - (357-437); length of tail, 149 (122-171); length of hind foot, - 47.6 (42-59). Tail averages 59 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot averaging more than basal length. - Corresponding measurements of one adult and 3 young from Mount - Rainier are: 415 (405-423); 155 (145-164); 51 (50-53). - - Female: Five adult topotypes yield average and extreme - measurements as follows: Total length, 349 (330-393); length of - tail, 124 (114-133); length of hind foot, 38 (36-39). Tail - averages 55 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot - averaging about same as basal length. Corresponding measurements - of two adults and 6 young from Mount Rainier are: 338 (320-360); - 121 (115-132); 36 (34-40). - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, - from Mount Adams, are: Total length, 51; length of tail, 25; - length of hind foot, 9.6. Corresponding differences between the - specimens from Mount Rainier are: 77; 34; 15. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black or brown (often both - colors in same specimen) and extending beyond ear; carpal - vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to or beyond - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles slightly less - than shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts in summer near (14 _n_) Argus Brown or tone - 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304; one topotype - Buckthorn Brown or tone 3 to 4 of Snuff Brown of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, pl. 303. Dark spot at each angle of mouth present or - absent, and when present, often fused with color of upper parts, - which rarely covers lower lips. Chin, and usually lower lips, - white. Remainder of underparts Buff-Yellow to Naples Yellow. In - winter, all white except tip of tail which is at all times black, - or upper parts near (14) Brussels Brown to near (_j_) Snuff Brown - with smoked effect and underparts white, rarely with trace of - yellowish. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides - of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and usually - all of wrists, on medial sides of hind legs anywhere from knee to - tips of toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging in ten - topotypes, 24 (10-37) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts. Black tip of tail in same series averaging 55 (45-60) mm. - long, thus longer than hind foot and averaging 37 per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - The color of the underparts is not so narrow in the specimens from - Mount Rainier and it is believed that the slender bodies used in - stuffing the topotypes has accentuated in them the appearance of - narrowness of the light-colored underparts. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 22 adult topotypes): See - measurements and plates 19-21; weight, 3.5 (2.8-4.7) grams; - basilar length, 43.7 (40.0-47.7); zygomatic breadth more or less - than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between - anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - mastoid breadth more or less than postpalatal length; postorbital - breadth less than length of upper premolars and greater than width - of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen - lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or - less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of - tympanic bullae; breadth of rostrum less (except in no. 82180) - than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more (except - in no. 81954) than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla - as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 2 to 5 upper - incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less than distance from - its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla - more (except in two instances) than length of lower molar and - premolar tooth-row and shorter (except in two instances) than - rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below m2. - - Female (based on 11 ad. topotypes): See measurements and plates - 34-36; weight, 2.0 (1.8-2.2) grams; basilar length, 37.6 - (37.0-38.9); zygomatic breadth less (except in no. 70945) than - distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and more - than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one - foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate - less (except in one specimen) than greatest length of P4; tympanic - bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3-1/2 to 5-1/2 - upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less than - distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of - tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar - tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum. - -Compared with _M. f. nevadensis_, the skull of the male of -_washingtoni_ averages more slender, as shown by the mastoid and -zygomatic breadths and has the preorbital part longer, on the average, -as shown by the greater ratio (to the basilar length) of the length of -the tooth-rows and orbitonasal length. Also, on the average, the -postorbital constriction is longer than in _nevadensis_ and the -tympanic bullae are smaller. In females, the skull is lighter, the -tooth-rows are shorter, the tympanic bullae are smaller, and the -preorbital part of the skull is shorter and narrower as shown by the -orbitonasal length and interorbital breadth. Except that the tympanic -bullae are actually, although not relatively, smaller in males of -_effera_, it differs from _washingtoni_ in the same way as does -_nevadensis_ as regards relative proportions, but, of course, the -actual difference in size is greater since _effera_ is smaller than -_nevadensis_. Comparison of the skull with that of _oregonensis_ is -made in the account of that subspecies. - -_Remarks._--_M. f. washingtoni_ was described and named in 1896 by -Merriam as a distinct species. Subsequently, specimens which here are -regarded as intergrades between _altifrontalis_ and _nevadensis_, were -classified as _washingtoni_. - -The external measurements given for the specimens from Mount Adams are -those recorded on the labels in inches and fractions thereof. Instead -of total length there sometimes is written "tip to tip." In the series -of 19 winter-taken topotypes the hairs project beyond the end of the -caudal vertebrae for an average distance of 28 (19-40) millimeters. If -the hairs on the end of the tail were included in the measurements, 28 -millimeters should be subtracted from the averages. Probably the -measurements should stand as given, since an adult male topotype, no. -226758, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken subsequently by Walter P. Taylor -measures 405; 152; 51. - -_Mustela frenata washingtoni_ is not a strongly marked geographic race. -In many features it is intermediate between _M. f. altifrontalis_ and -_M. f. nevadensis_. This is especially true of coloration. In the -series from Mount Adams and that from Mount Rainier, some individuals -have the light color of the underparts extended down the hind legs over -the feet and over the proximal face of the ventral third of the tail as -in _nevadensis_, whereas others from the same place have the light -color of the underparts absent from the tail and extending no farther -down the hind limbs than the knees. The light color of the underparts -in the series of topotypes is so restricted that the transverse extent -at the narrowest place amounts to only 24 (10-37) per cent of the -greatest width of the color of the upper parts. This narrowness of the -color of the underparts has been likened by Merriam (1896:18) to the -condition in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_. So it is, but it is -similar to the condition found also in the geographically adjoining _M. -f. altifrontalis_. - -Of the 37 skulls of subadults and a few adults, 11 had the frontal -sinuses malformed as a result of infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 56, arranged within each - state by localities from north to south. Unless otherwise - indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States - National Museum. - - =Oregon.= Mt. Jefferson, Permilia Lake, 1. - - =Washington.= _Pierce County_: 5500 ft., Spray Park, Mt. Rainier, - 1; Spray Park, 1[74]; 5935 ft., Glacier Basin, Mt. Rainier, 5 - (1[10]); 5051 to 5100 ft., Owyhigh Lakes, Mt. Rainier, 7 (1[10]), - Tahoma Creek, 1[72]; Nisqually entrance, 1[72]; Longmire, 1[72]; - Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park, 2[72]. _Klickitat County_: Trout Lake, S - Base Mt. Adams, 35; 3500 ft., Gotchen Creek, Mt. Adams, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata saturata= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 19, 20, 21 and 30 - - _Putorius saturatus_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:21, June 30, 1896. - - _Mustela saturata_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, December - 31, 1912. - - _Mustela arizonensis saturata_, Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. - Zoöl., 40:102, September 26, 1933. - - _Mustela frenata saturata_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:106, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 65930, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; Siskiyou, Jackson County, Oregon; June 6, 1894; - obtained by C. P. Streator; original no. 3905. - - The skull (plates 19-21, 30) lacks the middle part of each - zygomatic arch. The teeth all are present although much worn, - probably from gnawing at the trap which captured the animal. The - skin, in fresh summer pelage, is fairly well made. - - _Range._--Transition and Boreal life-zones of Siskiyou and Trinity - mountains in southern Oregon and northwestern California. See - figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nevadensis_ in lacking light color of underparts on tail and ankle - and in greater average breadth across mastoid processes of skull - (see measurements); from _M. f. oregonensis_ in lacking white - nasofrontal spot, in having color of underparts interrupted at - ankle; from _M. f. munda_ in lacking white nasofrontal spot, in - smaller and relatively deeper skull of males and smaller skull of - the female. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Four adult males (the type, 1 from - Mt. Ashland and 2 from Jackson Lake) yield average and extreme - measurements as follows: Total length, 414 (402-437); length of - tail, 150 (136-160); length of hind foot, 46 (43-50). Tail - averages 57 (49-62) per cent as long as head and body. Length of - hind foot more or less than basal length. - - Female: One young from the summit of the Trinity Mountains east of - Hoopa and one nontypical adult from 5500 feet elevation on South - Fork Mountain, Humboldt County, measure respectively as follows: - Total length, 330, 325; length of tail, 115, 123; length of hind - foot, 37, 37. Tail is 53 and 61 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - Average differences in external measurements between the two - sexes, indicated by the unsatisfactory material available, are: - Total length, 86; length of tail, 31; length of hind foot, 9. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black or dark brown and - extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts - and extending as far as apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of - foot-soles, in summer pelage, as shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, Brussels Brown to near (_n_) - Brussels Brown or lighter than tone 3 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, pl. 301, usually darkest on nose and forehead. Chin - white. Remainder of underparts Buff-Yellow to Warm Buff. Tip of - tail black. Winter pelage unknown. Color of underparts extends - distally on posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar - faces of feet and sometimes wrists, on medial sides of hind legs - only to ankles, but toes sometimes with isolated white markings. - Least width of color of underparts in the type and 2 adults from - Jackson Lake averaging 35 (30-40) per cent of greatest width of - color of upper parts. Black tip of tail averaging 54 (53-55) mm. - long; thus longer than hind foot and averaging 37 per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 4 adults: Type, Mt. Ashland, 1; - Jackson Lake, 2): See measurements and plates 19-21, 30. As - described in _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ except that: Weight, 3.8 - (3.5-4.3) grams; basilar length, 44.4 (42.6-45.8); zygomatic - breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 - or than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth more than postpalatal - length; least width of palate less than medial length of P4 - (except in one specimen). - - Female (based on one adult possibly not typical, from 5500 ft., - South Fork Mt.): See measurements. As described in _Mustela - frenata nevadensis_ except that: Weight, 2.2 grams; basilar - length, 38.1; zygomatic breadth less than distance between - condylar foramen and M1 and less than distance between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - postorbital breadth more than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite. - -The skull of the male of _saturata_, relative to the basilar length, is -broader across the mastoids and narrower across the rostrum and -interorbital region than that of _nevadensis_. Skull not known -certainly to differ from that of _oregonensis_. Compared with the skull -of _munda_, that of the male of _saturata_ is smaller in every part -measured except depth of tympanic bullae which averages 3.6 -millimeters, rather than 3.5 as in _munda_. Also, the skull of -_saturata_ has a less-marked postorbital constriction, is less heavily -ridged, less angular, does not have the impressions of the temporal -muscles carried so far forward on the frontal bones and is relatively -much narrower across the zygomatic arches. - -_Remarks._--In 1896, Merriam named _M. f. saturata_ as a distinct -species on the basis of one specimen, taken by Clark P. Streator at -Siskiyou, Oregon, and a second specimen taken the year previously by -Allan C. Brooks at Chilliwack, British Columbia. On the basis of these -two specimens, Merriam (1896:22) ascribed to the race a range ". . . on -the Cascade and Siskiyou mountains of Oregon and Washington, reaching a -short distance into British Columbia." Since that time, this name, -_saturata_, has been employed for the dark-colored weasels, of the -coastal region of Oregon, Washington, and extreme southwestern British -Columbia, which here are arranged under the name _M. f. altifrontalis_. -_M. f. saturata_ proves to be restricted to the humid mountainous -region inland from the coast in northern California and in the Siskiyou -Mountains of southern Oregon. Its range is separated by that of _M. f. -oregonensis_ from the range of the darker-colored, deeper-skulled, _M. -f. altifrontalis_ of the humid costal region proper. - -On May 5, 1933, Mr. Clark P. Streator, informed the writer that he -remembered taking the type specimen of _Mustela frenata saturata_ -(Merriam) in the town of Siskiyou, Oregon. The exact place, he said, -was reached, at the time of his work there, by going one or two blocks -east of the depot, then through a garden into the thick woods where -there were springs and numerous burrows of the rodent, _Aplodontia_. -Two other weasels labeled as taken at Siskiyou, on September 28 and -29, 1893, by Mr. Streator, are much lighter colored than the type of -_saturata_ and have the color of the underparts extended distally on -the hind legs to the tips of the toes and in other features of -coloration are more like _nevadensis_, the subspecies to which they are -referred, than _saturata_. Probably these did not come from exactly the -same place that the type specimen of _saturata_ did. Although Mr. -Streator does not remember the taking of these particular specimens in -1893, he does remember that on this visit to Siskiyou, he walked -southward through the railroad tunnel and collected on the opposite -side of the ridge from Siskiyou. Here on more southern exposures, the -country was markedly different than in the thick forest at Siskiyou. -Probably these two specimens taken in 1893, and referred to -_nevadensis_, came from a little way south of Siskiyou and from a -different habitat and life-zone than the type specimen of _M. f. -saturata_. - -Of the 6 specimens examined, only one, the type, shows malformation of -the frontal sinuses such as result from infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 6, as follows: - - =California.= _Siskiyou County_: Jackson Lake, 5900 ft., 2, Mus. - Vert. Zoöl. _Humboldt County_: South Fork Mt., 5500 ft., 1, Mus. - Vert. Zoöl. _County_ in question, Trinity Mts., summit east of - Hoopa, 5800 ft., 1, U. S. Nat. Mus. - - =Oregon.= _Jackson County_: Mt. Ashland, 1, Univ. Oreg.; Siskiyou, - 1, U. S. Nat. Mus. - - -=Mustela frenata altifrontalis= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 19, 20, 21, 34, 35 and 36 - - _Mustela frenata altifrontalis_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:94, November 20, 1936. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Putorius saturatus_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:21, June 30, 1896 - (part). - - _Mustela saturata_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, December - 31, 1912. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 42093, Mus. Vert. Zoöl.; - Tillamook, Tillamook County, Oregon; July 10, 1928; obtained by - Alex Walker; original no. 717. - - The skull is complete and unbroken. P3 on the left side is - missing; otherwise the teeth all are present and entire. The skin - is well made and the enlarged scrotal pouch shows the collector's - sexing of the specimen to have been correct. - - _Range._--Altitudinally from sea level up to at least 4800 feet - (Mount Baker) in the Transition Life-zone of the humid, coastal - region of Oregon, Washington and extreme southwestern British - Columbia. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nevadensis_ in tone 4 of Brownish Drab, pl. 302, rather than tones - 1-3, of Raw Umber, pl. 301, of Oberthür and Dauthenay of upper - parts, in near (14 _a´_ to 16 _c´_) Ochraceous-Buff rather than - Buff-Yellow to Straw Yellow of underparts, in that least width of - color of underparts amounts to less than 37 per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts, in absence of color of underparts - on ventral side of tail and on hind leg distal to knee, and in - greater depth of skull through frontal region; from _M. f. - washingtoni_ in darker color of upper parts and underparts, latter - near (14 _a_´ to 16 _c_´) Ochraceous-Buff rather than ranging from - Buff-Yellow to Naples Yellow, in deeper skull in both sexes (see - measurements), in males a shorter preorbital region, broader skull - with longer bullae and in females a larger skull with interorbital - breadth averaging more than 24 per cent of basilar length; from - _M. f. oregonensis_ in frontonasal white patch absent, color above - darker (tone 4 of Brownish Drab, pl. 302, rather than tone 2 to 3 - of Raw Umber, pl. 301 of Oberthür and Dauthenay), light-colored - underparts narrower and not extended distally beyond knee, in - females tooth-row shorter, amounting to less than 38 per cent of - basilar length. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Eight adult topotypes yield average - and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 426 (392-445); - length of tail, 160 (148-170); length of hind foot, 47 (42-53). - Tail averages 60 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind - foot averages more than basal length. - - Female: Five adults from Tillamook and Blaine, Oregon, yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 347 - (320-370); length of tail, 125 (114-131); length of hind foot, 38 - (35-44). Tail averages 56 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - The average differences in the external measurements are: Total - length, 79; length of tail, 35; length of hind foot, 9. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to or - beyond apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles (in - summer pledge) slightly less than shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near (_n_) Argus Brown or tone 4 - of Brownish Drab of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 302. Dark spot at - each angle of mouth well developed; often fused with color of - upper parts which sometimes covers lower lips. Chin white. - Remainder of underparts near (14 _a´_ to 16 _c´_) Ochraceous-Buff. - In winter, upper parts near (14) Argus Brown with smoked effect - and Warm Buff to Naples Yellow below. Tip of tail at all times - black. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of - forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and usually all - of wrists, on medial side of hind legs typically only to knee but - sometimes to ankle. Tips of toes of hind feet almost always marked - with color of underparts. Least width of color of underparts - averaging in a series of 14 males from Blaine, Oregon, 23 (14-36) - per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of - tail in 8 adult males from Blaine, Oregon, averaging 59 (47-70) - mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and averaging 37 per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 9 adults from Blaine, Tillamook - Co., Oregon): See measurements and plates 19-21; weight, 4.4 - (3.3-5.3) grams; basilar length, 45.6 (42.4-47.7); zygomatic - breadth more or less (usually more) than distance between condylar - foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth more or less - (usually more) than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth less - (except in some instances of malformations of frontal sinuses - which result from infestation by parasites) than length of upper - premolars and more or less than width of basioccipital measured - from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its - opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than distance between - foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of - rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate - more or less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla - as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 4 (including - I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance - from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic - bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and - more or less than orbitonasal length; anterior margin of - masseteric fossa directly below m2. - - Female (based on 4 adults): See measurements and plates 34-36; - weight, 2.2 (2.2-2.3) grams; basilar length, 38.1 (37.8-39.7); - zygomatic breadth more or less (less in three of four specimens) - than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between - anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - relation of postorbital breadth to other measurements in doubt - because of malformation of frontal sinuses by parasites; least - width of palate not less than greatest length of P4; tympanic - bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3-1/2 to 5-1/2 - upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance from - its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla - more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer - or shorter than rostrum. - -Compared with the skull of _M. f. washingtoni_ that of each sex of -_altifrontalis_ averages slightly larger in every measurement taken, -except measurements of teeth which are approximately the same, and is -relatively deeper through the frontal region and through the braincase -as measured at the anterior margin of the basioccipital. Skulls of -females of _altifrontalis_ have a relatively broader interorbital -region. Skulls of males of _altifrontalis_ further differ in having -relatively, as well as actually, longer tympanic bullae, relatively -lesser orbitonasal length and a greater relative breadth across the -mastoids and across zygomata. Compared with _M. f. nevadensis_, the -skull of the male of _altifrontalis_ averages slightly larger and -heavier although the skulls of females are of approximately the same -size and weight. Relative to the basilar length, the skulls of both -sexes are deeper through the braincase and narrower across the -mastoids; the rostrum is broader, especially in males; the tooth-rows -are shorter and the interorbital breadth less, especially in females. -Comparison with the skull of _oregonensis_ is made in the account of -that subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Until the present study was begun, animals of this race -have gone under the name _Mustela saturata_ (Merriam). The United -States National Museum has a juvenile taken, in 1858, by Wayne at -Astoria, O. T.; the Samuel N. Rhoads collection contained one specimen -taken in 1891, at Tacoma, Washington; one in the Bangs' collection was -taken at Chilliwack, British Columbia, in 1895, and the Field Museum -has one taken on the Olympic Peninsula in 1898. The best material is -that collected by Alex Walker, at Tillamook, Oregon. - -Intergradation with _nevadensis_ is indicated by several specimens. The -coloration of the one adult female, no. 90, Chas. R. Conner Mus., from -Swamp Creek, Washington, has the color of the underparts extended down -the hind legs over the feet, and over the proximal third of the ventral -face of the tail as in _nevadensis_ although the other two specimens -from the same place have the color pattern of _altifrontalis_. Of the -four specimens from British Columbia referred to this subspecies, only -the specimen from Chilliwack is typical as regards color pattern. The -one from Cultus Lake has the color pattern of _nevadensis_ and might be -referred to that race almost as well as to _altifrontalis_. The two -specimens from Lihumption Park are intermediate between the two races -in tone of color. Neither has the color of the underparts extended onto -the tail or continuously over the hind feet as in _nevadensis_ but each -does have the color of the underparts less restricted and of lighter -hue than in _altifrontalis_. Only one of the specimens, no. 7848 Canad. -Nat. Mus., from Lihumption Park is adult and it has a skull which -agrees with that of _altifrontalis_ rather than _nevadensis_. - -After writing the above, a good representation of the weasel population -along the eastern side of Puget Sound was made available by friends in -that area. Study of the weasels from there shows that their color is -intermediate between that of _altifrontalis_ and _nevadensis_. On the -whole, they (specimens from Bellingham, for example) resemble one -subspecies about as much as the other. In cranial characters some -specimens, in certain features, approach _nevadensis_ but most -specimens agree with _altifrontalis_ and all are more nearly like -_altifrontalis_ to which race all are referred. - -The color of these animals is to me indistinguishable from that of -_washingtoni_. The color of _washingtoni_ is merely intermediate -between that of _nevadensis_ and _altifrontalis_. Nevertheless, the -race _washingtoni_ has cranial characters (long narrow skull) which set -it off from both _altifrontalis_ and _nevadensis_. This shape of skull -is not found in the specimens from along the eastern side of Puget -Sound; these animals have skulls like that of _altifrontalis_ and when -departures from this occur they are in the direction of _nevadensis_ -and not _washingtoni_. - -The above, then, explains why specimens which are colored like those -of _washingtoni_ are not referred to that race but instead to the race -_altifrontalis_. - -Of 23 adult skulls examined, 19 have the frontal sinuses malformed as -the result of infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 80, arranged within states by - counties from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens - are in the United States National Museum. - - =British Columbia.= _Chilliwack_, 1[74], Lihumption Park, 4750 - ft., 2[77]; Cultus Lake, 1[77]. - - =Oregon.= _Clatsop County_: Old Fort Clatsop, 1[74]; Astoria, 1. - _Tillamook County_: Tillamook, 12 (7[14], 2[74], 2[2], 1[46]); - Netarts, 1[46]; Blaine, 16 (13[14], 1[93], 1[76], 1[59]). _Lane - County_: Reed, 1; Mercer, 1[46]. _Curry County_: Langlois, 1[46]. - - =Washington.= _Whatcom County_: Nooksack River, 2000 ft., 14 mi. E - Glacier, 1; Swamp Creek, 2050 ft., Nooksack River, 3[10]; Lookout, - 4800 ft., Mt. Baker, 2[10]; Bellingham, 8[25]; 5 mi. S Bellingham, - 1[49]. _Skagit County_: Rockport, 300 ft., 1. _King County_: - Bothell, 2[94]; N Seattle 1[51]; Seattle, 1[49]; Tye, 1[51], 2 mi. - E Skykomish, 1[51]; 7 mi. E Kent, 1[76]; Auburn, 3[94]. _Pierce - County_: Tacoma, 1[1]. _Clallam County_: Sequim, 1[49]; Soleduc - Riv., near [_sic._] Sappho, 1[49]; Happy Lake, 1[60]; mouth of - Boulder Creek, Elwha River, 560 ft., Olympic Mts., 1; Hume's - Ranch, 1000 ft., Elwha River, 1; Bogachiel Riv., 1[49]. _Mason - County_: Lake Cushman, 2; 4 mi. N Shelton, 1[51]. _Thurston - County_: Olympia, 2[49]; Tenino, 1[51]. _Pacific County_: 2-1/2 - mi. SE Chinook, 3[74]. - - -=Mustela frenata oregonensis= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 19, 20, 21, 30, 34, 35 and 36 - - _Putorius xanthogenys oregonensis_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:25, - June 30, 1896; Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:57, June 9, - 1899. - - _Mustela xanthogenys oregonensis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:99, December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela xanthogenys munda_, Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. - Zoöl., 40:102, September 26, 1933 (part). - - _Mustela frenata oregonensis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:107, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 32019/43828, U. S. - Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Grants Pass, Rogue River Valley, - Josephine County, Oregon; December 19, 1891; obtained by C. P. - Streator; original no. 1404. - - The skull (plates 19-21, 30) is complete and unbroken. P3 on the - left side is missing. Otherwise the teeth all are present although - worn probably as a result of gnawing at the trap which captured - the specimen. The skin, in brown, winter pelage, is fairly well - made. - - Although the label on the skin and the label in the skull vial - each give the sex of the specimen as female, and although Merriam - (1896:25) regarded the specimen as a female, the present writer - regards the specimen as a male. - - It is as large as other undoubted males and larger than any known - female of this subspecies. The labels with the skull and skin give - the locality as "Rogue River Valley, Oregon." The listing here of - the more restricted locality, Grants Pass, is made on the basis of - Merriam's (1896:25) original description of the subspecies. - - _Range._--Transition and Canadian life-zones along coast of - northern California and southern Oregon from Humboldt County, - California, north through Curry County, Oregon, thence inland, - west of the Cascades, north to the Columbia River. See figures 29 - and 30 on pages 221 and 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - altifrontalis_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, lighter - color above (tone 2 to 3 of Raw Umber, pl. 301, rather than tone 4 - of Brownish Drab, pl. 302, Oberthür and Dauthenay), wider extent - of light color of underparts which is extended distally beyond - knee, and in females, longer tooth-row which amounts to more than - 38 per cent of basilar length; from _M. f. munda_ in shorter hind - foot of males which is less than 50, and in both sexes, smaller, - less rugose skull (see measurements and plates); from _M. f. - saturata_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, in having color - of underparts extended uninterruptedly over ankle onto foot; from - _M. f. nevadensis_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, lack of - light color of underparts on ventral face of tail, and longer - skull, which relative to its length in males, is shallower through - braincase; from _M. f. effera_ in presence of frontonasal white - patch, lack of light color of underparts on ventral face of tail, - and larger skull with basilar length averaging more than 41.7 in - males; from _M. f. washingtoni_ in presence of frontonasal white - patch, shorter skull in males, which in percentage of basilar - length has, on the average, orbitonasal length amounting to less - than 35, mastoid breadth more than 55, and zygomatic breadth more - than 63; and in females larger skull with least width of palate - more than length of P4, upper tooth-rows more than 38-1/2 per cent - of basilar length, bullae larger and averaging more than 13.4 - long. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Five males (3 adults and 2 - subadults from Eureka, Ferndale, and Carlotta, California) yield - average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 392 - (347-430); length of tail, 138 (110-160); length of hind foot, 46 - (43-50). Tail averages 54 (46-61) per cent as long as head and - body. Length of hind foot more or less than basal length. The type - specimen, and an adult from Goldbeach measure, respectively, as - follows: Total length, 412, 386; length of tail, 155, 137; length - of hind foot, 44, 46. - - Female: Three adults (2 from Fortuna and 1 from Carlotta, - California) yield average and extreme measurements as follows: - Total length, 367 (360-374); length of tail, 130 (123-134); length - of hind foot, 40 (39-40). Tail averages 55 (52-57) per cent as - long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. - A subadult from Goldbeach, an adult from 13 mi. SW Grants Pass, - and an adult from Medford, measure, respectively, as follows: - Total length, 316, 344, 294; length of tail, 114, 120, 122; length - of hind foot, 36, 40, 38. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - in the vicinity of Carlotta, are: Total length, 25; length of - tail, 8; length of hind foot, 6. Corresponding differences, at - Goldbeach, are: 70, 23, 10. Probably the females at Fortuna - reflect the large size of _munda_ more than do the males at - Carlotta and the differences between the measurements of the two - sexes probably, therefore, are actually more than are indicated by - the figures above. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown or white - (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles, in summer - pelage, as shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near (16 _l_) Brussels Brown or - tone 2 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301, to - slightly darker than tone 3 of same plate. Darker on nose and top - of head, usually with frontonasal white patch but lacking white - bar in front of each ear, except in the type and 2 specimens from - Salem. Chin, lower lips, angle of mouth, and usually posterior - seventh of upper lip white. Remainder of underparts Pale - Orange-Yellow. In winter usually lighter above with underparts - Warm Buff to Straw Yellow. Tip of tail at all times black. Color - of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over - toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial side of - hind leg, typically over ankle in extremely narrow line which - widens out over distal phalanges of antiplantar faces of toes but - sometimes interrupted at ankle. Least width of color of underparts - averaging, in twenty available specimens, 39 (27-54) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in five - adults averaging 50 (43-60) mm. long; thus averaging longer than - hind foot and 33 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 4 adults and subadults from - Eureka, Requa, Goldbeach, and Grant Pass): See measurements and - plates 19-21, 30. As described in _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ - except that: Weight, 3.5 (3.5-4.1) grams; basilar length, 42.9 - (41.8-44.0); least width of palate more or less than medial length - of P4. - - Female (based on 2 adults, one from Carlotta and one from 13 mi. - SW Grants Pass): See measurements and plates 34-36. As described - in _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ except that: Weight, 2.4 (2.2-2.6) - grams; basilar length, 37.7 and 39.5; zygomatic breadth less than - distance between condylar foramen and M1 and less than distance - between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla. See under "_Remarks_" for additional data on variation in - size of skulls of females. - - The skulls of the female averages 31 per cent lighter than that of - the average male. - -Because there is much geographic variation between specimens here -referred to _oregonensis_, the person who is guided by the present -account should keep in mind that results, here reported, of comparisons -of the skull with those of other races, were obtained by employing -specimens of _oregonensis_ from Carlotta and Eureka, California. These -specimens from California are judged to have more of the characters of -the subspecies _munda_ than do specimens of _oregonensis_ from more -northern localities. - -Compared with that of _M. f. washingtoni_ the skull of the male is -shorter, especially in the preorbital region and is relatively broader -across the mastoidal processes and zygomatic arches. The skull of the -female is longer in the preorbital region, has a less cylindrical -braincase and differs less from the male skull than is the case in _M. -f. washingtoni_. Compared with _M. f. effera_, the skull of the male is -smaller in every part measured and relative to the basilar length is -broader across the mastoids and has relatively shorter tympanic bullae. -From _M. f. nevadensis_ the skull of the male differs in the same way -except that size is about the same. The skull of the female -_oregonensis_ is more heavily ridged and is relatively broader across -the mastoids than that of _effera_. From _M. f. saturata_, -_oregonensis_ is not surely known to differ in cranial characters. From -_M. f. munda_, _oregonensis_ differs in having the skull of both sexes -smaller, and on the average, in all parts measured, has a less marked -postorbital constriction, relatively narrower interorbital region and -relatively more expanded zygomata. From _M. f. altifrontalis_, males of -_oregonensis_ differ on the average, in having larger teeth, and -relative to the basilar length, a greater mastoid breadth and a -shallower braincase as measured at the anterior margin of the -basioccipital. Females of _oregonensis_ differ in larger average size -of skull, except for breadth of rostrum and interorbital breadth which, -therefore, are relatively less in _oregonensis_, as also is the -relative depth of the skull measured at the posterior borders of the -upper molars and at the anterior margin of the basioccipital. However, -skulls of females of _oregonensis_ have relatively longer tooth-rows -and are relatively broader across the zygomata and mastoidal processes. - -_Remarks._--In 1896, Merriam named _oregonensis_ as a subspecies of the -California bridled weasel on the basis of a single specimen taken by -Clark P. Streator. Three additional specimens were acquired in later -years, by workers of Dr. Merriam's bureau, from near the type locality -and specimens from farther north in Oregon have been accumulated at the -University of Oregon. The most satisfactory material is that saved from -Humboldt County by the late H. E. Wilder, which, when brought together, -is adequate to give some idea of the range of variation that can be -expected in a given population. - -Of two specimens from Goldbeach, one shows approach to _altifrontalis_ -in that the color of the underparts stops at the ankle, and in one, the -angle of the mouth is dark colored. Specimens from Eugene and vicinity -lack the white facial markings, and in this feature approach the -adjoining _washingtoni-effera-nevadensis_ stock. A specimen from 6 -miles south of Medford shows approach to _saturata_ in the -interruption, on the ankle and lower tibial region, of the color of the -underparts. One adult female, no. 1413, Univ. Oregon, from the Rogue -River Valley, 13 miles southwest of Grants Pass, stands out -prominently, among the other specimens from extreme southern Oregon and -northwestern California, by reason of the near (18) Apricot Yellow -color of the underparts, but this same color occurs in specimens from -the more northerly localities of Buchanan, Eugene, Vida Fish Hatchery, -and McKenzie Bridge, as well as in no. 2178, Univ. Oregon, from Cresent -Lake. The last mentioned specimen is here referred to _nevadensis_. - -Two females referred to _oregonensis_ from southern Oregon differ so -greatly in size of skull that they challenge one's imagination in any -attempt to provide an explanation for so wide a range of variation in -one subspecies. One of these, no. 244520, U. S. Nat. Mus., is an adult -female from Medford. The other, no. 224034, U. S. Nat. Mus., is a -subadult female (though labeled male) from 43 miles northeast of Grants -Pass. The skull of the adult from Medford has a basilar length of 41.5, -upper tooth-rows, 16.1 in length, and a weight of 2.75 grams, whereas -corresponding figures for the subadult are only 33.8, 12.9, and 1.4. -Two other adult females are intermediate in size: No. 1413, Univ. -Oregon, from 13 miles southwest of Grants Pass, Oregon, approaches the -specimen from Medford in size, and the second specimen, no. 34325, Mus. -Vert. Zoöl., from Carlotta, California, is smaller. - -Not only is there a difference in length between the skulls of the two -extremes of the females but this difference extends to all other -dimensions of their skulls, and is most pronounced in the preorbital -region. The differences in breadth of the braincase and other parts of -the skull are relatively less than the differences in length. -Differences of the same nature, although of lesser degree than found in -the females, are to be seen in two males. The skull of an adult no. -51590, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., from 6 miles south of Medford, has a basilar -length of 46.4, upper tooth-rows, 17.6 mm. long, and a weight of 4.0 -grams, whereas corresponding figures for the subadult type specimen -from Grants Pass, are only 43.0, 16.2, and 3.3. - -The wide range of variation in size of skull of both sexes, together -with the considerable variation in color pattern of the specimens here -referred to _oregonensis_ raises the suspicion that we are using the -name in a composite sense; nevertheless, to recognize more than one -subspecies with the material now available would be unwise. - -A subadult female, of abnormal color, no. 47149, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., -taken by Mr. H. E. Wilder at Carlotta, California, on December 20, -1930, in a region where weasels do not turn white in winter, is white, -except for the black tip of the tail, but has a suffusion of orange. -This specimen, discussed at greater length on page 43, is instructive -in that it suggests that there are separate determiners for the brown -and red elements of the pelage. It is interesting also as suggesting -how natural selection may tend to eliminate from the population a -conspicuous color-variation of this kind. At any rate, Mr. Wilder (Ms.) -states: "This specimen was picked up in a field, where it evidently had -been dropped by a hawk or an owl." The braincase of the skull is -crushed in three places as though by a raptor's beak. None of the -several other weasels, all normally colored, saved by Mr. Wilder from -this general locality gives evidence of having fallen a victim to a -raptor. - -Only 2 skulls of the 12 adults and subadults examined show malformation -of the frontal sinuses such as results from the presence of parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 29, arranged within states - from north to south by counties. Unless otherwise indicated - specimens are in the collection of the United States National - Museum. - - =California.= _Del Norte County_: Requa, 1[8]. _Humholdt County_: - Eureka, 2 (1[74], 1[75]); Ferndale, 1[74]; Fortuna, 2[63]; - Carlotta, 6 (3[74], 3[59]); 12 mi. E Bridgeville, 1[59]; 2 mi. W - Bridgeville, 1[59]. - - =Oregon.= _Washington County_: Forest Grove, 1. _Marion County_: - Salem, 2. _Benton County_: Buchanan, 1. _Lane County_: McKenzie - Bridge, 1[101]; Vida Fish Hatchery, 1[101]; Eugene, 1[101]. - _Douglas County_: Anchor, 1. _Curry County_: Gold Beach, 2[60]. - _Josephine County_: Rogue River Valley (Grants Pass), 1; 13 mi. SW - Grants Pass, 1[101]. _Jackson County_: Medford, 2; 6 mi. S - Medford, 1[74]. - - -=Mustela frenata munda= (Bangs) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 30, 34, 35, 36 and 40 - - _Putorius xanthogenys mundus_ Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, - 1:56, June 9, 1899; Stephens, California mammals, p. 247, 1906. - - _Mustela frenata_, Audubon and Bachman, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. - Philadelphia, 8 (Pt. 2):291, 1842 (North California about 40° - latitude). - - _Mustela xanthogenys munda_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:99, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela frenata munda_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:107, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull, os penis and skin; no. 5459, - collection of E. A. and O. Bangs, but now in collection of Mus. - Comp. Zoöl.; Point Reyes, Marin County, California; June 19, - 1896; obtained by C. A. Allen; original no. 931. (See comments - under "Remarks," below, on places in California to which the name - Point Reyes has been applied.) - - The skull (pls. 19-21, 30) is complete and unbroken. I1 on each - side and right I2 are broken away; p2 and p3 on each side have - been aborted and the only alveoli remaining are two for the right - p3. Otherwise all teeth are present and entire. The skin is fairly - well made and in good condition. - - Cranially, the type is a "runt"; its small size and the - circumstance that the tympanic bulla is longer than the lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and longer than the rostrum are - features which differentiate the type from any other specimen seen - of this race. - - _Range._--Sea level to at least 6,000 feet (South Yolla Bolly - Mountain, Trinity County, California); Upper Sonoran and - Transition life-zones of the coast and Coast Range of northwestern - California from the Golden Gate northward into southern Humboldt - and Trinity counties. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - oregonensis_ in longer hind foot of males which is more than 50 - mm., and in both sexes, larger, more prominently ridged skull (see - measurements and plates); from _M. f. saturata_ by presence of - nasofrontal white spot, larger and relatively shallower skull of - males and larger skull of female; from _M. f. nevadensis_ by - presence of well-developed, white, facial markings; absence of - color of underparts on ventral face of proximal third of tail; and - hind foot of males more than 50; from _M. f. xanthogenys_ by near - (_l_) Sudan Brown to near (_l_) Antique Brown rather than - Buckthorn Brown colors of upper parts and greater size, and in - adult male basilar length more than 45 and hind foot more than 47; - from _M. f. nigriauris_ by having inside of ears same color as - back rather than much darker than back. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Three adults and two young from - Point Arena and Gualala, Mendocino County, yield average and - extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 447 (434-470); - length of tail, 167 (150-185); length of hind foot, 53 (50-60). - Corresponding measurements of three adults from 5 and 6 miles west - of Inverness, Marin County, are: 430 (420-440), 154 (141-160), 48 - (48-49). Corresponding measurements of four individuals (3 adults - and 1 young of large size) from South Yolla Bolly Mountain, - Trinity County, are: 383 (374-400), 134 (130-138); 44 (43-44). The - tail averages 60 per cent as long as the head and body in the - series from Point Arena, 56 per cent in the series from Point - Reyes, and 53 per cent in the series from South Yolla Bolly - Mountain. In every specimen except two, length of hind foot less - than basal length. The two exceptions are no. 19720, M.V.Z., male - adult from Point Arena in which the hind foot is recorded as 60 - (probably an error in measurement), and no. 19721, M.V.Z., from - the same place, in which the skull has not yet attained its full - growth. - - Female: One adult from Point Arena measures as follows: Total - length, 383; length of tail, 134; length of hind foot, 43. - Corresponding measurements of an adult from seven miles north of - Laytonville, Mendocino County, are: 336, 121, 33 (= 36 on dried - skin). Corresponding measurements of an adult from South Yolla - Bolly Mountain, Trinity County, are, 326, 113, 37. In these three - specimens, the tail is, in the order given, 54, 56, and 53 per - cent as long as the head and body. Length of hind foot more than - basal length. - - Differences in external measurements of the two sexes as indicated - by the five males and one female from Point Arena, are: Total - length, 64; length of tail, 33; length of hind foot, 10. Weights - of 2 adult males are 265 and 221 grams and of one adult female 155 - grams. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata nigriauris_. - - _Color._--Spot between eyes, narrow band or spot confluent with - color of underparts on each side of head anterior to each ear, - chin, lower lips, and rarely posterior third or less of each upper - lip white; dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth uniformly - present and of large size; tip of tail black; remainder of upper - parts near (14 _l_) Sudan Brown and tone 4 of Raw Umber of - Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301; occasionally, slightly darker - brown on forehead, nose, and about eyes. Underparts near (_a_ to - _c_) Ochraceous-Buff and sometimes Orange-Buff. Color of - underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over - toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial sides of - hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes. Least width of color of - underparts averaging, in a series of 5 males from Mendocino - County, 57 (46-67) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts; 38 (35-40) in 3 males from Point Reyes, Marin County. Black - tip of tail in Mendocino County series averaging 53 (46-60) mm., - which is same length as hind foot and 32 per cent of length of - tail. In Point Reyes males, black tip of tail averages 44 (34-52) - mm., which is less than length of hind foot and 45 per cent as - long as tail-vertebrae. - - Several specimens of the smaller, inland variant (see under - "_Remarks_") are near (_l_) Antique Brown rather than near (14 - _l_) Sudan Brown above and hence do not differ in this respect - from _nigriauris_. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 3 adults from Mendocino - County): See measurements and plates 19-23, 30. As described in - _Mustela frenata nigriauris_ except that: Weight, 6.0 (5.4-6.3) - grams; basilar length, 47.6 (46.5-48.2); length of tympanic bulla - more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row. - - Female (based on no. 19723, M.V.Z., from Point Arena): See - measurements and plates 34-36, 40. As described in _M. f. - nigriauris_ except that: Weight, 3.0 grams; basilar length, 42.3. - - The skull of the female is 50 per cent lighter than that of the - average male. - -Compared with the skull of the male of _nevadensis_ that of _munda_ -averages larger in every part measured and specimens from Point Arena -are nearly as heavy again, have relatively more expanded zygomata and -mastoid processes but are relatively narrower anteriorly as shown by -the breadth of the rostrum, interorbital breadth and postorbital -breadth. Also the braincase is less inflated anteriorly, the tympanic -bullae are lower and the skull is more angular. Females show the same -differences although in different degree. Compared with the skull of -the male of _M. f. nigriauris_, that of _munda_ from Point Arena -averages larger in every part measured except for the length of the -upper tooth-rows. Relative to the basilar length, the skull of _munda_ -averages broader across the mastoids and across the zygomata, is deeper -through the braincase at the anterior end of the basioccipital, and -has a greater development of the lambdoidal crest. - -_Remarks._--The skin and part skull, no. 536/1849, U. S. Nat. Mus., -taken by Lieutenant W. P. Trowbridge at San Pablo Bay, is the first -specimen known to have been saved of this subspecies. Since 1899 when -O. Bangs diagnosed _munda_ as of small size, the weasel of the humid -costal belt north of San Francisco Bay has been regarded as smaller -than bridled weasels from farther south in the State. Actually, -however, the weasel of the humid costal belt shares with _M. f. -pulchra_ the distinction of being one of the two largest weasels in -California. - -_M. f. munda_ may be a composite subspecies, for the variation in -facial markings, in coloration otherwise, in external measurements and -in size and shape of skull is great. At one time in the course of the -present study, manuscript accounts of two subspecies were prepared for -the animals now all called _munda_ and there is still much -justification for recognizing two subspecies, one, along the coast -proper, the larger, darker-colored animal with reduced white facial -markings and large, wide, heavily ridged skull from Point Arena, and 6 -miles south of Laytonville, Mendocino County, along with the specimens -from 5 and 6 miles west of Inverness, Marin County, and the other, an -inland race, which is a smaller, lighter-colored animal with more -extensive white facial markings and a smaller, narrower, skull, known -by specimens from Point Reyes [station?], Nicasio, 15 mi. north of San -Rafael, Freestone, Vallejo, and Mount Sanhedrin. The differences -between these two lots of specimens are of great degree. However, a -female from Fort Bragg proves to be no larger than three females -labeled as from Point Reyes. Also, a male from 2 miles south and one -mile east of Stewarts Point on the coast has a skull no larger than the -animal from Vallejo, whereas the skin alone of an adult female from 3 -miles south of Stewarts Point is large and agrees with the specimens -from Point Arena. Consequently, no logical ranges can be worked out for -the two variants with the material now available. - -Finally, the type specimen of _munda_ is a "runt," smaller than any -other male seen. This specimen, purchased by E. A. and O. Bangs from C. -A. Allen, who collected and sold specimens widely, was labeled as from -Point Reyes. So far as this place-name is concerned, it might refer to: -(1) The point of land by that name which projects out into the Pacific -Ocean, (2) an abandoned ranch house bearing that name at the head of -Drakes Bay, 6 miles north and 3-3/4 miles east of the actual point, or -(3) the railway station by the same name at the head of Tomales Bay, -12 miles east and 4-3/4 miles north of the actual point. Allen, -himself, lived near San Geronimo (then Nicasio) about nine miles -southeast of the Point Reyes railway station. All these places are in -Marin County, but differ markedly as regards climate and flora. The -first two are treeless, windswept and have much fog, whereas Point -Reyes Station is more often sunny, and is situated in a shallow valley, -inland, where the open grass-covered west-facing slopes meet the -east-facing wooded ones. From which one of these three places the type -specimen came, I do not know. The same may be said of the three female -specimens labeled Point Reyes; two of these are in the United States -National Museum and one in the Field Museum. - -The specimens in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy from 5 and 6 miles -west of Inverness and those from near the same place in the collection -of John Cushing come from within a couple of miles or less of the Point -Reyes represented by the abandoned ranch house. These specimens, as -remarked above, agree with those from Point Arena in large size, -reduced facial markings and wide skull. These are points of difference -from the smaller variant suspected of being a recognizable subspecies. -It is the smaller variant which the type specimen approaches in size, -and with which it agrees in relatively well-developed white facial -markings. This suggests that the type specimen came from Point Reyes -Station rather than from either of the two other places bearing the -name "Point Reyes," from one of which, as just stated, the variant of -large size is known. The three females labeled "Point Reyes" also have -well-developed white facial markings and are of lesser size than the -female of similar age from Point Arena, Mendocino County. The -presumption is that these three females also came from Point Reyes -Station. - -The smaller, inland variant seems to agree in size, cranial characters, -and coloration with _M. f. nigriauris_ to the southward of San -Francisco Bay, but lacks the black on the head which characterizes -_nigriauris_. The larger variant, on which the description here used -for _munda_ is based, comprises animals which differ from _nigriauris_ -in larger size, darker color, reduced white facial markings, and -larger, relatively wider skull. Both of the variants mentioned above -are sharply distinct from _nigriauris_ on the basis of coloration of -the inside of the ear which is blackish in nigriauris like the dark -facial markings, and in _munda_ is colored like the back. _M. f. munda_ -lacks the dark facial markings; an occasional specimen has at most, a -trace of the markings but this does not extend back so far as the ears. -This difference, blackish versus non-blackish face, persists eastward -of San Francisco Bay to at least as far as the Carquinez Straits, where -a specimen of _munda_ is available from 4 miles north of Vallejo and -one of _nigriauris_ from Glen Frazer Station on the south shore -opposite Vallejo. - -[Illustration: FIG. 30. Map showing the geographic distribution of -subspecies of _Mustela frenata_ in California] - -Intergradation with _M. f. nevadensis_ and possibly with _M. f. -saturata_ is indicated by specimens from South Yolla Bolly Mountain, -Trinity County. In them the external measurements and measurements of -the skull are intermediate. Also the white frontal spot is much reduced -in size. The white bars in front of the ears are absent in three -specimens, and weakly developed in the other two. The relative -proportions of the skulls as a whole are nearer those of _nevadensis_ -or _saturata_ than _munda_. The skull of one of the three adult males -and the skull of the adult female suggests _M. f. oregonensis_ in -certain features; for example, the dorsal outline of the skull in -longitudinal axis is slightly convex as it is in _oregonensis_. - -None of the specimens shows malformation of the frontal sinuses such as -results from infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 37, arranged by counties from - north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the - Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy. - - =California.= _Trinity County_: S. Yolla Bolly Mt., 3[91]; 1/2 mi. - S S. Yolla Bolly Mt., 1. _Tehama County_: 2 mi. S S. Yolla Bolly - Mt., 1. _Mendocino County_: 6 mi. N Laytonville, 1; Mt. Sanhedrin, - 1[87]; Ft. Bragg, 1; Gualala, 1; Point Arena, 5. _Sonoma County_: - 2 mi. S and 1 mi. E Stewarts Point, 1; 3 mi. S Stewarts Point P. - O., 1; Freestone, 1. _Napa County_: 6 mi. SSW, Napa, 1; 4 mi. N - Vallejo, 1. County in question: San Pablo Bay, 1[91]. _Marin - County_: 6 mi. W Inverness, 2; 5 mi. W Inverness, 2(1[28]); Point - Reyes, 4 (2[91] 1[60], 1[75]); Nicasio, 2 (1[60], 1[75]); Kehoes - Ranch, Pierce Point, 1[28]; Drakes Bay, 1[28]; Tomales Point, - about 1/2 mi. SW White Gulch, 1; Point Reyes School, 3-3/4 mi. W - Inverness, 1; 15 mi. (by road) N San Rafael, 1[52]; Hurley Ranch, - 2 mi. W Tomales, 1. No locality more definite than California, - 1[7]. - - -=Mustela frenata xanthogenys= Gray - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 21, 22, 23, 28, 30, 34, 35 and 36 - - _Mustela xanthogenys_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 11:118, 1843. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Putorius xanthogenys_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:25, June 30, - 1896; Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:56, June 9, 1899. - - _Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:99, December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:107, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; skull no. 197a-43.6.4.55, - skin no. 234a-42.11.21.4, British Museum (Nat. Hist.); from the - bank of Sacramento River below mouth of Feather River, or from - north shore of San Francisco Bay, California; taken in "1837 or - 1838"; presented by Captain Edward Belcher. - - The skull (plate 28) lacks the occiput, the right mandible - posterior to m1, and the right pterygoid; the right zygomatic arch - is fractured. The teeth are not greatly worn. The skin was - originally mounted for exhibition (R. I. Pocock in Litt.) but in - 1937 when I saw the skin, it was prepared as a conventional study - skin. The skin is in fairly good condition; some hair is missing - on the hind quarters and the skin of the tail is torn at one - place. - - _Range._--Altitudinally, less than 600 feet (Fair Oaks); Lower - Sonoran and Upper Sonoran life-zones of all but southern end of - the San Joaquin Valley, and probably Sacramento Valley, - California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nevadensis_ by presence of light facial markings and Buckthorn - Brown rather than near (14_n_ to _l_) Brussels Brown color of - upper parts; from _M. f. munda_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than - near (_l_) Sudan Brown, or near (_l_) Antique Brown color of upper - parts and lesser size, in adult males basilar length less than 45 - and hind foot less than 47; from _M. f. nigriauris_ by lighter - color in same way as from _munda_ and also by having inside of - ears same color as back rather than much darker than back; from - _M. f. pulchra_ in hind foot of males less than 46 and narrower - skull, in males having breadth of rostrum less than 13.9 and - mastoid breadth less than 26.0, see comparison of skulls in the - account of _pulchra_. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Three adults, from Fresno, Selma - and Los Banos, measure, respectively as follows: Total length, - 425, 417, 450; length of tail, 152, 154, 180; length of hind - foot,--, 43, 44. Tail averages 61 per cent as long as head and - body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - Female: Adults from Selma, Los Banos, and 4 mi. SW Turlock, - measure respectively as follows: Total length, 357, 365, 395; - length of tail, 133, 132, 145; length of hind foot, 40, 38, 41. - Tail averages 58 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind - foot less than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements between the two - sexes, as represented by these six specimens, are: Total length, - 65; length of tail, 25; length of hind foot, 3.5. One adult male - weighs 274 grams and 2 adult females 182 and 214 grams. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata nigriauris_. - - _Color._--Spot between eyes, band confluent with color of - underparts on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior - to each ear, and posterior half to third of each upper lip white, - or whitish tinged with some shade of yellowish; chin and lower lip - white; dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth of varying size - but uniformly present; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts - Buckthorn Brown of Ridgway or a trifle browner than tone 4 of - Brown Pink of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 297. Upper parts of - uniform color except for slight darkening of head-markings - anterior to ears. Underparts Ochraceous-Buff to Warm Buff. Color - of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over - toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial sides of - hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes and sometimes tarsal - region. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 9 - specimens from Fresno, Selma and Los Banos, 54 (32-74) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in three - males (one subadult and 3 adults) averages 55 (50-60) mm. long. - Thus longer than hind foot and averaging 34 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 2 adults from Fresno and one - from Selma): See measurements and plates 21-23, 30. As described - in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that: Weight 3.8 grams; basilar - length, 43.7 (43.4-43.9); least width of palate more or less than - lateral length of P4; length of tympanic bulla more than length of - lower molar and premolar tooth-rows. - - Female (no. 2626 W. E. Snyder, from Selma): See measurements and - plates 34-36. As described in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that: - Weight, 2.5 grams; basilar length, 39.4. - - The skull of the female is 34 per cent lighter than the average - for the three males. - -Compared with skulls of _nevadensis_ from the Sierra Nevada, those of -the two adult males from Fresno differ as follows: M1 wider -(transversely); tympanic bullae narrower; preorbital part of skull -smaller. Comparison with _pulchra_ is made in the account of that -subspecies. Compared with skulls of adult males of _nigriauris_, from -Santa Clara County, the two skulls from Fresno are generally smaller -and in basilar length, length of tooth-rows and measurements of the -teeth fall below the minimum for _nigriauris_. Relative proportions of -the skulls are approximately the same. Comparison with _munda_ reveals -essentially the same differences as does comparison with _nigriauris_ -except that the difference in size is greater. - -_Remarks._--The name _Mustela xanthogenys_ Gray was long applied to all -the weasels of the interior valleys of California and of the coast of -that state south of San Francisco Bay. Gray, when he named the species -and when referring to it in later accounts, never defined the locality -whence the specimen came more definitely than "California." In 1896, -Merriam (1896:25) gave the type locality as "Southern California, -probably vicinity of San Diego" and later writers have not contradicted -him. The type specimen was obtained in the course of the voyage of the -British ship Sulphur, under command of Sir Edward Belcher. Examination -of Belcher's (1843, vol. 1, p. 129) narrative of the voyage indicates -the following places in California at which the specimen of weasel, -described by Gray, could have been obtained: Fort Ross, Bodega, -vicinity of San Francisco Bay and up Sacramento River to the mouth of -the Feather River, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Buenaventura, San Pedro, -San Juan, and San Diego. - -Reginald I. Pocock has kindly compared the type specimen in the British -Museum with several specimens sent for that purpose. In the first -place, comparison of skulls shows that the type specimen is a member of -one of the races north of San Diego. In the second place, comparison of -skins shows that the inside of the ears are not blackish but similar in -color to the back. In fact, Pocock writes under date of February 12, -1929, regarding the type specimen, that "It is practically uniformly -colored from the snout to the base of the tail, there being scarcely a -trace of the darkening of the head, or muzzle, observable in your -specimens [those sent for comparison]." This character of coloration of -the ear excludes all the weasels of the Coast region of California from -San Francisco Bay southward, namely, _M. f. latirostra_ and _M. f. -nigriauris_. My own examination of this type specimen at a date later -than that on which Pocock compared it satisfies me as to the accuracy -of his statement above. - -Accordingly, the name _xanthogenys_ would seem to apply to one of the -two subspecies here called _munda_ and _xanthogenys_. Perusal of -Belcher's narrative of the voyage (_loc. cit._) shows that little, if -any, opportunity was afforded to obtain vertebrate specimens at Fort -Ross or Bodega, both localities within the range of the subspecies here -called _munda_. Furthermore, the type specimen is smaller than -individuals of _munda_ from 5 to 6 miles west of Inverness and from -Point Arena with which the animals from Fort Ross and Bodega would be -expected to agree in size. Weasels from along the north shore of San -Francisco Bay are smaller than those on the coast north of the bay. -Possibly the type specimen of _xanthogenys_ came from the north side of -San Francisco Bay but probably it came from the bank of the Sacramento -River and almost certainly not farther up stream from San Francisco Bay -than the junction of the Sacramento and Feather rivers. The statement -of Belcher (1843, vol. 1, p. 129), regarding the trip up the Sacramento -River as far as Point Victoria, lat. 38°46´47" north, and return to -San Francisco Bay, that "Cuyote or jackal--fox, racoon, land otter, -weasel, and squirrel were obtained" lends strong probability to the -idea that this type specimen was taken along the Sacramento River, -possibly in the vicinity of the existing city of Sacramento. -Unfortunately no specimens are available from the Sacramento Valley. If -some were available, a comparison of them and specimens of _munda_ from -along the north side of San Francisco Bay and Carquinez Straits with -the type specimen of _xanthogenys_ should determine the correct -application of the name. For the present it seems best to retain the -name _munda_ and apply the name _xanthogenys_ to the weasels inhabiting -the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley and presumably the southern -part of the Sacramento Valley. - -Efforts to obtain specimens of weasels from the Sacramento Valley have -been in vain. A juvenal specimen taken five miles south of Fair Oaks, -Sacramento County, by Mr. John Fitzgerald, Jr., in December, 1927, was -examined at his home and found to agree in coloration with specimens -from farther south. Geographically, this specimen probably is more -nearly a topotype than any other examined. - -Most of the specimens examined are immature and adequate adult cranial -material has not been seen. Two adults, one of each sex, from Los Banos -have skulls of large size which agree with those of _nigriauris_. The -same is true of one adult and one young female from 4 miles southwest -of Turlock, which, unlike the animals from Los Banos, show a darkening -of the head extending in reduced degree even to the inside of the ears, -as in _nigriauris_. The slightly darker than average (for -_xanthogenys_) color on the back may indicate intergradation with -_nevadensis_. Intergradation with _M. f. nevadensis_ is shown by -specimens, from the southern part of the Sierra Nevada, mentioned in -the account of _nevadensis_. - -None of the skulls shows malformation of the frontal sinuses such as -result from infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number 30, arranged by counties from - north to south. - - =California.= _Sacramento County_: Bank of Sacramento River, 1[7]; - 5 mi. S Fair Oaks, 1[29]. _San Joaquin County_: 4 mi. W Stockton, - 1[74]. _Merced County_: Tegner School, 4 mi. SW Turlock, 2; Los - Banos, 4 (2[74], 1[91] 1[87]). _Fresno County_: Mendota, 1[74]; - Biola, 1[30]; Clovis, 1[55]; Fresno, 5 (1[74], 1[91], 2[55], - 1[1]); 5 mi. W Fresno, 1[14]; Selma, 3 (2[50], 1[104]); 4 mi. NW - Sanger, 1[55]; 5 mi. S Selma, 1[62]. _Tulare County_: Monson, - 1[74]; 1-1/2 mi. N Goshen, 1[74]; Milo, 1[91]; 2 mi. N Tipton, - 1[74]; Poplar, 2[53]. No locality more definite than California, - 1[4]. - - -=Mustela frenata nigriauris= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 22, 23, 24, 34, 35, 36 and 41 - - _Mustela frenata nigriauris_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:95, November 20, 1936. - - _Putorius xanthogenys_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., 1858, p. 176 (part). - - _Mustela xanthogenys_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 14(ser. - 4):375, 1874 (part?). - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Putorius xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Grinnel, Proc. California Acad. - Sciences, fourth series, 3:292, August 28, 1913. - - _Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:99, December 31, 1912; Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., - 40:102, September 26, 1933. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skeleton and skin; no. 32820, Mus. Vert. - Zoöl.; Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, California; received at - Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy, May 4, 1922, through A. L. - Hagedoorn, after having been in captivity a few days where death - occurred owing to injuries received in trap; original no. 1590. - - The skull has each of the zygomatic arches and the anterior end of - the nasals broken through. The only part missing is the central - two millimeters of the left zygomatic arch. The teeth all are - present and entire. The skeleton appears to be complete except for - the bones of the feet, which are preserved within the skin. The - skin is well made and in good condition. - - _Range._--Altitudinally, sea level to more than 4000 feet; Sonoran - and Transition life-zones of Coast Range and coast of California - from San Francisco Bay south to Point Conception, Santa Barbara - County, California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. munda_, - _xanthogenys_, and _pulchra_ by having inside of ears darker than - back rather than same color as back, and from _xanthogenys_ and - _pulchra_ in near (_l_) Antique Brown color of upper parts rather - than Buckthorn Brown or near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown to near - (_h_) Yellow Ocher respectively; from _M. f. latirostra_ by - postorbital breadth, of adult males and females, less, rather than - more, than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of - one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Five adults from Palo Alto, Santa - Clara County, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: - Total length, 447 (412-465); length of tail, 167 (147-175); length - of hind foot, 46 (45-47). Corresponding measurements of four - adults from San Francisco are: 412 (394-435); 153 (145-160); 43.5 - (41-46). Corresponding measurements of five adults and subadults - from Berkeley, Alameda County, are: 419 (390-448); 148 (135-160); - 44 (42-47). Tail averages 59 per cent as long as head and body in - series from Palo Alto and in one from San Francisco. The average - of 55 for the Berkeley series probably reflects a lesser average - age. Length of hind foot less than basal length. The type specimen - measures, 415, 150, 43. It is smaller than the mean. - - Female: A subadult from Palo Alto measures: Total length, 368; - length of tail, 126; length of hind foot, 39. An adult and two - subadults from Berkeley measure, respectively, as follows: Total - length, 347, 365, 340; length of tail, 134, 123, 125; length of - hind foot, 37, 38.4, 36.5. In these four females the tail averages - 55 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less - than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, - as represented by specimens from Berkeley, Alameda County, are: - Total length, 68; length of tail, 21; length of hind foot, 7. - Eight adult males weigh 249 (217-335) grams and one adult female - 123 grams. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae brownish like dark color of - head and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae mostly color of - underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness - of foot-soles slightly more than shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Spot between eyes, band, confluent with color of - underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior - to ear, and posterior third of each upper lip tinged with color of - underparts or, less often, pure white; chin and lower lips white; - remainder of sides and top of head posteriorly to, or a little - behind, a line connecting posterior margins of ears, blackish; - inside of pinna of ear, and sometimes outside of pinna, blackish; - dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth present on each side in - three-fourths of specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper - parts near (_l_) Antique Brown, and with more yellow than tone 3 - of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301. Often with more - blackish and red in winter. Underparts near (_a_ to _c_) - Ochraceous-Buff or Ochraceous-Salmon. Ochraceous-Salmon in some - juveniles. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides - of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, - and on medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes. - Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 17 adult males - (Berkeley, 5; San Francisco, 5; Palo Alto, 7), 55 (40-73) per cent - of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in - same series of males averaging 51 (35-60) mm., thus averaging - longer than hind foot and 33 per cent of length of tail (Palo Alto - and San Francisco, 31 per cent; Berkeley, 35 per cent). In 8 adult - females, least color of underparts amounts to 55 (47-62) per cent - of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail - averages 41.5 (28-50) mm., thus averaging longer than hind foot - and 32 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on six adults from Stanford Univ. - and vicinity): See measurements and plates 22-24; weight (four - adults), 5.4 (5.0-5.9) grams; basilar length, 47 (46.1-48.1); - zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and - M1, or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin - of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth more than postpalatal length; - postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars (less than - distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2) and less than - width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen - lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth not - greater than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin - of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic - bulla; least width of palate less than lateral length of P4; - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 3 or 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of - tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more or less than (about - equal to) length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer - or shorter (usually shorter) than rostrum; anterior margin of - masseteric fossa below anterior half of m2. - - Female (based on three adults, Hayward, Palo Alto, and Morro): See - measurements and plates 34-36; weight (no. 43574, from Morro) 2.7 - grams; basilar length, 41.2 (40.2-42.2); zygomatic breadth more or - less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or - less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of - upper premolars and less than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - least width of palate less than lateral length of P4; tympanic - bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 (including - I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance - from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic - bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and - longer or shorter than rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 50 per cent lighter than that of - the average male. - - Comparisons of the skull of the male with those of _M. f. - latirostra_, _pulchra_, _xanthogenys_, and _munda_ are made in the - accounts of those subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Like _M. f. latirostra_, _nigriauris_ long bore the name -_xanthogenys_. The fairly adequate lot of specimens is divided between -the collections of several institutions. The most satisfactory material -in any one collection is in the Stanford University Natural History -Museum where local specimens have been accumulated over a period of -many years. - -No actual intergrade between _nigriauris_ and _xanthogenys_ has been -seen, although the specimens from Los Banos, referred to _xanthogenys_, -have large skulls as in _nigriauris_. Intergradation with _latirostra_ -is shown by specimens, referred to _latirostra_, from the Los Angeles -area. Also the one adult male from 5 miles southeast of Santa -Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, is of small size and in this respect -approaches _latirostra_. The range of _nigriauris_ is separated from -that of _munda_ by San Francisco Bay, Carquinez Straits, and I suppose -by the lower part of the San Joaquin River. On the basis of color of -the inside of the pinna of the ear, the two subspecies are uniformly -distinct. Intergradation is assumed to occur through the subspecies -_xanthogenys_. - -None of the 26 adult and subadult specimens examined for evidences of -infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites shows malformation of -the sinuses. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 103, arranged by counties - from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in - the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy. - - =California.= _Contra Costa County_: Glen Frazer Station, 1; 2 mi. - W Pinole, 1[13]; 1 mi. E Pinole, 1; Richmond, 1[13]; Lafayette, 1; - 7 mi. E Clayton, 1; Moraga Valley, 1; Pinehurst, Redwood Canyon, - 1; Concord, 1. _Alameda County_: Berkeley, 11; Oakland, 1; - Piedmont, 1; Haywards, 2; near Haywards, 2; 10 mi. E Haywards, - 1[91]; Redwood Canyon, 1; Calaveras Dam, 1. _San Francisco - County_: San Francisco, 11 (5[8], 2[91], 1[60], 1[7]); Ocean View, - 1[68]; Visitation Valley, 1. _San Mateo County_: Moss Beach, 1; - Half Moon Bay, 1; Redwood City, 1[87]; Menlo Park, 9 (5[87], - 2[68]); no locality more definite than county, 1[8]. _Santa Clara - County_: 1/4 mi. N Milpitas, 1; 1/4 mi. S Milpitas, 1; Stanford - University, 6 (4[68], 2[91]); Palo Alto, 11 (6[41], 2[60], 1[75], - 1[87]). _Santa Cruz County_: 3 mi. E Santa Cruz, 1; 2-1/2 mi. E - Santa Cruz, 1; Santa Cruz, 6 (2[91], 1[68], 1[4]). _Monterey - County_: 1 mi. E mouth Salinas River, 10 ft., 1[37]; Pacific - Grove, 1[8]; Monterey, 2 (1[7]); Carmel, 1[8]; Carmel Valley, - 1[68]; Point Lobos, 1; Gonzales, 1. _San Luis Obispo County_: 5 - mi. SE Santa Margarita, 1; Morro, 1[91]; 3-1/2 mi. S Oceano, 6. - _Santa Barbara County_: Santa Maria, 1[87]; 5 mi. N Las Cruces, 1; - 7 mi. W Gaviota, 1; Gaviota, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata latirostra= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 22, 23, 24, 34, 35 and 36 - - _Mustela frenata latirostra_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:96, November 20, 1936. - - _Putorius xanthogenys_, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 176, 1858 (part); - Stephens, California mammals, p. 246, 1906; Merriam, N. Amer. - Fauna, 11:25, June 30, 1896 (part). - - _Putorius (Gale) brasilianus frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, - p. 142 (part). - - _Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:99, December 31, 1912; Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., - 40:102, September 26, 1933. - - _Mustela arizonensis_, Grinnell and Swarth, Univ. California Publ. - Zoöl. 10, 376, October 31, 1913. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 3257, Mus. Vert. Zoöl.; - San Diego, San Diego County, California; May 20, 1907; obtained by - Frank X. Holzner. - - Right M1 is missing and the part of the jaw bearing this tooth is - broken away. With this exception the skull is complete and - unbroken and the teeth are all present and entire. The skin is - fairly well made and in good condition except that it is slightly - soiled. - - _Range._--Altitudinally sea level to 8000 feet (Tahquitz Valley, - San Jacinto Mountains); Sonoran and Transition life-zones of coast - and mountains west of Mohave and Imperial deserts of southern - California from Point Conception and Cuyama Valley southward at - least to Mexican boundary. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and - 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nigriauris_ by having postorbital breadth of adult males and - females, more, rather than less, than width of basioccipital - measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to - its opposite; from _M. f. pulchra_ by having tympanic bulla longer - than rostrum (orbitonasal length) and by near (_l_) Antique Brown - rather than near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown to near (_h_) Yellow - Ocher color of upper parts. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Six adults and subadults from San - Diego yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total - length, 439 (428-449); length of tail, 153 (142-160); length of - hind foot, 45 (40-47). Corresponding measurements for a series of - eight adult males from the vicinity of Los Angeles are: 416 - (394-428); 158 (151-166); 44 (40-47). In the series from San Diego - the tail averages 54 per cent as long as head and body. In the - series from Los Angeles the average is 61 per cent. Length of hind - foot in each series, less than basal length. The type specimen - measures, 435, 142, 42. - - Female: No. 5070, adult, from San Diego, measures 367, 141, 38. - Nos. 22 and 6748 from Santa Ysabel, measure: 359, 380; 130, 140; - 39, 35. No. 7194 from Jamacha measures, 358, 125, 35. Three adult - females from Los Angeles yield the following: Total length, 373, - 345, 368; length of tail, 150, 122, 134; length of hind foot,--, - 41, 41. In no. 5070 the tail is 62 per cent as long as the head - and body and in the three from Los Angeles it averages 60 (55-67) - per cent. Length of hind foot, in each case, less than basal - length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - as shown by the six males from San Diego and the four females - from San Diego County are: Total length, 73; length of tail, 19; - length of hind foot, 8. Corresponding differences shown by the - eight males and three females from Los Angeles are: 54, 23, 3. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae brownish, like dark color - of head and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae mostly color of - underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness - of foot-soles slightly more than shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Spot between eyes, band confluent with color of - underparts on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior - to ear, and posterior third of each upper lip tinged with color of - underparts or, less often, white; chin and lower lips white; - remainder of sides and top of head posteriorly to near line - connecting posterior margins of ears, blackish; inside of pinna of - ear, and sometimes outside of pinna, blackish; dark spot posterior - to each angle of mouth present on each side in three-fourths of - specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts near (_l_) - Antique Brown, and with more yellow than tone 3 of Raw Umber of - Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301. Underparts Ochraceous-Buff to - Warm Buff and in some specimens from Los Angeles and Ventura - counties Ochraceous-Orange, especially in young and juveniles. - Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of - forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists and on - medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes. Least - width of color of underparts averaging, in 15 adult and subadult - males from San Diego County, 54 (35-75) per cent of greatest width - of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series of males - averaging 54.5 (46-60) mm. long. Thus averaging longer than hind - foot and 35 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 6 adults from San Diego - County). See measurements and plates 22-24. As described in _M. f. - nigriauris_ except that: Weight (4 specimens), 3.9 (3.8-4.0) - grams; basilar length 43.8 (41.9-47.0); postorbital breadth more - than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one - foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth - not less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin - of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far - posterior to foramen ovale as width of 2 to 2-1/2 (including I3) - upper incisors; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum; anterior - margin of masseteric fossa below m2. - - Female (based on 4 adults from San Diego County): See - measurements. As described in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that: - Weight, 2.6 (2.2-2.8) grams; basilar length, 40.0 and 40.1; - postorbital breadth more than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - length of tympanic bulla more than length of rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 34 per cent lighter than that of - the average male. - -The skull of the male of _latirostra_, compared with that of -_nigriauris_, is by weight, more than one-fourth lighter, has a lesser -basilar length, a lesser mastoid breadth, a lesser zygomatic breadth -and a narrower M1. In these features no overlap has been observed -between adults from the general vicinities of the type localities of -the two forms. In adult males of _latirostra_ the postorbital breadth, -with one exception, is more than the combined length of P4 and P3 -whereas the reverse is true in adult males of _nigriauris_. Both males -and females of _latirostra_ have a generally smaller skull with -relatively broader interorbital and postorbital parts and the tympanic -bullae are relatively larger, rounder and more inflated. - -Compared with the skull of the male of _pulchra_ that of _latirostra_ -is, by weight, more than one-fourth lighter, has a lesser basilar and -orbitonasal length, lesser zygomatic and mastoid breadth and a more -nearly flat braincase. In these features no overlap has been observed -between adults from the general vicinities of the type localities of -the two subspecies. Also, in _latirostra_ the tympanic bulla is longer -than the rostrum whereas the opposite is true in _pulchra_. The skull -of _latirostra_ is generally smaller and relatively, on the average, -has the preorbital part of the skull deeper and broader with longer -tooth-rows, although with shorter rostrum, while the zygomatic and -mastoid breadths are less. Study of skulls of subadult females of -_pulchra_ indicate that females of _latirostra_ and _pulchra_ differ in -the same fashion as do males. - -_Remarks._--This subspecies long has gone by the name _M. xanthogenys_ -and the type locality was generally supposed to be in the vicinity of -San Diego. This supposition seems to have originated with Merriam's -(1896:25) statement that the type locality was "Southern California, -probably vicinity of San Diego." Nevertheless, as set forth in the -account of _M. f. xanthogenys_ the type specimen concerned now is -thought to have come from much farther north. - -Although 76 Recent specimens are available from southern California, -additional adults are needed to understand the geographic variation -there. _M. f. latirostra_ may be a composite--made up of more than one -geographic race. Specimens from San Diego County differ so much in -relative length of the tail that at one stage in the present study it -was thought that a difference in this respect existed between the -coastal animals and those from farther inland. Material received later -did not wholly substantiate this view and because of the uniformly -small size of all of the skulls from that county, the animals were -later regarded as of the same subspecies. Eventually, even this -supposed common feature proved to be inconstant for an adult male from -Jamacha, no. 7098, of the San Diego Society of Natural History, and -another adult male from San Marcos, no. 8869, collection of Ralph -Ellis, were later examined and found to have skulls as large as those -of average-sized, adult males of _nigriauris_. - -Despite these puzzling local variations, it is established that the -long-tailed weasels of southern California are smaller than those from -farther north. Also, the southern animal averages smaller in weight and -size of skull, and the skull is differently proportioned. Specimens in -series from Los Angeles County definitely are intermediate in size and -shape of skull between _latirostra_ from San Diego County and -_nigriauris_ from, say, Santa Clara County, but definitely more closely -resemble _latirostra_ from San Diego County than they do _nigriauris_. -A skull of a young animal, not here identified to subspecies, from -Potholes, in the Colorado River Valley, 10 miles northeast of Bard, -Imperial County, California, may have closest relationship to _M. f. -latirostra_. Additional comment on this specimen is offered in the -account of _M. f. neomexicana_. - -From the asphalt pits of Rancho La Brea, in Los Angeles County, a total -of 57 skulls have been examined, more than half of which are reasonably -complete. I have been unable to learn whether these came from pits -regarded by students of the deposit as wholly Recent, from pits -regarded as of Pleistocene age, or from both. Suffice to say that only -two specimens were found which could be distinguished from skulls of -the subspecies of weasel living in that area today. - -These two specimens, lent to me by Professor Chester Stock, were with -other skulls received from the Los Angeles Museum of History, Art and -Science and bore identifying numbers as follows: 16/20-27, the anterior -part of the skull of an adult, and 16, the skull posterior to the -cribiform plate of a subadult or possibly young individual. The latter -has a mastoid breadth of 28.0 millimeters, a tympanic bulla 16.1 long -and other measurements in proportion. It is larger than any specimen of -weasel, of any subspecies, seen from California and in the subgenus -_Mustela_ seems to be exceeded in size only by certain individuals of -_M. f. texensis_. _M. f. neomexicana_ attains relatively large size and -comparisons were made with individuals of that subspecies. However, the -young specimen from Rancho La Brea differs from _neomexicana_ in that -the tympanic bullae rise less steeply on the medial sides and the -inferior lip of the external auditory meatus is less developed -laterally. Age considered, the sagittal crest is less developed and the -mastoid processes project more abruptly from the skull. The anterior -part of the skull of the adult, no. 16/20-27 is larger than any -specimen seen of _M. f. latirostra_ or adjoining subspecies, and among -California-taken specimens is equaled in size only by the largest males -of _M. f. munda_ from the northwest coastal district in Mendocino -County. This adult from Rancho La Brea differs from _neomexicana_, sex -and age taken into account, in greater postorbital breadth, lesser -rostral width in comparison with the interorbital breadth, and in -having the temporal ridges at the anterior end of the sagittal crest -spread out into a Y-shaped, rather than a T-shaped, pattern. All these -differences from _neomexicana_ are features of agreement with the -California bridled weasels of the subspecies _latirostra_, -_nigriauris_, and _munda_. The same is true of the characters which set -apart the young specimen from _neomexicana_. In summary: of 57 weasel -skulls examined from the asphalt pits at Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles -County, all but two are indistinguishable from the skulls of the Recent -weasel living in that region today. These two skulls agree in -qualitative characters with animals of the California coastal -subspecies now living from Los Angeles northward to Humboldt County, -but are larger. For the time being these two may be thought of as -giants of the same type of animal inhabiting the Los Angeles region -today. - -Only one of 41 adult and subadult skulls examined for malformation of -the frontal sinuses shows infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 142, listed by counties from - north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the - Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy. - - =California.= _Santa Barbara County_: Rincon Point, 1. _Ventura - County_: Cuyama Valley, 2200 ft., 1[91]; Nordhoff, 3[59]; Santa - Paula, 1[59]; Ventura, 7. _Los Angeles County_: near Owensmouth, - 1[24]; Cahuenga, 1[91]; Llano, 10 mi. E Littlerock, 1; Flint - Ridge, Pasadena, 1[59]; Pasadena, 3; Lankershim, 1[24]; 1 mi. S - Lankershim, 1[24]; Duarte, 1[59]; Covina, 1[59]; Claremont, 1[91]; - El Monte, 4 (2[75], 1[24]); Montebello, 1; Alhambra, 6 (5[2], - 1[91]); El Nogal, 2[8]; Gardena, 1[26]; Palos Verdes Estate, 3; - Rancho La Brea asphalt deposits, 57[70]^{ and }[92]. _San - Bernardino County_: San Bernardino Valley, 1[75]; San Bernardino, - 4 (2[20], 1[91]); Redlands, 2 (1[38]); Bluff Lake, 2 (1[59], - 1[33]). _Riverside County_: West Riverside, 1; Arlington, 800 ft., - 1[17]; 3-1/2 mi. E and 1/2 mi. N Beaumont, 2600 ft., 1; Banning, - 1[91]; Cabazon, 1[91]; San Jacinto Plain, 1[20]; Tahquitz Valley, - 8000 ft., 1; Elsinore, 1[1]. _San Diego County_: Twin Oaks, 1[91]; - San Marcos, 2 (1[87], 1[41]); Escondido, 1; Witch Creek, 1[91]; - Ballena, 1[20]; Santa Ysabel, 3 (2[20], 1[87]); Julián, 1; La - Jolla, 1; Lakeside, 1[91]; El Cajon, 1[91]; El Vido (not found on - map), 1[91]; San Diego, 9 (1[91], 1[20], 1[87], 1[32]); Jamacha, - 2[87]; Chula Vista, 1[20]. - - -=Mustela frenata pulchra= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 22, 23 and 24 - - _Mustela frenata pulchra_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:98, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skeleton and skin; no. 16668, Mus. Vert. - Zoöl.; Buttonwillow, Kern County, California; April 30, 1912; - obtained by J. Grinnell; original no. 1953. - - The skull (plates 22-24) is complete and unbroken (a fracture in - the right jugal has healed). All teeth are present and entire. The - skeleton lacks the os penis, left fibula, shaft of left tibia and - the distal three or four caudal vertebrae. Some of the bones of - the feet distal to the radius and tibia are with the skeleton, and - the remainder probably are in the skin. The skin is fairly well - made and in good condition, except for the left hind leg which was - torn when the animal was captured. A well-developed scrotal pouch - shows the specimen to have been a male. - - _Range._--Altitudinally around 300 feet in San Joaquin Valley to - 2500 feet at Isabella; Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran life-zones - of southern end of San Joaquin Valley and in mountains at southern - end of Valley, California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and - 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nevadensis_ in presence of light facial markings, and from _M. f. - nevadensis_ and _M. f. inyoensis_ in near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown - to near (_h_) Yellow Ocher rather than near (14 _n_ to _l_) - Brussels Brown color of upper parts, and greater size with hind - foot more than 40 in females and basilar length averaging more - than 46.0 in males; from _M. f. latirostra_ in having rostrum - (orbitonasal length) longer than tympanic bulla and from _M. f. - latirostra_ and _M. f. nigriauris_ by color of upper parts as - stated above rather than near (_l_) Antique Brown, and by having - inside of ears same color as back rather than much darker than - back; from _M. f. xanthogenys_ in hind foot of males more than 46 - and broader skull which in males has breadth of rostrum more than - 13.9 and mastoid breadth more than 26.0. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The type specimen and five other - adults yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total - length, 454 (428-477); length of tail, 178 (153-184); length of - hind foot, 50 (47-55). Tail averages 65 per cent as long as head - and body. Length of hind foot approximately equal to basal length. - The type specimen measures, 460, 184, 49. - - Female: Three subadult topotypes yield average and extreme - measurements as follows: Total length, 399 (383-411); length of - tail, 154 (140-161); length of hind foot, 42 (41-42). Tail - averages 63 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot - less than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - are: Total length, 55; length of tail, 24; length of hind foot, 8. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata nigriauris_. - - _Color._--Spot between eyes, band confluent with color of - underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior - to each ear, posterior third of each upper lip, lower lips and - chin white or more often darker than Ochraceous-Buff and - therefore same color as belly; dark spot posterior to each angle - of mouth present but small; tip of tail black; remainder of upper - parts near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown to near (_h_) Yellow Ocher and - from tone 2 to 4 of Brown Pink of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 297, - but with a trifle more reddish brown. Upper parts of uniform color - except for occasional slight darkening of nose, forehead, and - areas around eyes. Underparts darker (_a_) than Ochraceous-Buff. - Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of - forelegs over toes, onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on - medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes, tarsal - region and sometimes in diluted fashion on proximal third of - underside of tail. Least width of color of underparts averaging, - in 6 male topotypes, 55 (43-81) per cent of greatest width of - color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series of males - averaging 58 (53-63) mm. long; thus averaging longer than hind - foot and 33 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 6 ads., type and 5 topotypes): - See measurements and plates 22-24. As described in _M. f. - nigriauris_ except that: Weight (6 ads.), 5.3 (4.5-6.1) grams; - basilar length, 47.6 (46.0-48.6); (one skull, no. 335, with - postorbital breadth more than distance between posterior borders - of P4 and P2); interorbital breadth more or less than distance - between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 2 to 3-1/2 (including I3) upper incisors; length - of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar - tooth-row and shorter than rostrum. - - Female: Adult skull of typical female not seen. - -As compared with the skull of the type specimen of _inyoensis_, skulls -of adult males of _pulchra_ are larger throughout, relatively broader, -especially in the preorbital part of the skull, have more inflated -tympanic bullae, and are less convex in dorsal outline. Comparison of -the skull with that of _latirostra_ has been made in discussion of that -subspecies. Comparison of skulls of adult males of _nigriauris_ and -_pulchra_ shows that those of _pulchra_ average larger in every -measurement taken except those of m1, M1, P4, and depth of skull at -posterior borders of upper molars. The basilar length is only slightly -more and it follows that, relative to this length, other measurements -of the skull are relatively, as well as actually, larger. In no one -measurement is there an entire lack of overlap, but the skulls of adult -males, and probably adult females, may be distinguished from those of -_nigriauris_ by the combination of the following mentioned, average -differences: Tympanic bullae larger in each of three dimensions; -preorbital and interorbital parts of skull broader and notably heavier; -interorbital breadth greater; zygomatic arches more expanded laterally; -mastoid processes more prominent. As compared with _xanthogenys_, -differences of similar nature, but of greater degree, distinguish -_pulchra_. As compared with those of _nevadensis_ (represented by -specimens from Mono Co., Calif.), skulls of adult males of _pulchra_ -average larger in every measurement taken and no overlap exists in -basilar length, orbitonasal length, mastoid breadth, zygomatic breadth, -length of tympanic bulla, or depth of skull at either the anterior -margin of the basioccipital or at the posterior margins of the upper -molars. Relatively, the preorbital portion is about the same size in -the two forms. - -_Remarks._--The best material of this big weasel was obtained in 1910 -and 1911 by John Wimmer and forwarded to the California Academy of -Sciences through John R. Rowley, although in 1905, one specimen had -been obtained by A. S. Bunnell for the collections of the United States -Bureau of Biological Survey, another by J. Grinnell for the Museum of -Vertebrate Zoölogy in 1912, and in 1933, another by L. M. Huey, for the -San Diego Society of Natural History. - -The males from the type locality are relatively uniform in size and -shape of skull. The one exception is no. 137935, U. S. Nat. Mus., -slightly younger than the others. Its skull is relatively more slender -than any of the others and does not display several of the differential -characters. The male, no. 127566, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Alila (= -Earlimart) is intermediate in cranial features between _pulchra_ and -_xanthogenys_ as known from specimens taken in the vicinity of Fresno. -The skull of the female, no. 127565, from the same place, is too young -to provide diagnostic characters. Since the skull of an adult female of -topotypical _pulchra_ is unknown, doubt attaches to the identification -of the adult, female specimen, no. 115895, U. S. Nat. Mus., from -Delano. It has a relatively broad skull in comparison with the adult -female of _xanthogenys_ from Los Banos. The adult female, no. 9998, San -Diego Soc. Nat. Hist., from 2 mi. SW Simmler, shows approach to -_nigriauris_ in slightly reduced size. The skin alone from Coalinga, a -male, taken on April 10, 1935, measures 462, 179, 47. The adult female, -with crushed skull, from 4 miles east of Coalinga, measures 350, 129, -40. In size, these specimens agree better with _pulchra_ than with -_xanthogenys_. The skin alone from 3 miles south of Coalinga is unsexed -and without external measurements. Skulls of adults from Coalinga are -needed to permit of more positive identification of the subspecies -found there. The female from 4 miles east of Coalinga, taken on -February 21, 1936, is in process of molt on the underparts, and the -longer hair which is near (20´) Naples Yellow contrasts strongly with -the incoming shorter hair which is near (10 _c_) Salmon-Orange. The -skin alone, no. 16270, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., from Isabella, was made up -from a decayed animal and is of but little use. It is referred to -_pulchra_ purely because of geographic nearness of Isabella to the type -locality of _pulchra_. The most that can be told from the specimen is -that it is a relatively light-colored, bridled weasel. The fact that -the color is slightly darker than in _pulchra_ may or may not indicate -intergradation with _nevadensis_. No. 54103/41042, U. S. Nat. Mus., -consisting of crushed bits of skull and the skin of the head, is from -Willow Spring, Kern County. This marginal locality is really in the -Mojave Desert rather than in the San Joaquin Valley. The light color of -the skin of the head suggests _pulchra_, but it is realized that a -complete specimen might show the animal there to be unlike _pulchra_. - -None of the skulls shows evidence of having had the frontal sinuses -infested by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 18, listed by counties from - north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the - Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy. - - =California.= _Fresno County_: Coalinga, 1[23]; 4 mi. E Coalinga, - 1; 3 mi. S Coalinga, 1[8]. _Tulare County_: Alila (= Earlimart), - 2[91]. _Kern County_: Delano, 1[91]; Buttonwillow, 9 (6[8], - 2[91]); Isabella, 1; Willow Spring, 1[91] _San Luis Obispo - County_: 2 mi. SW Simmler, 1[87]. - - -=Mustela frenata inyoensis= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 22, 23 and 24 - - _Mustela frenata inyoensis_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:99, November 20, 1936. - - _Putorius xanthogenys_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:25, June 30, - 1896 (part). - - _Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:99, December 31, 1912. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull (with skeleton) and skin; no. 25907, - Mus. Vert. Zoöl.; Carl Walter's Ranch, 2 mi. N Independence, Inyo - County, California; June 26, 1917; obtained by A. C. Shelton; - original no. 3143. - - The skull (plates 22-24) is complete and unbroken. All teeth are - present and entire. The skin is well made and in good condition. - - _Range._--From 3700 feet (Lone Pine) to at least 4000 feet - (Alvord); Lower Sonoran Life-zone of the floor of Owens Valley in - Inyo County, California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and - 314. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nevadensis_ in presence of white facial markings; from _M. f. - pulchra_ in near (_l_) Brussels Brown rather than near (16 _j_) - Buckthorn Brown to near (_h_) Yellow Ocher color of upper parts - and basilar length of less than 45 in males; from _M. f. - latirostra_ in brownish rather than blackish color of inside of - ear and orbitonasal length of more than 15. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Two adults, the type specimen and - no. 25392/32805, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, - 423 and 390; length of tail, 170 and 145; length of hind foot, 42 - and 44. Tail is 67 and 59 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - Female: No. 12400, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., which is young, has the - following measurements: Total length, 390; length of tail, 150; - length of hind foot, 39. Tail is 63 per cent as long as head and - body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - The differences in external measurements between the two sexes, as - represented by the male type specimen and by the young female, - are: Total length, 33, length of tail, 20; length of hind foot, 3. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black or dark brown and - reaching beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and - extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles - (in summer pelage) slightly less than shown in figure 19. - - _Color._--Large spot between eyes, band confluent with color of - underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior - to each ear, upper throat, chin, lower lips and in some specimens - part or all of upper lips white; patch between eyes and bars in - front of ears tinged with some shade of yellowish in one specimen; - dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth present in four of five - specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts, in summer, - near (_l_) Brussels Brown or tones 1 to 2 of Raw Umber of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, pl. 301; slightly darker brown on forehead, nose - and about eyes. In winter near (_j_) Snuff Brown or lighter than - Brussels Brown with a smoked effect. Underparts Buff-Yellow, - winter and summer. Color of underparts extends distally on - posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of - feet and wrists and on medial sides of hind legs over antiplantar - faces of toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 5 - available specimens 34 (24-42) per cent of greatest width of color - of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in two adult males, averaging - 53 (45 and 60) mm. Thus longer than hind foot and averaging 34 per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on the type): See measurements and - plates 22-24. As described in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that: - Weight, 4.4 grams; basilar length, 44.7; postorbital breadth not - less than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of - one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; length of tympanic - bulla less than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row. - - Female: Adult unknown. - -Compared with the skull of the male of _nevadensis_, no single -difference not covered by individual variation in _nevadensis_ has been -detected. Selected differences of _inyoensis_ in comparison with -_latirostra_ are larger size, less inflated tympanic bullae and -relative narrowness of the postorbital, interorbital and preorbital -parts of the skull. Comparison of the skull with that of _M. f. -pulchra_ is made in the account of that subspecies. - -_Remarks._--Although two specimens of this subspecies were taken during -the Death Valley Survey conducted by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, only three -additional individuals are known to have been saved as study specimens -since that time. - -_M. f. inyoensis_ as now known may be thought of as closely similar to -_M. f. nevadensis_ except for the presence of well-developed white -facial markings like those found in the weasels of the San Joaquin -Valley and coastal region of California south of San Francisco Bay. The -nonwhite areas of the head are almost the same color as the back and -not distinctly blackish as in _M. f. latirostra_ and _M. f. -nigriauris_. The one specimen in the winter coat, no. 25392/32805, U. -S. Nat. Mus., from Lone Pine, is brown rather than white. The brown has -the pale smoke-tinge common in the winter pelage of subspecies whose -members are either brown or white in winter. The range of this -subspecies is thought to include the floor and lower elevations of -Owens Valley although it may occur in limited numbers southwestward -along the base of the Sierra Nevada and through the mountains in places -of low elevation like Walker Pass its range may meet that of _pulchra_. - -The type specimen was taken in an alfalfa field by ranch hands, who, -according to A. C. Shelton (MS), stated that the species was common at -the type locality. None of the five specimens shows infestation of the -frontal sinuses by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 5, listed by localities from - north to south. - - =California.= _Inyo County_: Alvord, 4000 ft., 1 (U. S. Nat. - Mus.); 2 mi. N Independence, 1 (Mus. Vert. Zoöl.); Lone Pine, 3 (2 - in Field Mus. Nat. Hist. and 1 in U. S. Nat. Mus.). - - -=Mustela frenata neomexicana= (Barber and Cockerell) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 22, 23, 24, 34, 35 and 36 - - _Putorius frenatus neomexicanus_ Barber and Cockerell, Proc. Acad. - Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1898:188; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. - Sci., 19:178, 1905. - - _Mustela frenata neomexicana_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:100, December 31, 1912; Bailey, Animal Life of Carlsbad - Cavern, p. 97, 1928; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:108, November 20, 1936. - - _Mustela frenatus neomexicanus_, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 35:19, - September 5, 1913. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 10475, Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; - Armstrong's Lake, Mesilla Park, Dona Ana County, New Mexico; - February 1, 1898; obtained by A. C. Tryson; original no. 58 of C. - M. Barber. - - The skull is imperfectly cleaned but unbroken. The right upper - incisors, right P2 and left p3 are broken away. The skin is - indifferently stuffed but in a good state of preservation except - that the distal part of the tail is missing. The animal's coat is - ragged, and this imperfect appearance is heightened by injury to - the posterior part of the body, probably at the time of capture. - - _Range._--From 3800 feet (type locality) to 9000 feet (Cloudcroft, - N. Mex.); Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran life-zones of northern - México, southeastern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas, - panhandle of Oklahoma, southeastern Colorado and southwestern - Kansas. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. frenata_ - and _M. f. texensis_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than Brussels Brown - color of upper parts, mastoid breadth of adult males ordinarily - more, rather than less, than postpalatal length; from _M. f. - leucoparia_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than Argus Brown color of - upper parts, distance from anterior margin of tympanic bulla to - foramen ovale less, rather than more, than four-fifths height of - tympanic bulla; from _M. f. arizonensis_ and _M. f. nevadensis_ by - Buckthorn Brown, rather than near (14 _n_) Brussels Brown or, in - winter, white color of upper parts, in presence of white frontal - spot continuous with color of underparts, in basilar length of - more than 46 mm. in males and 40 mm. in females; from _M. f. - longicauda_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than near (_h_) Clay Color - of upper parts, by presence of white facial markings on Argus - Brown head, and by length of tooth-rows amounting to less than 37 - per cent of basilar length; from _M. f. primulina_ by Buckthorn - Brown rather than Brussels Brown color of upper parts, in presence - of white frontal spot and broad white bands on side of head, in - anteriorly truncate rather than anterolaterally rounded bullae and - zygomatic breadth of more than 30 in males and 24 in females. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The type specimen (see Barber and - Cockerell, 1898:188) measured: Total length, 500; length of tail, - 205; length of hind foot, 50. Tail 70 per cent as long as head and - body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - Female: No. 21779 from Tombstone, Arizona, measured: Total length, - 419; length of tail, 165; length of hind foot from dried skin, 41 - (probably 43 in flesh). Tail 65 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot less than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, - as known from these two individuals, are: Total length, 81; length - of tail, 40; length of hind foot, 7. - - Compared with _M. f. frenata_, the size, proportions of parts and - difference in size of the two sexes, appears to be about the same. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae colored like upper parts - [in the type specimen some of the "long bristles of the upper lip" - are white as pointed out by Barber and Cockerell (_op. cit._: - 188)] and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae colored like - underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness - of foot-soles as shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Broad white bands on sides of head, extending - anterodorsally anterior to each ear, confluent with white spot - between eyes and with color of underparts; posterior half or all - of each upper lip edged with white; usually few white hairs on top - of head between ears; remainder of top of head near Argus Brown of - Ridgway and Chocolate, tone 4, of Oberthür and Dauthenay; dark - spot posterior to each angle of mouth usually absent; tip of tail - black; remainder of upper parts varying, in different specimens, - from Buckthorn Brown to Dresden Brown of Ridgway, and Brown Pink - (tones 3 to 4, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); underparts - Antimony Yellow or near (_c_) Warm Buff of Ridgway, and Brown Pink - (tone 1, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); color of underparts - extends distally on legs over forefeet and hind feet. Least width - of color of underparts averaging 46 (41-55) per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail 35 to 45 mm. long - in females; 43 to 68 mm. long in males and averaging 21 (20-36) - per cent as long as tail-vertebrae. - - No specimen of this subspecies in the white winter coat has been - seen. Animals taken in midwinter are available from Mesilla Park, - Willcox, and 10 miles east of Roswell. - - From _M. f. frenata_, _neomexicana_ differs in: upper parts and - underparts much lighter colored; white facial markings more - extensive; color of underparts more extended onto feet. From _M. - f. leucoparia_, _neomexicana_ differs as follows: above and below, - much lighter colored, but white facial markings less extensive and - color of underparts less extended onto feet and legs. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on adults: the type; no. 131582 - from Berino, New Mexico; and no. 1485 from Seward Co., Kansas): - See measurements and plates 22-24. As described in _Mustela - frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 6.2 (4.9 and 7.5); basilar - length, 49.3 (48 and 50.5); mastoid breadth more than postpalatal - length; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior - margin of masseteric fossa directly below m2 or heel of ml. - - Female (based on three adults): See measurements and plates 34-36. - As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 3.1 - (2.6-3.5) grams; basilar length, 42.7 (40.8-45.5); zygomatic - breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and - more or less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla. - - The skull of the female averages 50 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -As compared with the skull of the male of _M. f. frenata_, that of -_neomexicana_ is decidedly more angular and ridged. The postorbital -constriction is narrower, the mastoid breadth greater (it is less than -the postpalatal length in some subadult males), the sagittal crest much -higher with impressions of the temporal and masseter muscles carried -farther forward on the frontals, rostrum shorter and tympanic bullae -wider and more inflated. Similar, though less marked, differences exist -between the females. As compared with _M. f. leucoparia_ and _perotae_, -the same differences as noted above between _frenata_ and _neomexicana_ -exist. In addition the tympanic bullae are so far removed from the -foramen ovale that the distance from the anterior end of each bulla to -the foramen ovale, instead of being less than the height of tympanic -bullae, is in _leucoparia_ more than four-fifths this height and in -_perotae_ more than the entire height. Also, in _perotae_, the -squamosal, anterior to each tympanic bulla, is ventrally convex rather -than ventrally concave as in _neomexicana_. Compared with _M. f. -longicauda_, _neomexicana_ is relatively narrower in the interorbital -region, has relatively shorter tooth-rows, a V-shaped rather than a -U-shaped interpterygoid space and in males has the interorbital region -flat rather than convex and the sagittal crest is higher. The same -differences are to be noted in comparison with _nevadensis_ but here -the difference in relative length of tooth-row is less. The same -differences exist also in comparison with _M. f. arizonensis_ except -that its interorbital breadth, relative to the rest of the skull, is -about the same. Difference in size is especially marked here; even -females of _neomexicana_ average larger than males of _arizonensis_. - -_Remarks._--When Barber and Cockerell named this subspecies in 1898, -they had three specimens. Only two others are known to have been taken -before this time. These are a skeleton, without corresponding skin, -taken at Lozier, Texas, in 1890 by Wm. Lloyd, and no. 21779/36482, U. -S. Nat. Mus., taken on April 6, 1893, by R. D. Lusk at Tombstone, -Arizona. On the back of a label recently attached to the last mentioned -specimen the name C. K. Worthen appears and probably signifies that the -specimen was purchased from this dealer in vertebrate specimens. - -_M. f. neomexicana_ has a large geographic range. The old male from -Liberal, Seward County, Kansas, extends the known range far to the -northeast. Geographically, this occurrence is logical for the -southwestern desertlike conditions extend to this part of Kansas. -Probably the subspecies occurs in southeastern Colorado and in the -panhandle of Oklahoma where conditions are similar. Bailey (1905:198) -lists _neomexicana_ as a member of the mammalian fauna of Texas. As -stated by him (_loc. cit._:198) this inclusion is based on geographic -grounds and not on actual specimens. Strecker (1926:13) also includes -_neomexicana_ in his list of Texas mammals but writes me, under date of -January 9, 1928, that "I included _Mustela frenata neomexicana_ as a -Texas mammal on the strength of its being mentioned by Bailey. . . ." -On better ground, Bailey (1928:97) lists the subspecies as occurring in -southeastern New Mexico at Carlsbad Cavern. However, Bailey (_loc. -cit._) knew of the existence of weasels just below El Paso and at -Langtry, Texas. An unsexed skeleton, no. 167891, in the United States -National Museum, from Lozier, Texas, is not certainly identifiable to -subspecies. If, as I think, the animal is a female, its skull is -intermediate between that of _frenata_ and _neomexicana_ although when -all features are considered it is seen to be nearest the latter. The -large size (basilar length of 46.5 mm.) may reflect some relationship -to _texensis_. The field notes of the collector furnished me by Dr. H. -H. T. Jackson (MS), describe the color as brownish yellow above and -sulphur below. The admission of this subspecies to the list of mammals -of Texas is made certain by the female (no. 1572, Texas Cooperative -Research Collection) taken on July 28, 1940, 1-1/2 mi. NW Kent, Texas, -by C. E. Scull. - -The skull alone from Durango (City of), extends the known range far to -the south. This skull is typical of _neomexicana_. Skins from the same -place would be especially interesting as showing the approach, if any, -in color, of _neomexicana_ to _M. f. leucoparia_. - -Mr. D. D. Stone of Casa Grande, Arizona, writes, under date of February -2, 1927, that a weasel was seen by an acquaintance of his in a field -near Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona. Probably this was -_neomexicana_. If so, its range extends much farther west than -collected specimens show. - -Actual intergradation with _M. f. frenata_ is not shown by the material -at hand. The two females from Albuquerque, although typically -_neomexicana_ as regards color, have smaller, less prominently ridged -skulls than females of _neomexicana_ of the same age from farther south -and approach _M. f. nevadensis_. - -Probably the geographic ranges of _M. f. neomexicana_ and _M. f. -latirostra_ do not meet; the only evidence of the existence of weasels -in all of the large area, comprising western Arizona and the deserts of -eastern California, which intervenes between the ranges of the two -subspecies is the skull of a young individual, no. 68842, Mus. Vert. -Zoöl., from 10 miles northeast of Bard, Imperial County, California. -There, on December 29, 1932, Jack C. vonBloeker, Jr., retrieved the -weathered skull with some of the vertebrae attached, from the top of a -wood rat's nest beneath a mesquite tree near the west bank of the -Colorado River. - -The idea that the carcass may have been washed down the river from far -upstream gains no support from a comparison of the specimen itself for -the tympanic bullae are larger than in _nevadensis_ and the skull is -larger than the largest males seen of _arizonensis_, the two upriver -races. On the basis of size the skull could be either a male of -_latirostra_ or a female of _neomexicana_. These two subspecies, like -_arizonensis_ and the skull in question, have much inflated bullae. -However, the immaturity of the specimen conceals any other diagnostic -cranial features, and prevents referring it certainly to either -_neomexicana_ or _latirostra_. In any event the specimen provides no -evidence of intergradation between the two forms last mentioned. -Speculating on its identity, I should say that it might be either an -intergrade between _arizonensis_ and _nevadensis_, from southern Utah -or northwestern Arizona, or a member of an unnamed race resident in the -lower part of the valley of the Colorado River. - -Whereas _M. f. panamensis_ and _M. f. aureoventris_ are the -darkest-colored weasels and occur in regions of heavy rainfall, _M. f. -neomexicana_ is the lightest-colored American weasel and occurs in an -extremely arid region where the rainfall and humidity are slight. - -According to Barber and Cockerell (1898:189) "The type specimen was -shot in the grass on the shore of Armstrong's Lake. . . ." Bailey -(1928:97) found the tracks of one of these animals "in the great pit at -the west entrance to" Carlsbad Cavern and supposes they "hunt the cave -walls for mice and other small game." Data on the label attached to no. -230973 states that the specimen was taken, two miles west of Willcox, -Arizona, in a prairie dog town. - -Only two of the 23 skulls show evidence of infestation of the frontal -sinuses by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 28, arranged alphabetically - by states and from north to south by counties in each state. - Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the United States - National Museum. - - =Arizona.= _Graham County_: Safford, 1. _Cochise County_: 2 mi. W - Willcox, 1; Willcox, 1; 8000 ft., Chiricahua Mts., 1; 6000 ft., - Pinery Canyon, Chiricahua Mts., 1[33]; Tombstone, 1; Sulphur - Spring Valley, 1[74]. - - =Durango.= "Durango City," 1. - - =Kansas.= _Seward County_: Liberal, 1[93]. - - =New Mexico.= _Bernalillo County_: 3 mi. NW Albuquerque, 2. - _Lincoln County_: 7800 ft., South Fork Eagle Creek, White Mts., 1. - _Chaves County_: Pecos River, 10 mi. E Roswell, 8[74]; Dexter, - 1[74]. _Otero County_: Cloudcroft, 9000 ft., 1[90]. _Dona Ana - County_: Mesilla Park, 2 (1[75], 1[7]); Berino, 2. - - =Texas.= _Culberson County_: 1-1/2 mi. NW Kent, 1[90]. _Terrel - County_: Lozier, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata texensis= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 22, 23 and 24 - - _Mustela frenata texensis_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:99, November 20, 1936. - - _Mustela frenata_, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:14, September, - 1924. - - _Mustela frenata frenata_, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:12, - August, 1926 (part). - - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull with skin of head, neck and tail; no. - 14821, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; Kerr County, Texas; September 17, - 1897; obtained by H. P. Attwater. - - The skull (plates 22-24) and dentition are complete and unbroken. - The preserved parts of the skin are not stuffed. - - _Range._--Lower Sonoran and possibly Upper Sonoran life-zones of - central Texas. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela frenata - arthuri_ in possessing white facial markings and postorbital - breadth less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2; - from _M. f. frenata_ in larger size of body and skull, the basilar - length of which in adult males is more than 52.5; from _M. f. - neomexicana_ in Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color - of upper parts and basilar length of skull more than 52.5. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Measurements taken from the dried - skins of a young male, no. 15476, Mus. Comp. Zoöl., from Kerr - County, Texas, and a subadult male, no. 2017, Baylor Univ. Mus., - from 5 mi. N Waco, Texas, are, respectively, as follows: Total - length, 600 and more than 510; length of tail, 200 and 225; length - of hind foot, 52 and 52. - - Female: Skins unknown. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_. - - _Skull and teeth._--Adult male: See measurements and plates 22-24. - As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 8 - grams; basilar length 54; least width of palate less than length - of P4; anterior margin of masseteric fossa anterior to middle of - m2. - - Female: Skull unknown. - -_Remarks._--The type specimen, taken by the veteran collector of Texan -mammals, H. P. Attwater, appears to have been the first one of these -animals to find its way into the collection of any museum or -naturalist. The second specimen from Kerr County was secured by, or -through, the well-known commercial collector, F. B. Armstrong. Two -trade skins, from Kerr County, taken on December 10, 1938, are in the -Texas Cooperative Research Collection, as is also the skeleton of a -young animal from Fredericksburg. The two other specimens from McLennan -County (both males contrary to the statement of Strecker, 1924:14), owe -their preservation to the alertness of John K. Strecker, Curator of the -Baylor University Museum, who has given a complete account of their -history. - -The range of this subspecies is thought to include much of central -Texas. - -The preserved parts of the skin of the type specimen show it to have -been generally large. The part of the tail preserved measures 226 -millimeters and the skin of the head and neck is correspondingly large. -The skin alone, no. 427, from near Waco, Texas, has, as now stuffed, a -body 365 millimeters long. Individuals of this race attain larger size -than those of any other American member of the subgenus _Mustela_ with -the possible exception of _Mustela frenata macrophonius_ from Veracruz, -México. In addition to large size, _texensis_ and _macrophonius_ are -analogous in that each has a small geographic range at the northern end -of an extensive range of its similarly colored southern relative from -which it differs mainly in size. Each of the two groups, _goldmani_ and -_macrophonius_ on the one hand and _perotae_, _frenata_ and _texensis_ -on the other, has relatively uniform color, color pattern and body -proportions over a large region but at its northern extremity develops -a "giant" population, _M. f. macrophonius_ and _M. f. texensis_, -respectively. The skull of the type specimen of _M. f. texensis_ is the -largest one seen of any American weasel. The type specimen of _M. f. -macrophonius_ has a basilar length that is greater by one-tenth of a -millimeter but in every other measurement taken the skull of _M. f. -texensis_ is the larger. Its weight, 8 grams, also shows it to be -larger. - -The broad, white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the -white patch between the eyes on both sides in two specimens and on one -side only in one other specimen. A white patch between the ears is -present in four specimens. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is -absent on both sides in four specimens and on one side only in one -other specimen. Thus out of a possible twelve cases, the broad bands in -front of the ears are confluent with the spot between the eyes in five -cases. Four of the six specimens have a white spot between the ears. -The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is present three out of a -possible twelve times. - -The skull of no. 2017, from five miles north of Waco, is smaller than -either of the two skulls seen from Kerr County and in this respect -approaches _M. f. frenata_. There is no actual evidence of -intergradation with any other subspecies but intergradation probably -does take place with _M. f. neomexicana_ and possibly with _M. f. -arthuri_ and _M. f. primulina_. - -Strecker (1924:14) remarks that of the two specimens obtained near -Waco, one was taken in a trap baited for mink and the other was shot in -a hen house. None of the four skulls had the frontal sinuses infested -with parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 7, arranged by counties from - north to south. - - =Texas.= _McLennan County_: 5 mi. N Waco, 1[3]; Erath, 1[3]. - _Gillespie County_: Fredericksburg, 1[90]. _Kerr County_: 4[75]; - 1[2]; and 2[90] trade skins. - - -=Mustela frenata frenata= Lichtenstein - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 38 and 40 - - _Mustela frenata_ Lichtenstein, Darstellung neuer oder wenig - bekannter Säugethier, 1832, pl. 42, and corresponding text, - unpaged; Seton, Lives of game animals, 2:576, 1929. - - _Mustela brasiliensis_ Sevastianoff, Mem. de l'Acad. Imp. Sci. St. - Petersburg, 4:356-363, tab. 4, 1813, name on plate only, the - description being in the text (not of Gmelin, 1788); Gray, Proc. - Zoöl. Soc. London, 1865:114. - - _Putorius frenatus_, Baird Mamms. N. Amer., p. 173, 1858; Merriam, - N. Amer. Fauna, 11:26, pl. 3, figs. 1, 1a, 1b, June 30, 1896; - Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 25:198, October 24, 1905. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis aequatorialis_ Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877, part? ("merely as a substitute for Gray's - [supposedly] preoccupied name" that is, _aureoventris_). - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Putorius mexicanus_ Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877, - [_nomen nudum_, cited by Coues in synonymy as "_Putorius - mexicanus_, Berlandier, MSS. ic. ined. 4 (Tamaulipas and - Matamoros)"]. - - _Putorius brasiliensis frenata_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 3:219, April 17, 1891. - - _Putorius brasiliensis frenatus_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 6:197, May 31, 1894; Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 10:9, February 25, 1896; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 8:74, April 22, 1896. - - _Mustela frenata frenata_, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:12, - August, 1926; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:108, - November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Female, adult, skull and skin; no. 991, Berlin Zool. - Mus., México City, México; June, 1829; obtained by F. Deppe. - - The specimen once mounted, now is remade into a study skin and - lacks the distal part of the tail. The skull (plates 36-38, 40) - lacks the basicranial region. - - _Range._--Altitudinally, sea level (Brownsville, Texas) to 7600 - feet (Tlalpam, México); from southern Texas as far south as México - City; Lower Sonoran to at least Transition life-zone. See figure - 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. perotae_ - in nonextension of blackish over anterior fourth of neck, least - width of color of underparts more than 37 per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts; height of tympanic bulla more than - distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; from _M. f. - leucoparia_ by restricted white facial markings that cover less - than half surface of head in front of ears, by nonextension of - black of head onto anterior half of neck and by wider (more than - 7.8) tympanic bullae; from _M. f. neomexicana_ by Brussels Brown - rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts and mastoid - breadth less than postpalatal length; from _M. f. texensis_ by - smaller size of body and skull (basilar length in adult males less - than 52.5); from _M. f. arthuri_ by white facial markings and - postorbital breadth less than distance between posterior borders - of P4 and P2; from _M. f. tropicalis_ by nonextension of blackish - over anterior fourth of neck, least width of underparts more than - 37 per cent of greatest width of upper parts, postorbital breadth - of adult males less than distance between posterior borders of P4 - and P2. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Fifteen adults and subadults from - Brownsville, Texas, yield average and extreme measurements as - follows: Total length, 485 (430-556); length of tail, 202 - (165-250); length of hind foot, 48 (40-55). Averages believed to - be reliable but extremes probably are not. Tail averages 71 per - cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal - length. Corresponding measurements of an adult male (topotype, no. - 50826) from Tlalpam, México, are: 505, 203, 53. Another adult - male, from Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, México, measures: 520, 215, 52. - - Female: Six adults, subadults and young from Brownsville, Texas, - yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, - 420 (362-456); length of tail, 173 (126-200); length of hind foot, - 41 (40-46). Tail averages 70 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot more (with possible exception of no. - 36362/48732 U. S. Nat. Mus.) than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - are: Total length, 65; length of tail, 29; length of hind foot, 7. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black and reaching beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in - figure 20. - - _Color._--Spot between eyes, broad band, confluent with color of - underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior - to each ear, and posterior two-thirds to one-half of each upper - lip, white; remainder of sides and top of head, posteriorly to - line connecting posterior margins of ears, blackish; dark spot - posterior to angle of mouth present on both sides in about half - the specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts - Brussels Brown; chin white; remainder of underparts near (16´_a_) - Ochraceous-Buff (same color in juveniles and young), which color - extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over forefeet and - on medial sides of hind legs to feet and sometimes onto upper - sides of toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a - series of seventeen males from Brownsville, Texas, 47 (extremes - 38-53) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black - tip of tail, in same series, averaging 49 (extremes 40-55) mm. - long, thus about equal to length of hind foot and averaging 24 per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on ten adults from Brownsville): - See measurements and plates 22-24; weight (three adults, one - topotype and two from Brownsville, Texas), 6.2 (5.3-7.2) grams; - basilar length, 49.8 (48.2-51.3); zygomatic breadth more than - distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoidal - breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth less - than length of upper premolars (less than distance between - posterior borders of P4 and P2) and not greater (usually less) - than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one - foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth - not greater than distance between foramen opticum and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of - tympanic bulla; least width of palate more or less than length of - P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 3 or 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of - tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter (usually - longer) than rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa just - behind m2. - - Female (based on two adults from Brownsville, Texas): See - measurements and plates 36-38, 40; weight, 3.4 (3.3-3.5) grams; - basilar length (six, adult to young) 43.3 (41.3-47.3); zygomatic - breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 - and more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than - length of upper premolars and more or less than (about equal to) - width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen - lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate less than - outside length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 2 to 3-1/2 (including I3) upper incisors; height - of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 45 per cent lighter than that of - the average male. - -Comparison of the skull with those of _M. f. arthuri_, _tropicalis_, -_perotae_, _leucoparia_ and _neomexicana_ has been made in accounts of -those subspecies. As compared with _M. f. texensis_ (known only from -males), the only difference detected is smaller size. - -_Remarks._--As Merriam (1896:27) has said: "In 1813 a Russian -naturalist, Sevastianoff, gave the name '_Mustela brasiliensis_' to a -weasel brought to St. Petersburg by Capt. A. J. Krusenstern on his -return from a voyage around the world. The animal was said to have come -from Brazil, but no definite locality was given." This name was long -applied by many European naturalists to American weasels which had -white facial markings, and several American naturalists adopted the -name. However, Lichtenstein in 1832 applied the name _Mustela frenata_ -to the weasels of the vicinity of México City and that name was used -for bridled weasels from México and the southwestern United States by -most subsequent German writers and by several Americans. In 1896 -Merriam (1896:27) showed that Sevastianoff's _Mustela brasiliensis_, -1813, although probably the same as _Mustela frenata_, was preoccupied -by Gmelin's _Mustela brasiliensis_, 1788, applied to an otter and that -Lichtenstein's name must be used as the next available one. Since that -time, 1896, _frenata_ has been the name applied to the large -bridled-weasels of Texas and the high table land of México south to -México City. It may be added that in 1937 search by the writer among -the specimens and records at the Russian Academy of Sciences, in -Leningrad, failed to reveal any trace of the type specimen of -Sevastianoff's _Mustela brasiliensis_. - -The geographic range of this subspecies is relatively large and, as -might therefore be expected, specimens show geographic variation. The -specimens from Tlalpam, which Merriam (_op. cit._:27) regards as -topotypes, differ in certain respects from specimens from Texas. The -skull of the adult male "topotype," no. 50826, differs from any other -adult male seen in that the basilar length, the length of the upper -tooth-rows, the orbitonasal length, the ratio of the same to the -basilar length, the mastoidal breadth, the zygomatic breadth, the depth -of the skull at the posterior margins of the upper molars, and the -length and breadth of M1, are greater. The height of the tympanic -bullae is less than the average height for these structures in more -northern specimens. The specimens from Tlalpam have also larger -external measurements than the average of more northern specimens. All -of these features show an approach to the subspecies of more southern -distribution. On the other hand, the blackish of the head is not more -intense or more extended posteriorly onto the neck than in specimens -from Brownsville, Texas. The skin, with skull crushed, no. 767, in the -Paris Museum, from 3200 meters elevation near Toluca, does have the -black color of the head extended 30 millimeters posteriorly to the -ears. In this feature, and also in the extensively white face on which -the white bar in front of each ear connects with the frontal spot, as -well as with the color of the underparts, the specimen resembles -_leucoparia_. Better material from the western part of the state of -México may show the range of _leucoparia_ to extend eastward almost or -quite to Toluca. - -An adult male, taken on July 15 at Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, is unique in -several respects. The top of its head is black, rather than blackish, -and this color extends posteriorly on the top and sides of the neck -almost halfway to the shoulders. All of the upper parts are much more -darkly colored than in other specimens of this race. The least width of -the color of the underparts is 63 per cent of the greatest width of the -color of the upper parts; thus the color of the underparts is -considerably more extensive than in any other specimen seen. The -underparts are more intensely colored than in the average specimen. The -mastoidal breadth is greater than in any other adult male and amounts -to more than the postpalatal length. On available maps the elevation of -Miquihuana is given as 1892 meters (about 6200 feet). Thus the dark -colors can hardly be ascribed to more tropical conditions than those -under which animals from Brownsville, Texas, live. Brownsville is only -a few feet above sea level and only 235 miles farther north. The -difference noted, therefore, seems to be of geographic significance. -However, there is from Alvarez, San Luis Potosí, approximately 115 -miles south of Miquihuana, a young (nearly subadult) female, no. 21968, -which is as light colored as specimens from Brownsville, Texas, or -Tlalpam, México. The only distinctive feature of this specimen is the -much greater extent of its white facial markings; they are more -extensive even than in the specimen from Miquihuana. - -Finally, the series from Brownsville, Texas, indicates that the animal -there is smaller than _frenata_ from the vicinity of México (city). The -skull is similarly proportioned except that relative to the basilar -length the orbitonasal length is more. Several other measurements of -the skull of the adult male from Tlalpam, as pointed out above, are -actually, although not relatively, greater than in any specimen from -Brownsville. The similarities between specimens from the two -localities, Tlalpam and Brownsville, are striking; since the two -localities lie at opposite, extreme ends of the range more geographic -variation would be expected. All that is known of the characters of -populations from intermediate localities is that the one specimen from -Alvarez shows no peculiarities whereas the one from Miquihuana suggests -the existence there of a geographic variant. - -None of the specimens seen shows actual intergradation with _M. f. -neomexicana_ or with _M. f. arthuri_ but it is supposed that frenata -intergrades with each of these subspecies. The difference between -_frenata_ and _arthuri_ is greater than between _frenata_ and -_neomexicana_. Bailey (1905:198) records tracks of a weasel seen just -below El Paso which he supposed had been made by a weasel of the -_neomexicana_ type. He also cited the taking of a weasel at Langtry -which suggested to him (_op. cit._) ". . . a continuous range from the -country of _frenatus_ up the Rio Grande to the type locality of -_neomexicanus_ at Mesilla Valley," New Mexico. Other records of -occurrence in Texas cited by Bailey, in addition to those provided by -specimens examined by the writer, are San Diego, Beeville, and Port -Lavaca. The Port Lavaca record is the easternmost one assigned to the -subspecies _frenata_; possibly specimens from there would be referable -to _arthuri_. - -The series of thirty-four specimens from Brownsville, Texas, permits -measuring the amount of individual and age variation in several -features. For instance, the material is sufficient to show that -external measurements of subadults and those that fall in the upper -part of the category designated as "young" may be included with the -measurements of adults, because the mentioned measurements are not -appreciably greater in adults. The series of skulls, although not -providing more than six of any one age, shows the range of variation in -size and proportion of certain parts and enables the student the better -to evaluate cranial characters of nearby races known from only a few -specimens. For example, not one of the twenty skulls of males from -Brownsville and immediate vicinity is as large as either of the two -specimens of _texensis_ from Kerr County. - -The white facial markings vary much in size and shape. In the series of -thirty-four skins from Brownsville the broad white bands in front of -the ears are confluent with the white patch between the eyes on both -sides in three specimens and on one side only in six other specimens. -These bands are confluent with the color of the underparts in all but -two specimens. In one specimen the connection is lacking on both sides -and in the other on one side only. A white patch between the ears is -present in two specimens. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is -absent on both sides in eleven specimens and absent on one side only in -ten others. - -In six other specimens from parts of Texas north of Brownsville, the -broad white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the white -patch between the eyes on both sides in one specimen. A white spot -between the ears is present in one specimen. The dark spot at each -angle of the mouth is absent on both sides in six specimens and on one -side only in three other specimens. - -In eleven specimens from México, the broad white bands in front of the -ears are confluent with the white spot between the eyes on both sides -in two specimens and on one side only in one other specimen. The white -spot between the ears is present in one specimen. The dark spot at each -angle of the mouth is absent on both sides, in six specimens, and on -one side only in one other specimen. - -Thus, in 51 specimens the broad bands (one in front of each ear) are -confluent with the white patch between the eyes in nineteen out of 100 -instances, and not with the color of the underparts in three instances. -A white spot between the ears is present in four specimens. The dark -spot at each angle of the mouth is present 47 out of a possible 98 -times. - -Four juvenal specimens from Brownsville, Texas, with their dates of -capture and probable age, are as follows: no. 58574, [F], three weeks -old, taken on February 15; no. 17318/24239, [M], four weeks old, taken -on March 16; no. 45899, [F], forty days old, taken on May 21; no. -21778/36481, [M], thirty days old, taken on October 20. In the order -given, the dates of birth of these four juveniles would be -approximately as follows: January 25, February 15, April 1, and -September 20. The dates of birth of other specimens less than three -months old as judged by the stage of development of the skull, and -reckoning backward from the dates of capture, are as follows: April 1, -April 30, May 25, October 12, and December 21. Thus, young appear to be -brought forth at Brownsville, Texas, in the fall, winter and spring, -that is to say from the latter part of September until the latter part -of May. - -_Mustela frenata frenata_ is either free of the parasites that infest -the frontal sinuses of most weasels, or withstands their presence -remarkably well, for only one skull shows a definite pathological -condition of the frontal sinuses. - -Allen (1896:74) quotes H. P. Attwater, with respect to this species in -Bexar County, Texas, as follows: "Not common, but occasionally met -within the chaparral and cactus lands, where Wood Rats, Rabbits and -Quail abound. They were frequently met with around San Antonio during -the great 'Tramp Rat' [= _Sigmodon hispidus texianus_, see Bailey -(1905:116)] invasion of 1889-90." - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 63, arranged by counties, and - in México by states, from north to south. Unless otherwise - indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States - National Museum. - - =Texas.= _Bexar County_: San Antonio, 2 (1[2]). _Goliad County_: - Charco, 1. _Nueces County_: Corpus Christi, 1[2]. _San Diego - County_ (not found), 1. _Hidalgo County_: La Hacienda, 1. _Duval - County_: San Diego, 2[7]. _County_ in question: Lower Rio Grande, - 1. _Cameron County_: Brownsville, 34 (3[2], 4[1], 3[93], 2[75], - 1[59], 1[60], 1[4]); no locality more definite than county, 2. - - =Nuevo León.= Río Ramis, 20 mi. NW Montemorelos, 1[90]. - - =Tamaulipas.= Matamoros, 6; Miquihuana (now in Nuevo León), 1[75]. - - =San Luis Potosí.= Alvarez, 1[75]. - - =México=: Region montagneuse des environs de Toluca, Nevada - Toluca, 3200 M., 1[84] - - =Distrito Federal.= City of México, 2 (1[4]); Tlalpam, 2. No - locality more definite than México, 4 (1[4], 3[7]). - - -=Mustela frenata leucoparia= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 36, 37 and 38 - - _Putorius frenatus leucoparia_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:28, June - 30, 1896. - - _Putorius brasiliensis frenatus_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 2:165, October 21, 1889. - - _Putorius frenatus frenatus_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 22:259, July 25, 1906. - - _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:100, December 31, 1912; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:108, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 34914/47179, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México; July 27, - 1892; obtained by E. W. Nelson; original no. 2960. - - The skull (plates 29 and 30) lacks most of the braincase; a - fragment, consisting of the supraoccipital and the coalesced - frontals and parietals remains. The rostrum, left zygomatic arch, - palate, left pterygoid, left glenoid fossa and right postorbital - process are intact. The teeth all are present and entire. The - lower jaw lacks the right coronoid process and the lateral part of - the articular condyle. The skin is well made and in good - condition. It differs from an adult male topotype (36855, U. S. - Nat. Mus.) and other referred specimens in having: the black of - the head extended farther posteriorly on the neck, the maximum - amount of white on the head, and a white stripe 50 mm. long - extending down the middle of the nape from a point between the - ears more than half way to the shoulders. - - _Range._--Sonoran and Transition life-zones of mountains west of - México (city) in Michoacán and Nayarit. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. goldmani_ - in least width of color of underparts more than 47 per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts, hind feet colored like - underparts rather than like upper parts; postorbital constriction - less than, rather than more than, combined length of upper - premolars; from _M. f. macrophonius_ by same details of coloration - as from _goldmani_ and by ventrally concave rather than ventrally - convex pretympanic part of squamosal; from _M. f. perotae_ by - least width of color of underparts more than 40 per cent of - greatest width of color up upper parts; height of tympanic bulla - more than three-fifths distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; from _M. f. frenata_ by white facial markings that - cover half of surface of head in front of ears, by extension of - black of head onto neck halfway to shoulders and by narrower (less - than 7.8) tympanic bullae; from _M. f. neomexicana_ by Argus Brown - rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts and distance from - anterior margin of tympanic bulla to foramen ovale more, rather - than less, than four-fifths of height of tympanic bulla. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Two adults and one young from Los - Reyes and Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, yield average and extreme - measurements as follows: Total length, 514 (510-523); length of - tail, 206 (196-215); length of hind foot, 55 (52-58). Tail - averages 67 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot - more than basal length. - - Female: One adult from Artenkiki, Jalisco, and one subadult from - Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, measure, respectively, as follows: Total - length, 412, 400; length of tail, 159, 159; length of hind foot, - 41, 42. Tail averages 64 per cent as long as head and body. Length - of hind foot equal to or greater than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - are: Total length, 108; length of tail, 47; length of hind foot, - 13. - - _Mustela frenata leucoparia_ has a greater total length and length - of tail than either _M. f. frenata_ or _goldmani_. The hind foot - is longer than that of _frenata_ and approximately the same as in - _goldmani_. Relative to the body length, the tail averages longer - than that of _goldmani_ and shorter than that of _frenata_. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_. - - _Color._--Broad white bands on sides of head, extending - anterodorsally anterior to each ear, confluent with white spot - between eyes and with color of underparts; posterior third of each - upper lip white; remainder of sides and top of head, and neck - posteriorly to point halfway to shoulders from ears, black; no - dark spots at angles of mouth; tip of tail black; remainder of - upper parts Argus Brown; chin white and sometimes also chest, neck - and medial sides of hind legs; remainder of underparts near (16´) - Ochraceous-Buff (near (_a_) Ochraceous-Buff in juvenal female), - which color extends distally over all of each foreleg (except its - lateral face proximally from about middle of forearm) and on - medial side of hind leg and over most of upper side of each foot. - Least width of color of underparts averaging, in eight specimens, - 54 (extremes 44-61) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts; black tip of tail averaging, in four males, 52 (extremes - 38-78) mm. long, thus averaging 25 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - As compared with _M. f. frenata_ and _goldmani_: white facial - markings more extensive; color of underparts less restricted and - more extended on legs; black tip of tail relatively of about same - extent as in _frenata_ and thus much less than in _goldmani_; - black color of head extending farther posteriorly than in - _frenata_ but not so far as in _goldmani_. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (adult): See measurements and plates - 24-26, 29, 30. As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except - that: Weight (no. 128972) 6.3 grams; basilar length, 51.2; - interorbital breadth less than distance between foramen opticum - and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic - bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 or 5 upper - incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less than (about equal - to) distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; anterior - margin of masseteric fossa anywhere from slightly anterior, to - slightly posterior, to m2. - - Female (based on no. 26153): See measurements and plates 37-39. As - described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 3.6 - grams; basilar length, 44.5; zygomatic breadth less than distance - between condylar foramen and M1, or than between anterior palatine - foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; tympanic bulla as - far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 or 5 upper incisors; - height of tympanic bulla not more than distance from its anterior - margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length - of lower molar and premolar tooth-row or than length of rostrum. - - The skull of the female is 43 per cent lighter than that of the - male. - -Comparison of the skull with those of _M. f. perotae_, _goldmani_ and -_neomexicana_ has been made in the accounts of those subspecies. As -compared with that of _frenata_ the main difference is the less -inflated tympanic bulla, the height of which is approximately equal to, -rather than decidedly more than, distance from its anterior margin to -foramen ovale. - -_Remarks._--The first specimen known to have been preserved is the -alcoholic in the British Museum of Natural History, taken in September, -1891, on the Río Santiago in Jalisco, by D. A. C. Buller. The other -known specimens of this white-faced weasel are divided between the -American Museum and the United States National Museum. The two referred -specimens from Jalisco were the last of several helpful ones collected -in México and Central America by J. H. Batty, and these two were taken -less than three months before Batty's tragic death in Chiapas (see -Allen, J. A., 1906:191). The five specimens from Michoacán were taken -by Nelson or Nelson and Goldman together. Merriam had only three of -these when he named the subspecies and remarked (1896:29) that "This -form is the poorest subspecies described in the present paper." -Although the form is not strongly marked, the two additional specimens -from Michoacán and better comparative material than Merriam had confirm -several of the differential characters ascribed to it by him and -indicate the existence of still other characters. - -_M. f. leucoparia_ occurs in the Sonoran and Transition life-zones. No. -27258 from Los Masos, and no. 26153 from Artenkiki (see specimens -examined for other spellings) approach true _frenata_ in coloration. -Each of these specimens has a few white hairs between the ears and the -white patch between the eyes is confluent on one side only with the -lateral white bands on the side of the head. No. 27258 from Los Masos -has a dark spot at each angle of the mouth. The 7 other specimens are -relatively uniform in coloration. Each has the white spot between the -eyes confluent on both sides with the extensive white areas on each -side of the face. None has a dark spot at either angle of the mouth. Of -these 7 specimens, the type specimen and three others have white hairs -forming a median line between the ears and a fifth specimen has a white -spot behind each ear. - -_M. f. leucoparia_ is most like _M. f. frenata_. Unlike _frenata_, -_leucoparia_ has tympanic bullae that are less inflated, narrower and -less projected, at their anterior margins, from the cranium. In these -characters _leucoparia_ is intermediate between _M. f. frenata_ and _M. -f. goldmani_. The latter subspecies has the least inflated, narrowest -and least projecting tympanic bullae of the three. The black color of -the head extends, on the average, farther posteriorly than in _M. f. -frenata_ but not so far as in _M. f. goldmani_. The general color, too, -is intermediate between that of _M. f. frenata_ and that of the much -darker _M. f. goldmani_. The white facial markings are more extensive -than in either _M. f. frenata_ or _M. f. goldmani_. This applies to -both the white area between the eyes and the one on each side of the -head between the ear and eye. _M. f. neomexicana_, whose range possibly -meets that of _M. f. leucoparia_, also has more extensive white facial -markings than _M. f. frenata_ but less extensive markings than _M. f. -leucoparia_. - -On the basis of skulls alone, specimens of _frenata_ from Tlalpam and -those of _leucoparia_ from Los Reyes can hardly be distinguished. This -fact, and the circumstance that the specimens from the northern part of -the range of _leucoparia_ closely resemble _frenata_ in color, -constitute sufficient evidence for regarding the two as only -subspecifically distinct. The female, no. 26153 from Artenkiki, as -mentioned above, approaches true _frenata_ in coloration. On this -account it is not to be regarded as typical and it was because no other -skulls of adult females were available that this one was used for -comparison with females of allied races. - -_M. f. leucoparia_ is, then, a subspecies of the large, temperate-zone -group and is unique in possessing the maximum extent of white facial -markings. - -None of the seven skulls shows signs of having had the frontal sinuses -infested with parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 8, all from México. - Localities are listed by states from north to south. Specimens - from Michoacán are in the United States National Museum; one from - Río Santiago is in the British Museum of Natural History; all - others are in the American Museum of Natural History. - - =Nayarit.= Tepic, 1. - - =Jalisco.= Río Santiago, 1; Los Masos, 1; "Artenkiki" (J. A. - Allen, 1906, p. 238, writes "Artenkikil" and, on p. 259, - "Artenkiki."), 1. - - =Michoacán.= Zamora, 1; Los Reyes, 1; Pátzcuaro, 3. - - -=Mustela frenata perotae= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 36, 37 and 38 - - _Mustela frenata perotae_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:100, November 20, 1936. - - _Putorius frenatus_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11: pl. 3, fig. 2, - June 30, 1896. - - _Type._--Female, adult, skull and skin; no. 54278, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; 12,500 feet, Cofre de Perote, Veracruz, - México; May 26, 1893; obtained by E. W. Nelson; original no. 4864. - - The skull (plates, 37-39) lacks the right zygomatic arch. Left p2 - is missing. The skin is fairly well made and in good condition - except that the extreme tip of the tail has been broken off and - there are two holes in the right hind leg. The underparts show the - beginning of a spring molt. - - _Range._--From 7500 (?) feet (Perote) to 13,500 feet - (Popocatépetl), Upper Sonoran, Transition and Boreal life-zones of - mountains along Puebla-México boundary, eastward to western - central Veracruz and south into Oaxaca. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. frenata_, - its nearest relative, in extension from head of blackish onto - anterior fourth of neck; restriction of color of underparts (least - width of same less than 37 per cent of greatest width of color of - upper parts), height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its - anterior margin to foramen ovale; from _M. f. macrophonius_ and - _M. f. goldmani_ in presence of, rather than absence of, color of - underparts on hind feet; upper parts (black) Brussels Brown rather - than Argus Brown or darker; from _M. f. tropicalis_ in larger size - (adult female with total length more than 400, basilar length more - than 40, weight of skull more than 3 grams); postorbital breadth - less than combined length of upper premolars; m1 more than 5.4 - long; from _M. f. leucoparia_ in white facial markings so - restricted that spot between eyes is not confluent with white - stripe in front of ear, or, if so, narrowly (less than 4 wide) - confluent; color of upper parts extending onto antipalmar face of - forefoot, least width of color of underparts not more than 40 per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; height of tympanic - bulla not more than three-fifths distance from its anterior margin - to foramen ovale. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: A nontypical specimen from Cerro - San Felipe, Oaxaca, measures: Total length, 500; length of tail, - 205; length of hind foot, 52. - - Female: The type specimen, measures: Total length, 418; length of - tail, 160; length of hind foot, 45. - - In this male the tail is 70, and in the female, 62 per cent as - long as the head and body. In each the hind foot is longer than - the basal length. - - The differences in external measurements between these two - specimens, representing the two sexes, are: Total length, 82; - length of tail, 45; length of hind foot, 7. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_. - - _Color_ (based on type specimen).--Color and color pattern as - described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except that: blackish of - sides and top of head extends one-fourth of way back to shoulders - from ears; throat and breast as well as chin white; remainder of - underparts near (16´ _c_) Ochraceous-Buff; least width of color of - underparts equals 36 per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts; black tip of tail equal to 28 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on a referred specimen from Cerro - San Felipe which certainly is nontypical): See measurements. As - described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 4.9 - grams; basilar length, 49.2; postorbital breadth more than - distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2; tympanic bulla as - far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 5 upper incisors; - height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior - margin to foramen ovale; zygomatic breadth less than distance - between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine - foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla. - - Female (based on type specimen, an adult): See measurements and - plates 37-39. As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except - that: Weight 3.4 grams; basilar length, 43.5; zygomatic breadth - less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between - anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - postorbital breadth less than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 5 or - 6 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla one-half to - three-fifths distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; - length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and - premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum. - - The skull of the female is 33 per cent lighter than that of the - nontypical (and smaller than average) male from Cerro San Felipe. - -Comparison of the skull with that of _M. f. tropicalis_ is made in the -account of that subspecies. Compared with the skull of _M. f._ -_macrophonius_, that of the female of _perotae_ is more flattened, has -the longitudinal dorsal outline distinctly concave rather than flat -just behind the postorbital processes, and much wider tympanic bullae. -Accordingly, the basioccipital is slightly narrower in _perotae_. The -more marked postorbital constriction of the type specimen of _perotae_ -possibly is due to its relatively greater age. As compared with the -skull of _M. f. leucoparia_, that of the female of _perotae_ has less -inflated tympanic bullae, the height of each being half as great as -distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale, whereas, in -_leucoparia_ (as represented by no. 26153) the two distances are equal. -As compared with that of _M. f. frenata_, the skull of the female of -_perotae_ differs mainly in the lesser inflation of the tympanic bullae -and their relative position. The height of each bulla is in _perotae_ -only half as much as, but in _frenata_ more than, the distance from its -anterior margin to foramen ovale. The anterior margin of the bulla is -much less projected from the floor of the braincase in _perotae_. The -squamosal anterior to each bulla is convex ventrally in _perotae_ but -flat or concave ventrally in _frenata_. - -_Remarks._--The type specimen and a juvenal female from the town of -Perote were taken in the spring of 1893 by E. W. Nelson. Of these two, -the type specimen was mentioned and figured by Merriam (1898:30, fig. -16 [= fig. 15], pl. 3, fig. 2) as _Putorius frenatus_. The referred -nontypical specimen from Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca, was referred by -Merriam (op. cit.:29) to _Putorius frenatus goldmani_ with the comment -that it was intermediate ". . . both in coloration and cranial -characters, between typical _frenatus_ and _goldmani_;. . . ." No other -published references to this subspecies, or specimens of it, have been -seen. In 1941 and 1942, W. B. Davis and associates took four specimens -along the boundary between the states of Puebla and México. - -Although the specimen from Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca, is referred to -_Mustela frenata perotae_, to the description of which it answers best, -that specimen, on account of its structural characters and geographic -position relative to adjacent races, is in reality an intergrade -between several of the adjacent races. Some of its intermediate -characters are pointed out in the discussion of _M. f. goldmani_. In -the specimens from 45 and 55 kilometers ESE of México (city) the black -color of the top of the head does not extend so far behind the ears as -in the holotype of _M. f. perotae_ and in this feature the two -specimens show intergradation between the two subspecies, _perotae_ and -_frenata_. - -The type specimen taken on May 26, is acquiring new hair on the belly -and lower sides which appears to be the result of a normal molt. - -As would be expected from its geographic position, _M. f. perotae_ -resembles _M. f. frenata_ of northern México and the high mountain -forms of southern México more than it does the lowland tropical forms. -This is true as regards size of entire animal, proportions of its -parts, and size, general angularity and major proportions of its skull. -The marked postorbital constriction, convex supralacrymal face of -rostrum, width of tympanic bullae and angularity of the braincase place -it nearest _M. f. frenata_ as does also the color and color pattern. -The ventrally convex squamosal anterior to each tympanic bulla and the -slight degree of projection from the cranium of the anterior margin of -each tympanic bulla are intermediate in degree between the condition in -_M. f. macrophonius_ and that in _M. f. frenata_. Thus _M. f. perotae_ -combines several characters of _M. f. frenata_ on the one hand with -some of _M. f. macrophonius_ on the other and in some features, for -instance in the size, shape and degree of inflation of the tympanic -bullae, presents intermediate stages of development. - -On the eastern plain below the high mountain, Cofre de Perote, there -ranges the similarly colored, smaller, tropical weasel, _Mustela -frenata tropicalis_. Between _M. f. perotae_ and _M. f. tropicalis_ -there is marked differentiation in the skulls with much less -differentiation in coloration. The differences in typical skulls of the -two subspecies are so pronounced that one would, at first glance, -hardly believe it possible for direct intergradation to occur between -them on the sides of this mountain. Merriam (1896:30) thought that it -did not. The two skulls figured by him (_op. cit._:31) are a topotype -of _M. f. tropicalis_ from Jico and the one which now is the type -specimen of _M. f. perotae_. They show the great difference in size and -proportions and are females of comparable ages, not of different ages -as I suspected before examining the skulls. However, despite this -marked difference in the skulls, there is some, although not -conclusive, evidence of intergradation furnished by a young female from -Xuchil, Veracruz. This specimen is described in connection with _M. f. -tropicalis_ (see p. 366). - -None of the seven skulls shows marked deformity of the interorbital -region, but two of the three adults appear to have had these parts -infested with nematodes. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 7, all from México, listed by - localities from north to south. Specimens from Veracruz and Oaxaca - in the United States National Museum; remainder in Texas - Cooperative Research Collection. - - =México=: Monte Río Frío, 45 Km. ESE México City, 1; 55 Km. ESE - México City, 1; N slope Mt. Popocatépetl, 13,555 ft., 1. - - =Puebla.= Río Otlati, 8700 ft., 1. - - =Veracruz.= Cofre de Perote, 12,500 ft., 1; Perote, 1. - - =Oaxaca.= Cerro San Felipe, 10,000 ft., 1. - - -=Mustela frenata goldmani= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 24, 25, 26 and 30 - - _Putorius frenatus goldmani_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:28, June - 30, 1896; Elliot, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 18:236, December - 9, 1905. - - _Mustela frenata goldmani_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, - December 31, 1912; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:109, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 77519, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; Pinabete, Chiapas, México; February 10, 1896; - obtained by E. A. Goldman (on attached label collectors recorded - as Nelson and Goldman); original no. 9279. - - The skull (plates 24 and 30) has the rostrum badly injured. All - the right, and part of the left nasal, the upper part of the right - maxilla, the postorbital process and intervening area of frontals - are missing. Each zygomatic arch is broken but the parts are - present and attached to the skull. The frontal and interorbital - regions are greatly malformed owing to parasites that infested the - sinuses. Right I2 and I3, right and left i3, and the medial parts - of the paraconid and protoconid of right m1 are missing. The light - facial markings are less extensive than in any of the referred - specimens. These markings consist of a separate spot between the - eyes and a white line, confluent with the color of the underparts, - on each side of the head, that extends from the base of the ear to - above the eye. The dark color of the underparts is represented at - the angles of the mouth by a spot on the left side and a similar - dark area, confluent with the dark color of the face, on the right - side. The large size, characters of the skull, and scrotal pouch - on the skin prove the specimen to be a male as stated on the - label. - - _Range._--Two thousand five hundred feet (El Cipres, Guatemala) to - 9500 feet (near Tecpám, Guatemala), Upper Tropical Life-zone of - mountains and western coasts of southern México, Guatemala and - Salvador. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition_ (characters based on - males).--Differs from _M. f. nicaraguae_ and _M. f. perda_ by - larger size (total length of adult males more than 489), least - width of color of underparts not less than 26 per cent of greatest - width of color of upper parts, weight of skull of adult male more - than 5 grams; from _M. f. macrophonius_ by smaller size (total - length of adult males less than 540), skull of male with basilar - length less than 52.5 and weight less than 6 grams; from _M. f. - perotae_ (typical specimens of same sex not available) by darker - color of upper parts which are Argus Brown or darker rather than - Brussels Brown; nonextension of color of underparts onto hind - feet; from _M. f. leucoparia_ in least width of color of - underparts not more than 37 per cent of greatest width of color of - upper parts; color of underparts not extended onto hind feet; - black tip of tail two-fifths rather than one-fourth as long as - tail-vertebrae; height of tympanic bulla less than four-fifths - distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Four adults yield average and - extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 508 (500-512); - length of tail, 196 (185-207); length of hind foot, 55.5 (54-58). - Tail averages 63 (59-67) per cent as long as head and body. Length - of hind foot more than basal length. - - Female: Typical specimen unknown. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black and reaching beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae wholly or in part of same color as upper - parts and reaching as far as hypothenar pad; hairiness of - foot-soles distinctly less than that shown in figure 20 on page - 60. - - _Color._--Spot between eyes, band, confluent with color of - underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior - to each ear and posterior third of each upper lip, white; - remainder of sides and top of head and neck posteriorly to or - slightly behind shoulders, black; dark spots at angles of mouth - usually absent; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts Argus - Brown or near (_n_) Argus Brown; chin, throat and breast white; - remainder of underparts near (16' _c_) Ochraceous-Buff; color of - underparts extending distally on posterior sides of forelegs onto - medial toes and on hind legs to points between knees and heels. - Least width of color of underparts, in five adult males, averaging - 28 (extremes 26-33) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts; black tip of tail, in four adult males, averaging 40 per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on five adults): See measurements - and plates 24-26, 30; weight, 5.4 (5.3-5.5) grams; basilar length, - 49.9 (49.6-51.3); zygomatic breadth (except in no. 12523 from - Salvador) more than or equal to distance between condylar foramen - and M1 or between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla. Mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; - postorbital breadth more or less than length of upper premolars - and greater than width of basioccipital measured from median - margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - interorbital breadth less than distance between foramen opticum - and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less - than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more or less - than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far - posterior to foramen ovale as width of five upper incisors; height - of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and shorter than or equal to length - of rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa immediately behind - m2. - - Female: Typical skull unknown. - -Comparison of male skull with that of _M. f. perda_ made in discussion -of that form. Comparison with that of _M. f. nicaraguae_ shows similar -differences, some of which are more pronounced. For example, squamosals -anterior to tympanic bullae more convex ventrally and these bullae -project less from braincase than in _M. f. perda_; thus the difference -in these features is greater between _goldmani_ and _nicaraguae_ than -between _goldmani_ and _perda_. - -As compared with the skull of the male of _M. f. macrophonius_, each -one of the skulls of the adult males of _M. f. goldmani_ is smaller in -every measurement taken, with two exceptions. The width of the tympanic -bullae was more in three specimens of _M. f. goldmani_ as was also the -depth of the same in three specimens. Relative to the basilar length -all but two of these measurements average less in _goldmani_; the -exceptions are the zygomatic breadth and depth of the skull at the -anterior margin of the tympanic bullae which average more. Relative to -the basilar length, the orbitonasal length and depth of the skull at -the posterior margin of M1 are less in each skull of _goldmani_. Thus, -excepting the width and height of the tympanic bullae and the relative -zygomatic breadth and relative depth of the braincase posteriorly, the -skull of _goldmani_ is shorter and relatively as well as actually -narrower and lighter throughout. - -As compared with the skull of the male of _M. f. leucoparia_, that of -_M. f. goldmani_ averages a trifle shorter and no skull of _goldmani_ -equals that of _leucoparia_ in actual or relative zygomatic and mastoid -breadths or length or height of tympanic bullae. In depth, the skull of -_goldmani_ averages actually and relatively greater. Its teeth are -smaller. The squamosal anterior to each tympanic bulla is convex -ventrally whereas it is concave ventrally in _leucoparia_ as in -_frenata_. - -_Remarks._--When Merriam (1896:28) named this subspecies, he had only -one specimen but he called attention to the more important diagnostic -characters, which additional specimens show pertain to the race as a -whole. - -_M. f. goldmani_ in typical form occurs in high mountains of the Upper -Tropical Life-zone and is most closely related to _M. f. frenata_ and -_M. f. macrophonius_. The altitude at which the two specimens were -taken, twenty miles southeast of Teopisca in Chiapas, is not known. -Merriam (1896:28) states that the type specimen was obtained at "about -8200 feet." The specimen taken by Stirton in Salvador comes from 8000 -feet and the one obtained by Barber in Guatemala from 9500 feet. The -specimen from Dueñas, the skin alone of a young animal, is not -instructive. - -As regards size, _goldmani_ is larger than the immediately adjacent -subspecies from the Lower Tropical Life-zone but is smaller than _M. f. -leucoparia_ or _macrophonius_. As compared with _M. f. frenata_, -_goldmani_ is longer, has an actually as well as relatively shorter -tail, and a much longer hind foot. - -The most outstanding difference in externals from _frenata_ is the -naked foot soles. - -Molting probably takes place twice each year although actual proof of -this is lacking. In number 133254 from twenty miles southeast of -Teopisca, taken on May 12, the molt is well advanced. Another specimen -from the same place still retains the winter coat. - -In color, _goldmani_ is much darker than _frenata_, has less extensive -white facial markings, longer black tip on tail, more restricted color -of underparts, and lacks the extension of color of the underparts onto -the hind feet. - -Of the adult males from the high mountains, the type specimen from -Chiapas is lightest, and the one from Salvador is darkest. This -progressively darker color to the southward probably is geographic -variation. - -In total length and relative and actual length of tail, the specimen -from Salvador is the smallest of the five adult males from the higher -mountains. In addition to its darker color and smaller size, no. 12523 -from Salvador shows certain distinctive cranial characters. The -zygomatic breadth is less than, rather than more than, or equal to, the -distance between the condylar foramen and M1 or than that between the -anterior palatine foramen and the anterior margin of the tympanic -bulla. This difference appears to be correlated with geographic -position, since no. 15953 from Guatemala has the three distances about -equal and therefore is intermediate in this respect between the -specimen from Salvador and those from Chiapas, in which the zygomatic -breadth is greater than the other two measurements. Also in the greater -depth of the skull and smaller size of the teeth, this specimen from -Salvador approaches the subspecies of the Lower Tropical Life-zone. It -has, however, the longest, highest and widest tympanic bullae of any of -the five specimens. The amount of ventral convexity of the squamosal in -front of each tympanic bulla appears not to be greater than in the -other specimens. - -As indicative of intergradation with _perotae_, _leucoparia_ and -possibly _frenata_, there is the specimen from Cerro San Felipe, -Oaxaca. The degree of restriction of the color of the underparts is -intermediate between that of _goldmani_ and _leucoparia_. The same is -true as regards the amount of projection from the braincase of the -anterior margins of the tympanic bullae. The squamosal immediately -anterior to each tympanic bulla is flat instead of ventrally convex as -in _goldmani_ or ventrally concave as in _leucoparia_ and _frenata_. In -accordance with the custom adopted in this paper of referring every -specimen to some one subspecies, this specimen from Cerro San Felipe is -referred to _Mustela frenata perotae_, to the description of which it -most nearly answers. - -Possibly _goldmani_, as here constituted, is a composite form. The -specimens from the high mountains closely resemble one another. -However, a specimen, no. 68541 from "Finca El Cipres," Guatemala, which -place Mr. G. Goodwin tells me is at an elevation of 2500 feet, -approximately 5 miles north of Retalhuleu, has a basilar length of 47.3 -and is correspondingly small in other parts. This suggests the -existence of a small, lowland race on the western side of the central -divide corresponding to _perda_ and _tropicalis_ on the eastern side. -From only a few miles away, at San Sebastian, there is available, the -adult skull of a still smaller animal. This skull only, no. 41026, in -the Berlin Zoological Museum, has a basilar length of 46.1, zygomatic -breadth of 27.4, and other cranial measurements notably smaller than -those of specimens from the high mountains. A skin-only, no. 12038, -collection of Donald R. Dickey, from La Cebia, altitude 2150 feet, near -the city of San Salvador, seemingly represents an animal smaller than -typical _goldmani_. This specimen from La Cebia has the light color of -the underparts extended distally on the hind legs to the tips of the -toes as in _M. f. tropicalis_. However, the upper parts are darker and -resemble those of _M. f. goldmani_. A fourth specimen from only 3500 -feet elevation, on the south side of Volcano Tajumulco, Guatemala, no. -41768, Field Museum of Natural History, a subadult male, measures only -490 in total length and has the least color of the underparts so -restricted as to amount to only 22 per cent of the greatest width of -the color of the upper parts. Both these features are suggestive of the -lowland races. - -These four specimens indicate that the lowland population on the -western side of the divide is smaller than the mountain population. The -juvenile from Carolina and a young male from Finca Cipres, however, -both closely resemble individuals of _goldmani_ from the higher -mountains. All these animals here are referred to _goldmani_. More -specimens may reveal an amount and a pattern of geographic variation in -weasels of this region that will require application of another -subspecific name. - -The female, no. 68540, from Puebla agrees remarkably well with the -skull of the female, no. 132528, of _macrophonius_. Differences -displayed by the specimen from Puebla are its slightly narrower -braincase and longer space between the foramen ovale and anterior end -of the tympanic bulla. Considering the far eastern location of Puebla -(just north of Río Motagua, at 89° W, according to a sketch map -provided by Mr. G. G. Goodwin), this specimen might be expected to show -some approach to the small lowland races. Actually, however, it -displays the characters of _goldmani_ better than does the subadult -female from Volcano San Lucas, which is nearer the metropolis of -_goldmani_, and I assume at a higher elevation than Puebla. - -Concerning this weasel Merriam (1896:29) says: "Mr. E. W. Nelson writes -me that this fine weasel is found sparingly in the forest about -Pinabete, Chiapas, at an altitude of 7000 to 8000 feet (2100 to 2500 -meters). The type specimen was shot in the afternoon while hunting on a -heavily wooded hill slope. It was heard making long, slow leaps over -the dry, crisp leaves. Coming to a log, it stood up and rested its fore -feet on the log, in which position it was shot by Mr. Goldman." - -The specimen taken by R. A. Stirton in Salvador comes from an elevation -of 8000 feet in the rain forest of the Upper Tropical Life-zone. Mr. -Stirton tells me that one morning on visiting his traps set for small -rodents, he found in one the partly eaten remains of a _Heteromys_. -Leaving these remains as found he placed a steel trap beside them and -on the following morning found the male weasel in the trap. - -At least three of the ten specimens had the frontal sinuses infested -with parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 15, listed by localities from - north to south, and unless otherwise indicated in the American - Museum of Natural History. - - =México=: _Chiapas_: 20 mi. SE Teopisca, 2[91]; Pinabete, 1[91]. - - =Guatemala=: Puebla, 1; Finca Porvenir, 3500 ft., S slope Volcan - Tajumulco, 1[60]; Sierra [=? Cerro] Santa Elena, 9500 ft. (near - Tecpám), 1[60]; Carolina, 1; Volcano San Lucas, 1; "Finca El - Cipres," 1; "Finca Cipres," 2500 ft., 1; Finca San Isidro, San - Sebastión, Dept. Retalhuleu, 1[4]; Dueñas, 1[7]; no locality more - definite than Guatemala, 1[7]. - - =El Salvador=: Los Esesmiles, 8000 ft., Chalatenango, 1[59]; La - Cebia, 2150 ft., near San Salvador, 1[59]. - - -=Mustela frenata macrophonius= (Elliot) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 24, 25, 26, 30, 37, 38 and 39 - - _Putorius macrophonius_ Elliot, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 18:235, December 9, 1905. - - _Mustela macrophonius_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela frenata macrophonius_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 14063, Field Mus. Nat. - Hist.; Achotal, Veracruz, México; January 15, 1904; obtained by - Edmund Heller and Charles M. Barber; original no. 3424. - - The skull (plates 24-26, 30) is complete and unbroken. Excepting - right P2, which has been aborted or broken away, all the teeth are - present. The skin is well made and in good condition. As shown by - the scrotal pouch, the specimen is a male. - - _Range._--Tropical Life-zone, probably into Boreal life-zones, of - mountains along eastern border of southern Veracruz. See figure 29 - on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. frenata - frenata_ and _M. f. perotae_ and _M. f. leucoparia_ in lacking - color of underparts on hind feet and in larger skull (skulls of - adult males with basilar length more than 52.5); from _M. f. - goldmani_ by larger size of skull (see above) and entire animal - and wider tympanic bullae; from _M. f. tropicalis_ and _M. f. - perda_ by larger size (total length of adult males more than 510), - postorbital breadth amounting to less than combined length of - upper premolars. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: External measurements of the type - specimen, an adult, are: Total length, 598; length of tail, 246; - length of hind foot, 59. Tail 70 per cent as long as body; length - of hind foot more than basal length. - - Female: The skin, without field collector's measurements, of an - adult female from Pérez, Veracruz, shows this sex to be - correspondingly large. Because the skin is understuffed and - because the hind feet are skinned out, reliable measurements can - not be obtained from the dried skin. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata goldmani_ except - that all carpal vibrissae are of same color as upper parts and - that hairiness of foot-soles is halfway between that shown in - figures 20 and 21. - - _Color._--As in darkest individuals of _M. f. goldmani_, thus, - color of upper parts on posterior part of back near (_n_) Argus - Brown. Color of underparts near (12) Mikado Orange in a juvenile, - extending distally on posterior sides of forelegs onto inner toes - and on hind legs to points between knees and heels. Least width of - color of underparts 28 per cent of greatest width of color of - upper parts. Black tip of tail 34 per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type specimen): See - measurements and plates 24-26, 30. As described in _Mustela - frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 6.9 grams; basilar length, - 54.1; zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar - foramen and M1 or that between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; interorbital breadth less than - distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to - foramen ovale as width of 4 to 6 upper incisors; height of - tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below posterior - half of m2. - - Female (based on no. 132528): See measurements and plates 37-39. - As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 3.6 - grams; basilar length, 43.5; zygomatic breadth less than distance - between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less than (in the - single specimen, equal to) that between anterior palatine foramen - and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more - or less than (about equal to) outside length of P4; tympanic bulla - as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 or 5 upper - incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its - anterior margin to foramen ovale. - - The skull of the female is 48 per cent lighter than that of the - male. - -Comparison of the skull with that of _M. f. goldmani_ is made in the -account of that subspecies. Similar differences probably exist between -males of _perotae_ and _macrophonius_. As compared with skulls of males -of _M. f. tropicalis_ and _perda_, the skull of the male of -_macrophonius_ is larger in every measurement taken. The postorbital -constriction is less, rather than more, than the combined length of the -upper premolars. Relative to the basilar length, the following -measurements are less than in any specimen of _tropicalis_ or _perda_: -length of tooth-rows; orbitonasal length; depth of skull at posterior -border of upper molars; and depth of skull at anterior margin of -basioccipital. - -_Remarks._--This large weasel appears to have escaped the notice of -naturalists until the spring of 1903 when J. Friesser obtained an adult -female and juvenal male at Pérez for the collection of the United -States Bureau of Biological Survey. These specimens were tentatively -referred to _Mustela tropicalis_. In the following January, Edmund -Heller and Charles M. Barber obtained the adult male that was made the -type specimen by Elliot who did not see, or if he did, did not mention, -the specimens from Pérez. He did, however, refer a young female from -Xuchil, Veracruz, to his _Putorius macrophonius_. This young female is -here referred to _Mustela frenata tropicalis_. - -The extent of the geographic range of this subspecies is not well -known. - -_Mustela frenata macrophonius_ and _M. f. texensis_ are the largest -American weasels. The basilar length in the type specimen is greater by -one-tenth of a millimeter than in the type specimen of _M. f. -texensis_. The other cranial measurements taken are greater in _M. f. -texensis_. The skull of the female from Pérez is one of the largest -skulls examined of that sex. The juvenal male has teeth as large as -those of the type specimen and the skull is the largest for its age of -any seen. Although the skin of the female is understuffed and hence -does not provide reliable measurements, it shows that the female is -also large. - -The white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the white patch -between the eyes on one side only in one specimen. It is the juvenal -male. These bands are not confluent with the color of the underparts -on either side in the female and on one side only in the adult male. -None of the specimens has a white patch between the ears. The dark spot -at each angle of the mouth is present only in the juvenile where it -occurs on each side. Of the three specimens, the juvenile is the -darkest and the adult male the lightest. The white facial markings are -most extensive in the juvenal male and the least extensive in the adult -female. - -_M. f. macrophonius_ most closely resembles _M. f. goldmani_ but in the -relatively flattened braincase, deep constriction of the postorbital -region and general angularity of the skull approaches _M. f. perotae_ -and _M. f. frenata_. - -Only one of the three skulls, that of the female, shows evidence of -infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites, and this did not -result in malformation of the interorbital region. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 3, all from México, listed by - localities from north to south. - - =Veracruz.= Achotal, 1 (Field Mus. Nat. Hist.); Pérez, 2 (U. S. - Nat. Mus.). - - -=Mustela frenata tropicalis= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 25, 26, 27, 30, 37, 38 and 39 - - _Putorius tropicalis_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:30, pl. 3, figs. - 5, 5a, 6, 6a, text fig. 16, June 30, 1896; Merriam, Proc. Biol. - Soc. Washington, 15:68, March 22, 1902. - - _Putorius frenatus_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:27, June 30, 1896. - - _Mustela tropicalis tropicalis_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., - 79:100, December 31, 1912; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 35:99, April 28, 1916. - - _Mustela frenata tropicalis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 54994, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Biol. Surv. Coll.; Jico, Veracruz, México; July 9, 1893; obtained - by E. W. Nelson; original no. 5195. - - The skull (plates 25-27, 30) is complete. All the upper incisors, - except the second and third on the left side, are missing. The - right upper canine is broken. The skin is well made and in good - condition. - - _Range._--Up to 5000 feet (as now known) in Tropical Life-zone of - Veracruz, México. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. frenata_ - and _M. f. perotae_ in least width of color of underparts not - exceeding 36 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts - and in postorbital breadth exceeding length of upper molar and - premolar tooth-rows; from _M. f. macrophonius_ and _M. f. perda_ - in least width of color of underparts averaging more than 29 per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; and from _M. f. - perda_ by longer tympanic bullae which in males are more than - 14.9; and from _M. f. macrophonius_ by lesser basilar length (not - more than 48) and in postorbital breadth exceeding length of upper - molar and premolar tooth-row. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The type specimen and no. - 12764/11058, a subadult, from Jalapa, Veracruz, measure, - respectively, as follows: Total length, 444, 442; length of tail, - 175, 160; length of hind foot, 50, 47. The tail is 65 and 57 per - cent as long as the head and body. The hind foot is more or less - than (approximately equal to) the basilar length. - - Female: Merriam (1896:31) gives the measurements of a female - topotype (probably no. 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus., which has no - measurements written on the attached label) as: Total length, 333; - length of tail, 121; length of hind foot, 37. The length of the - tail amounts to 57 per cent of the length of the body. The length - of the hind foot of no. 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus. is the same as the - basal length. - - The differences in external measurements between the male and the - female topotypes are: Total length, 111; length of tail, 54; - length of hind foot, 13. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except - that carpal vibrissae do not reach apical pad of fifth digit and - hairiness of foot soles is less. - - _Color._--As described in _M. f. frenata_ except that: Blackish of - head extends half way or more from ears to shoulders; upper parts - near (14) Brussels Brown or slightly faded tone 2 of Maroon of - Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 341; underparts of juvenal pelage near - (_a_) Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of color of underparts - averaging (in three specimens from Jico and one from Jalapa) 34 - (extremes 30-37) per cent of greatest width of color of - underparts. Black tip of tail, in two male topotypes, 57.5 (55 and - 60) mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and in each individual - comprising 34 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - As compared with _M. f. frenata_: White facial markings slightly - less extensive; blackish (not black) of head extending onto neck; - upper parts slightly darker; ventral side of tail noticeably - darker; color of underparts more restricted, averaging - approximately one-third rather than nearly one-half width color of - upper parts; black tip of tail one-third rather than one-fourth - length of tail and much longer than hind foot. Similar differences - of lesser amount exist between _perotae_ and _tropicalis_. _M. f. - perda_, _macrophonius_ and _goldmani_ bear the opposite relation - to _tropicalis_. That is to say, in the latter: White facial - markings slightly more extensive; blackish of head less extended - over neck; upper parts markedly lighter; color of underparts less - restricted and black tip of tail shorter. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type specimen and a subadult, - no. 11058, from Jalapa): See measurements and plates 25-27, 30. As - described in _Mustela frenata perda_ except that: Weight 4.7 (4.6 - and 4.7) grams; basilar length 46.7 (45.5 and 47.8); zygomatic - breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 - or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla; least width of palate more than length of P4; - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 4 (including I3) upper incisors; anterior margin - of masseteric fossa below middle of m2 or posterior to that tooth. - - Female (based on no. 54993 and no. 1060): See measurements and - plates 37-39. As described in _Mustela frenata perda_ except that: - Weight (of 54993) 2.2 grams; basilar length, 37.5 (36.0-39.0); - zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least - width of palate more than greatest length of P4; height of - tympanic bulla equal to one-third to three-fourths of distance - from its anterior margin to foramen ovale. - - The skull of the adult female is 53 per cent lighter than that of - the type specimen, a male. - -Comparison of the skulls of males and females with those of _M. f. -perda_, the nearest relative, has been made in the discussion of that -subspecies. Some of the features that readily distinguish skulls of _M. -f. tropicalis_ from those of _M. f. frenata_, _perotae_ and -_macrophonius_ are as follows: Weight less than 4.8 grams; basilar -length less than 48; postorbital breadth more than length of upper M-Pm -tooth-row. The skulls of male _frenata_, _perotae_ and _macrophonius_ -are much larger, heavier, and are decidedly more angular with more -constricted postorbital region the least width of which is less than -the length of the upper premolars. In _frenata_ the anterior margins of -the tympanic bullae are protruded much farther from the braincase. The -skull of the female of _M. f. tropicalis_ is smaller, weighing less -than 3 grams; basilar length less than 41; postorbital breadth more -than length of upper molar and premolar tooth-row. - -_Remarks._--This subspecies was originally described by Merriam as a -full species. Later he described _Putorius tropicalis perdus_ as -another subspecies. Allen (1916) placed _P. t. perdus_ in synonymy but -named _Mustela tropicalis nicaraguae_ as new. In the present paper all -three forms are recognized but are regarded as only subspecifically -distinct from the other bridled weasels of México and Central America. - -The limits of the geographic range of _tropicalis_ are fairly well -known on the south and west but the only specimen available from the -tropical coastal region north of Jico, is a young female from a point -50 miles south of Victoria. Thus, how far north along the coast it -ranges toward Matamoros, where _M. f. frenata_ occurs, is not known. -The three specimens from Jico, a young female from Jalapa and another -adult collected by J. Potts and labeled as coming from México City, are -assumed to be typical. The latter specimen certainly came from an -elevation lower than that of México City because _M. f. frenata_ occurs -there. Although the female from Jalapa, agrees well with specimens from -Jico, a male, no. 12764/11058, from Jalapa, has a relatively broader -skull, as in _perda_, although the tympanic bullae are short as in -_tropicalis_. The resemblances to _perda_ in features of coloration -are: slightly darker upper parts, and the termination just below the -knees of the color of the underparts. There are three specimens labeled -as from Orizaba that indicate intergradation with _perotae_ as does -also the coloration of the juvenal female from 5 kilometers north of -Jalapa. The specimens labeled as from Orizaba are old, poorly-prepared -skins, only two of which have partial skulls. The size and coloration -of the skins suggest _perotae_ as do also the partial skulls in some -respects although the skulls show greater resemblance to those of -_tropicalis_. - -The topotype, female, no. 54993, was figured by Merriam (1896, fig. 16, -p. 31) along with that of what now is the type specimen of _M. f. -perotae_. Merriam called attention to the great difference in size -between the skulls of the two sexes of _M. f. tropicalis_ and compared -the condition to that found in _noveboracensis_. Although the skull of -the female from Jico is fully adult, it probably is exceptionally -small. - -The young female from Xuchil is indistinguishable in coloration from -the juvenal female of _M. f. perotae_ from Perote, but in size of skull -and size of teeth is intermediate between the female of tropicalis from -Jalapa and the females from Cofre de Perote. - -There is then, indication of intergradation with _M. f. perotae_ as -well as with _M. f. perda_. _M. f. tropicalis_ differs from _M. f. -perotae_ and _M. f. frenata_ in about the same way that _M. f. perda_ -differs from _M. f. goldmani_ and _M. f. macrophonius_. _M. f. -tropicalis_ and _perda_ each is smaller and more intensely colored than -_goldmani_ and _macrophonius_, and inhabits the lowland to the east of -their highland relative. - -At least five of the nine skulls have the frontal sinuses infested by -parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 13, all from México, listed - by localities from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated - specimens are in the collection of the United States National - Museum. - - =Tamaulipas.= 50 mi. S Victoria, 1[71]. Near? México City, 1. - - =Veracruz.= Jico, 3; 5 km. N Jalapa, 1[90]; Jalapa, 2 (1[2], - 1[75]); Xuchil, 1[60]; Orizaba, 4 (2[75], 1[4]). - - -=Mustela frenata perda= (Merriam) - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 25, 26, 27, 30, 37, 38 and 39 - - _Putorius tropicalis perdus_ Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 15:67, March 22, 1902. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Mustela tropicalis perda_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, - December 31, 1912. - - _Mustela tropicalis tropicalis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 35:99, April 28, 1916. - - _Mustela frenata perda_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:109, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 100041, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Teapa, Tabasco, México; March 31, 1900; - obtained by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman; original no., 14074. - - The skull (plates 25-27, 30) is unbroken and all the teeth are - present and entire. The skin is well made and in good condition. - - _Range._--Fifty feet (Chichén Itzá) to 4000 feet (San Vicente) in - Lower Tropical Life-zone south from southern Veracruz through - southern México into Guatemala. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - nicaraguae_ in lesser extent of color of underparts (not more than - 22 per cent of greatest extent of color of upper parts), black tip - of tail more than 38 per cent of length of tail, and broader skull - (in adult males, mastoid breadth more than 23.9 and zygomatic - breadth more than 27.4); from _M. f. tropicalis_ in more - restricted color of underparts (least width of color of underparts - less than 28 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts) - and shorter tympanic bullae, which in males are less than 15; from - _M. f. goldmani_ by total length not exceeding 489, least width of - color of underparts not exceeding 24 per cent of greatest width of - color of upper parts, weight of adult skull less than 5 grams and - basilar length less than 48.5. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The type specimen and another - subadult from San Vicente, Chiapas, measure, respectively, as - follows: Total length, 473 and 443; length of tail, 184 and 169; - length of hind foot, 51 and 51.5. The tail is 62 and 64 per cent - as long as the head and body. The length of the hind foot is - greater than the basal length. - - Female: Estimates made from the dried skin of no. 218036 are: - Total length, 375; length of tail, 140; length of hind foot, 40. - The hind foot of no. 65422 from Catemaco also measures 40. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - are: Total length, 83; length of tail, 37; length of hind foot, - 11. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata goldmani_ except - that hairiness of foot soles is slightly less. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela frenata goldmani_ except that: - back near (_n_) Argus Brown or Carbon Brown, tone 3, of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, pl. 342; underparts Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of - color of underparts, in four specimens, averaging 20 (extremes - 18-22) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black - tip of tail, in two subadult males, averaging 48 (extremes 46-49) - per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type specimen and subadult no. - 132997 from San Vicente): See measurements and plates 25-27, 30; - weight 4.4 grams (same for each); basilar length 45.7 (45.3 and - 46.1); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar - foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than - postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more or less than - (approximately equal to) length of upper premolars and greater - than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one - foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth - less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum not greater than length of - tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of - tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum; - anterior margin of masseteric fossa below middle of m2. - - Female (based on two subadults, nos. 65422 and 218036): See - measurements and plates 36-39; weight, 2.4 (2.3-2.5) grams; - basilar length, 40.5 (40.4-40.6); zygomatic breadth less than - distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars or than - width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen - lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more than - outside length of P4 and less than inside length of same; anterior - margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as - width of 5 or 6 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla equal to - one-third to one-half distance from its anterior margin to foramen - ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar - and premolar tooth-row and more or less than (about equal to) - length of rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 48 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -Comparison of the skull of the male with that of _M. f. nicaraguae_ has -been made in the account of that subspecies. The skull of the male as -compared with that of _M. f. tropicalis_ has shorter tympanic bullae, -deeper braincase at anterior margin of basioccipital, lesser zygomatic -and palatal breadth and smaller P4 and m1. The skull of the female is -larger in every measurement taken except those reflecting width of the -preorbital portion. This part is actually narrower but probably mainly -because the females of _perda_ are younger than those of _tropicalis_. -Features in which three skulls of subadults of _M. f. perda_ differ -from the five adults of _M. f. goldmani_ and show no overlap are: -lesser basilar length, lesser weight, greater relative length of upper -tooth-rows, greater relative width of rostrum, greater relative length -of rostrum, lesser mastoid and zygomatic breadths, lesser width, length -and height of tympanic bullae; lesser outside length of P4 and greater -relative depth of braincase at anterior margin of basioccipital and at -posterior margin of M1. Features in which _perda_ averages less are: -length of tooth-rows, interorbital breadth, orbitonasal length, -relative zygomatic breadth, length of m1, outside and inside lengths of -P4, width and length of M1, and depth of skull at posterior margin of -M1. Features in which _perda_ averages more than _goldmani_ are: -relative interorbital breadth, relative mastoid breadth and depth of -skull at anterior margin of basioccipital. The length of the inner -half of M1 averages the same. As compared with _goldmani_, the skull of -the male of _perda_ is shorter, otherwise generally smaller, but -relatively broader except across the zygomatic arches, and relatively -deeper. The anterior margins of the tympanic bullae project slightly -less from the braincase and the squamosals immediately in front of -these bullae are slightly more convex ventrally. - -_Remarks._--Described by Merriam in 1902 as a subspecies of _Putorius -tropicalis_, the form _perda_ was regarded by Allen (1916:99) as not -subspecifically distinct from _P. t. tropicalis_. - -This is the eastern, lowland subspecies of the Tropical Life-zone, -corresponding to _M. f. goldmani_ of the higher mountains just as _M. -f. tropicalis_ corresponds to _M. f. frenata_ and _perotae_ of the high -mountains and table land. The difference in size between _perda_ and -_nicaraguae_ and between _perda_ and _tropicalis_ is slight. _M. f. -perda_ is slightly less richly colored than _M. f. nicaraguae_ but has -the color of the underparts more restricted and has a longer black tip -on the tail. In these respects it is second only to _M. f. panamensis_ -among Central American weasels. Evidence of intergradation with -_goldmani_ is furnished by the specimens from Cobán, Guatemala, and the -nearby locality San Cristóbal in Verapaz, Guatemala. Reduced size as -compared with _goldmani_ suggests affinity with _perda_ but the greater -width of the light-colored underparts, which averages 24 (extremes -18-32) per cent of the greatest width of the color of the upper parts, -shows approach to _goldmani_. Farther north, in Chiapas, however, -specimens of _perda_ from San Cristóbal and San Vicente are readily -distinguishable from those of _goldmani_ taken a few miles away at -Pinabete and near Teopisca. The latter two localities are, however, -several thousand feet higher than San Cristóbal (Chiapas) and San -Vicente. - -Two of the nine skulls (only 3 adult) examined for malformation of the -frontal sinuses reveal infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 18, listed by localities from - north to south, and unless otherwise indicated in the United - States National Museum. - - =Veracruz.= Catemaco, 1. - - =Tabasco.= Teapa, 2 (1[7]). - - =Chiapas.= San Cristóbal, 1; San Vicente, 1; no locality more - definite than state, 1. - - =Yucatán.= Chichén-Itzá, 1[76]. - - =Guatemala=: Cobán, 2 (1[7], 1[4]); Finca la Providenci, S. - Cristóbal, Verapaz, 3[76]; central Guatemala, 1; no locality more - definite than Guatemala, 5 (2[7]). - - -=Mustela frenata nicaraguae= Allen - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 25, 26, 27 and 30 - - _Mustela tropicalis nicaraguae_ Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 35:100, April 28, 1916. - - _Putorius tropicalis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:661, - 1908. - - _Mustela frenata nicaraguae_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 30754, Amer. Mus. - Nat. Hist., Matagalpa, Nicaragua; April 16, 1910; obtained by W. - B. Richardson; original no., 712. - - The skull (plates 25-27, 30) of the type specimen lacks the entire - right zygomatic arch. Otherwise it is complete. The teeth all are - present and unbroken. The skin is complete and unfaded but only - partly stuffed. - - _Range._--Honduras and Nicaragua. Altitudinal and zonal limits - unknown. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - costaricensis_ and _M. f. goldmani_ in shorter black tip of tail - (not more than 35 per cent of length of tail) and lesser width - (usually not more than 7 mm.) of tympanic bulla; from _M. f. - perda_ in greater extent of color of underparts (22 or more per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts), shorter black tip - on tail (not more than 35 per cent as long as tail) and narrower - skull, the mastoid breadth in adult males being less than 23.9 and - the zygomatic breadth less than 27. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Average and extreme measurements of - five subadults and one young (four from Matagalpa and one from San - Rafel del Norte) are: Total length, 450 (420-480); length of tail, - 178 (150-190); length of hind foot, 48 (46-50). Tail averages 65 - (extremes 56-69) per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind - foot (measurements from dried skins) more than basal length. - - Female: Measurements unrecorded. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata goldmani_, except - that hairiness of foot soles (between that shown in figures 20 and - 21) is less, slightly less even than in _M. f. perda_. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela frenata goldmani_ except that: - Back near (_n_) Argus Brown, or Carbon Brown, tone 4 of Oberthür - and Dauthenay, pl. 342. Underparts Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of - color of underparts, in four males, young, subadult and adult, 24 - (extremes 22-26) per cent of greatest width of color of upper - parts; the corresponding per cent in one female is 32; black tip - of tail, in two subadult males, averaging 29 (extremes, 28-30) per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae; corresponding per cent in one - female, 36. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type specimen, one adult - topotype [?] and one subadult from San Rafel del Norte): See - measurements and plates 25-27, 30. As described in _Mustela - frenata perda_ except that: Weight, 4.2 grams (estimated for - adults); basilar length 45.0 (44.8-45.5); interorbital breadth - more or less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far - posterior to foramen ovale as width of four to five upper - incisors; length of tympanic bulla not less than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row; anterior margin of masseteric fossa - below anterior margin of m2 or posterior to that tooth. - - Female: Skull unknown. - -Comparison of the skull of the male with that of _M. f. costaricensis_ -is made in the account of that subspecies. As compared with that of _M. -f. perda_, which it most closely resembles, the skull of the male has a -narrower, shorter rostrum, lesser interorbital breadth, lesser mastoid -and zygomatic breadths and slightly shallower braincase, measured at -anterior margin of basioccipital. The tympanic bullae are slightly less -projected, at their anterior margins, from the braincase and the -squamosal, directly anterior to each, is a little more convex -ventrally. The skull of _M. f. nicaraguae_ is, then, slightly shorter -than that of _M. f. perda_ and relatively narrower. - -_Remarks._--When naming this form, Allen (1916:100) characterized it as -"Similar to _M. tropicalis tropicalis_ but general coloration much -darker and the white face markings somewhat reduced in area." In the -sentence preceding the one quoted, _Putorius tropicalis perdus_ was -placed as a synonym of _Putorius tropicalis tropicalis_. _M. f. -nicaraguae_ and _M. f. perda_ are nearly alike in color and color -pattern but differ in cranial characters. _M. f. perda_ and _M. f. -tropicalis_ are widely different in color and more especially in color -pattern but differ only slightly in cranial characters. The aggregate -difference between _perda_ and _nicaraguae_ is less than that between -_perda_ and _tropicalis_. All three are lowland forms and each is -smaller than the adjacent highland forms, namely, _M. f. goldmani_, -_macrophonius_, _perotae_ and _frenata_. - -The weasels from Honduras definitely are not typical of _nicaraguae_ as -it is known from the specimens from Nicaragua itself. The specimens -from the state of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, are larger. Some are darker -than topotypical _nicaraguae_. The dorsal outline of the skull is more -nearly flat (less convex) in some. In these and several other -differential features studied, the average of specimens from -Tegucigalpa is intermediate toward _goldmani_, but everything -considered the animals seem best placed with _nicaraguae_ rather than -with _goldmani_ or _perda_, to which latter also, they show some -resemblance. With better material from Nicaragua and additional -specimens from Salvador (here referred to _goldmani_) a restudy of all -the material now referred to the three races named would be profitable. -Aims of this restudy might be to determine if a highland race -additional to _goldmani_ should be recognized and if the lowland races -_perda_ and _nicaraguae_ differ from one another in the way that the -existing specimens indicate. - -In the five males from Matagalpa, the narrow white band in front of -each ear is confluent with the color of the underparts on one side only -in one specimen and on both sides in two specimens. None of these bands -is confluent with the white patch between the eyes. A dark spot at the -angle of the mouth is present on one side in one specimen. The -corresponding area is dark colored in all other specimens but not -separated from the color of the upper parts. In the specimen from San -Rafel del Norte the white bands are not confluent with the color of the -underparts. The female from Mambacho has the mentioned bands confluent -with the color of the underparts. This female approaches _M. f. -costaricensis_ in the dark color of the upper parts but has more -extensive white facial markings than some specimens from much farther -north. Like a female seen of _M. f. costaricensis_, this one has a -"frosted" nape but the white hairs on the back of the neck are less -numerous than in the female of _M. f. costaricensis_. - -_M. f. nicaraguae_ in typical form, then, is thought of as a small, -lowland, tropical subspecies only slightly differentiated from _M. f. -perda_. By reason of its intermediate characters, it constitutes a link -between the lowland forms, and the larger animals called _M. f. -goldmani_ and _M. f. costaricensis_. - -None of the four skulls from Nicaragua shows signs of infestation of -the frontal sinuses by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 16, listed by localities from - north to south. Specimens are in the American Museum of Natural - History, unless otherwise indicated. - - =Honduras=: Alto Cantoral, 2; Cerro Grande La Paz, 1. La Flor - Archaga, 1[75]; Comayagüela, 1[75]; vicinity of Tegucigalpa, 2; no - locality more definite than Honduras, 1[4]. - - =Nicaragua=: San Rafel del Norte, 1; Matagalpa, 6; Ma[o]mbacho, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata costaricensis= Goldman - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 - - _Mustela costaricensis_ Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:9, - January 23, 1912. - - _Mustela brasiliensis_, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 14(ser. - 4):374, 1874. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Putorius affinis_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:31, June 30, 1896 - (part). - - _Mustela affinis costaricensis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916; Lönnberg, Arkiv för Zool., 14(no. - 4):16, 1921. - - _Mustela frenata costaricensis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936. - - - _Type._--Male, young, skull and skin; no. 13770/37149, U. S. Nat. - Mus.; San José, Costa Rica; obtained by C. H. Van Patten. - - The skull (plates 28-30) is complete and unbroken. All teeth are - present and unworn. The skin apparently has been remade. It lacks - the distal two-thirds of the tail. The head is somewhat shrunken. - The color is possibly faded but if so only to a slight degree. - Otherwise, the skin is in good condition. The orange color of the - underparts is so intense as to suggest that the full, adult pelage - has not been acquired. No white markings are present on the face. - There is no sex mark on the label attached to the skin but the - size and proportions of the skull and the scrotal pouch on the - skin prove that the specimen is a male. The presence of sutures on - the dorsal face of the rostrum and the short, wide, and low - sagittal crest show the specimen to be young. - - _Range._--Costa Rica. Altitudinal and zonal range unknown. See - figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. - panamensis_ in lighter color of upper parts (tone 2 rather than - tone 4 of Reddish Black of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344) and - longitudinally flat interorbital region of skull; from _M. f. - nicaraguae_ in darker color of upper parts (of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, tone 2 of pl. 344 rather than tone 4 of pl. 342) and - greater width (more than 7) of tympanic bulla. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: No collector's measurements - available of fully grown animals. Estimated measurements of adult - males: Total length, 470; length of tail, 165; length of hind foot - (taken from dried skins of 3 adults), 52 (50-52). Tail estimated - to average 55 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind - foot more or less than (about equal to) basal length. - - _Female_: A subadult or adult, from the Candelaria Mountains, and - a subadult from Irazú, measure, respectively: Total length, 370, - 385; length of tail, 130, 150; length of hind foot, 40, 31. Tail - 59 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot probably - about equal to basal length. - - The estimated differences in external measurements of the two - sexes are: Total length, 92; length of tail, 25; length of hind - foot, 16 (probably average difference is less). - - _Externals._--As described in _M. f. panamensis_ (figure 21) - except that foot soles are slightly more hairy. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela frenata panamensis_ except - that: back is near Reddish Black, tone 2 of Oberthür and - Dauthenay, pl. 344; chin, lips, and throat white or whitish; - remainder of underparts near (_c_) Ochraceous-Buff; color of - underparts rarely extending distally onto toes of forefeet. Least - width of color of underparts, in eleven specimens, averaging 23 - (10-36) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black - tip of tail, in six specimens, averaging 36 (31-38) per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 2 adults, no. 3.2.1.6. from - vicinity of San José and no. 11408, U. S. Nat. Mus., from "Costa - Rica"): See measurements and plates 25-30; weight, 5.9 grams; - basilar length 49 +; zygomatic breadth more than distance between - condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen - and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than - postpalatal length; postorbital breadth in undiseased skulls less - than length of upper premolars (less than distance between - posterior borders of P2 and P4) and less than width of - basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum - posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than - distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum more or less (about equal to) length of - tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less - than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; tympanic - bulla longer or shorter than (about equal to) lower molar and - premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than (about equal to) - rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa directly below - posterior border of m2. - - Female: Skull of adult unknown. - -Comparison of the skull of the male with that of _M. f. panamensis_ has -been made in the account of that subspecies. As compared with that of -_M. f. nicaraguae_ the skull of _M. f. costaricensis_ is heavier and in -every measurement taken is larger. The skull is generally more massive -and it follows that most measurements of depth and width are greater in -relation to the basilar length as well as actually greater. The -individual teeth are larger and the tympanic bullae wider and at their -anterior ends are more projected from the braincase. Indeed the skull -is more like that of _M. f. goldmani_ than like that of _M. f. -nicaraguae_. - -_Remarks._--The half dozen ill-prepared skins, with partial skulls -inside, of this form in the United States National Museum long were -referred either to _Mustela brasiliensis_ or _Mustela affinis_. It was -not until 1912 when Goldman studied these specimens that the -distinctive characters of the Costa Rican weasel were recognized and -made the basis of the name _costaricensis_. - -_M. f. costaricensis_ is well differentiated from _M. f. nicaraguae_ -and _M. f. goldmani_ which occur to the northward and from _M. f. -panamensis_ which occurs to the southward and is a large, -heavy-skulled, dark-colored animal with white facial markings -restricted or absent. In the type specimen and the female from the -Candelaria Mountains the white facial markings are only narrow facial -bars or a few white hairs, but in the young male from Cervantes there -is a well developed bar 6 millimeters wide on each side of the face and -a separate nasofrontal spot, 10 x 12 mm. The young female from Cachí -has a V-shaped frontonasal spot, on the right side of the face a white -bar 5 mm. wide and 17 mm. long connected with the color of the -underparts, and on the left side a white spot in front of the ear and -another between the ear and eye. White facial markings were not -recorded in the other specimens. The color of the upper parts is only a -little less dark than those of _M. f. panamensis_. Owing to the -numerous white hairs on the dorsal side of the neck, the nape of the -female from the Candelaria Mountains has a frosted appearance not -present in other specimens. - -_M. f. costaricensis_ is a large animal and among its geographic -neighbors is approached in size only by a specimen of _panamensis_ from -Boquete, Panamá. Also the young male from Cervantes suggests -_panamensis_ in the less flattened interorbital region, but even so is -more like _costaricensis_. The small size of two young males, one from -Navarro and the other from the vicinity of San José, is suggestive of -_M. f. nicaraguae_. However, the large size of most of the specimens -and the configuration of the skull are more as in _M. f. goldmani_ than -in _M. f. nicaraguae_ and thus suggest that the known specimens are of -high mountain subspecies. The long black tip of the tail is another -point of resemblance to _M. f. goldmani_, the high mountain subspecies -to the north. Perhaps in the lowlands of Costa Rica, there are weasels -of another subspecies. - -Of the eight skulls examined for malformation of the frontal sinuses, -each of the two adults and two subadults shows signs of having the -frontal sinuses infested with parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 14, listed by localities from - north to south. - - =Costa Rica=: Irazú (Frasu or Irasu on label), 3000 M., 1[4]; - Cervantes, 1[2]; San José, 1[91]; vicinity of San José, 2[7]; - Azahar Cartago, 1[78]; Tucurrique, 1[7]; Cachí, 1[7]; El Muñco [= - Muñeco?] (Río Nivarro [= Navarro?]), 4000 ft., 10 mi. S Cartago, - Caribbean Slope, 1[76]; Navarro, 1[91]; Candelaria Mts., 1[75]; no - locality more definite than Costa Rica, 3[91]. - - -=Mustela frenata panamensis= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 - - _Mustela frenata panamensis_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 45:139, September 9, 1932; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936. - - _Mustela brasiliensis_, Alston, Biol. Cent. Amer., Mammalia, p. 78, - 1879. - - _Putorius affinis_, Bangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., 39:49, April, - 1902; Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, July 10, - 1914. - - _Mustela affinis_, Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:10, - January 23, 1912; Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, - July 10, 1914. - - _Mustela affinis costaricensis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916; Goldman, Smithsonian Miscel. Col., - 69 (no. 5): 161, 1920. - - _Type._--Female, subadult, skull and skin; no. 170970, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Río Indio, Canal Zone, near Gatún, - Panamá; February 17, 1911; obtained by E. A. Goldman; original no. - 20897. - - The skull is complete and unbroken. The left lower incisor is - broken off but all the other teeth are present and entire. The - skin is well made and seems to be in faded, worn, first, adult - pelage. - - _Range._--Sea level (type locality) to 5800 feet (Boquete, see - Bangs [1902:49]); Upper Tropical and Lower Tropical life-zones of - Panamá. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from both _M. f. - meridana_ and _M. f. costaricensis_ in darker tone (tone 4 of - Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344) of color of upper parts and in - convex dorsal outline of skull (Compare figures of mentioned - subspecies on plates 25-27). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Two adults from Boquete in the - Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, nos. 10112 and 10113, measure, - respectively, as follows: Total length, 480 and 400; length of - tail, 170 and 143; length of hind foot, 52 and 43. Hind feet of - two other adult males measure 46 on dried skins. Tail, in two - specimens mentioned above, is 55 and 56 per cent as long as head - and body. Length of hind foot, in each of three adults, slightly - longer than basal length. Corresponding measurements of no. 178970 - from Mt. Pirre are: 422, 164, 50. Tail 64 per cent (same per cent - as in young male, no. 137514 from Boquete) as long as head and - body, and hind foot longer than basal length. - - Female: An adult and a young from Chiriquí, nos. 18434 and 18435 - (Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia), measure, respectively: Total - length, 372, 389; length of tail, 138, 144; length of hind foot, - 42, 41. The type specimen measures: Total length, 408; length of - tail, 159; length of hind foot, 46.5. Tail 64 per cent as long as - head and body, and hind foot longer than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - from the vicinity of Boquete are: Total length, 59; length of - tail, 15; length of hind foot, 6. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black and extending beyond - posterior border of ear; carpal vibrissae wholly, or in part, - black and extending as far as hypothenar pad; hairiness of - foot-soles as shown in figure 21. - - _Color._--Usually, posterior fourth of each upper lip and - sometimes few hairs in front of ear, white; sides and top of head - and neck posteriorly to, or behind, shoulders, black; dark areas - at angles of mouth confluent with color of upper parts; tip of - tail, black; remainder of upper parts near (_n_) Bay of Ridgway - and Reddish Black, tone 4, pl. 344 of Oberthür and Dauthenay; chin - and lips, whitish; remainder of underparts Warm Buff or near (16´ - _c_) Ochraceous-Buff; near (12) Salmon-Orange in juveniles and - small young; color of underparts extending distally on posterior - sides of forelegs to wrists, but not to soles, and on hind legs to - or slightly below knees. Least width of color of underparts, in - seven specimens, averaging 18 (extremes 11-28) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail, in five - adults and subadults, averaging 45 (extremes 41-50) per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on three adults from Boquete): See - measurements and plates 25-30; weight, 5 (4.5-5.4) grams; basilar - length, 45.2 (42.8-48.3); zygomatic breadth more or less than - distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid - breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more - than length of upper premolars and more than width of - basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum - posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth not less than - distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum approximately same (more or less than) - length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length - of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to - foramen ovale as width of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of - tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more or slightly less than - (approximately equal to) length of lower molar and premolar - tooth-row or length of rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric - fossa directly below posterior fourth of m2. - - Female (based on subadult, type specimen and one adult from - Siola): See measurements; weight, 3.3 and 2.1 grams; basilar - length, 41.3 and 39.3; zygomatic breadth more than distance - between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less than (about equal - to) that between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than combined length of - upper premolars or than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - least width of palate more than length of P4 (less in the adult); - anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen - ovale as width of five upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla - less than (about half) distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla less than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row or than rostrum. - -The skull of the one adult female from Chiriquí is 58 per cent lighter -than the average of the two adult males. - -The skull of the male of _M. f. panamensis_ as compared with that of -_M. f. meridana_, is heavier and averages larger in nearly every -measurement taken. Relative to basilar length, tooth-rows, orbitonasal -length, interorbital breadth and zygomatic breadth averaging narrower. -Mastoid breadth always narrower. Tympanic bullae longer, narrower, and -usually slightly less protruded. P4 and m1 larger. Dorsal outline of -skull, viewed laterally, more convex. Postorbital breadth actually and -relatively greater. Postorbital processes, mastoid processes, and -sagittal crest not so well developed. Differences between skulls of -females, in so far as known, similar to those described between males. - -As compared with _M. f. costaricensis_, _M. f. panamensis_ has a -lighter skull averaging smaller in every measurement taken except -interorbital breadth, which is greater. Relative to basilar length, -width of rostrum, interorbital breadth and depth of skull at plane of -upper molars, less. Tympanic bullae shorter, narrower, less protruded. -P4, M1, and m1 larger. Dorsal outline of skull, viewed laterally, more -convex. Postorbital breadth relatively and actually greater. -Postorbital processes, mastoid processes, sagittal crest and lambdoidal -crest less developed. No skull of an adult female of _M. f. -costaricensis_ is available for comparison. - -_Remarks._--This subspecies had not been recognized by previous workers -because specimens from Panamá were supposed to be _Mustela affinis_ -Gray up until 1916, when Allen (1916:100) restricted the type locality -of _M. affinis_ to Bogotá, Colombia. At that time Allen referred -specimens from Panamá to _Mustela affinis costaricensis_, and Goldman -(1920:161) followed Allen. - -The specimens examined show much variation. Part of this is geographic -variation. For instance the specimens from Boquete approach _M. f. -costaricensis_ in size more than do those from farther south. Too few -adult females have been seen to ascertain the amount of secondary -sexual variation. Bangs (1902:49) suggested that the sex of no. 10113 -was wrongly recorded and that it was not really a male. If so, this -would reduce the range of apparent variation in size of males from -Boquete by half and bring it into accord with the amount normally -existing in adult males from one locality. No. 10113 is adult but the -skin shows no mammae which would prove it to be a female instead of a -pigmy male. Although even smaller than 10113, the type specimen is so -much larger than females of _M. f. meridana_ that I have wondered if it -is correctly sexed. However, the fact that it was sexed by E. A. -Goldman, a collector of wide experience, lessens the possibility that a -mistake was made. - -The color of the underparts is more restricted in _panamensis_ than in -any other subspecies of the species. Excluding the specimen from Mt. -Pirre, the least width of color of the underparts averages 16 (extremes -6-24) per cent of greatest width of the color of the upper parts. This -feature, together with the black color, imparts an appearance to the -Panamá weasel that is strikingly like that of a mink. _M. f. -panamensis_ is one of the two blackest weasels; _M. f. aureoventris_ is -the other. Each of these subspecies occurs in a region of heavy -rainfall and there clearly is a positive correlation between high -humidity and intensity of color. The black tip of the tail, as regards -extent, here reaches the maximum attained among Central and South -American weasels. The foot soles are less hairy than in any other -member of the subgenus _Mustela_. The tympanic bullae are lower and -less inflated than in any other subspecies of the species. - -Adequate specimens from central and southern Panamá may reveal the -existence of one or more additional subspecies since animals from each -of the three localities now represented differ from those from the -other two and some of these differences are correlated with geographic -position. However, specimens from all three localities agree in -several features. For example all of them have the dorsal outline of -the skull highly convex, transversely, and, more especially, -longitudinally. In this respect they are sharply differentiated from -any other American weasel. Nevertheless, _M. f. panamensis_ is clearly -a link between the North and South American subspecies and _panamensis_ -intergrades with the adjacent subspecies. The large size of the skull -and teeth and the slightly more ventrally projected tympanic bullae of -no. 10112 from Boquete approach features seen in _M. f. costaricensis_. -The smaller size of skull and teeth of no. 178970 from Mt. Pirre are -points of resemblance to _M. f. meridana_. - -The type specimen was selected from a region where _M. f. panamensis_ -is thought to have its distinctive characters well developed. The -specimen is not adult and, therefore, does not show as many -differential characters as does a nontypical adult from Boquete. -Nevertheless, the majority of the above mentioned differential -characters are shown by the type specimen and an adult from the same -place would, it is judged, show all the differential characters better -than would an adult from Boquete. - -Of the 11 skulls examined, 6 show no signs of having had the frontal -sinuses infested with parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 19, listed by localities from - north to south and unless otherwise indicated in the United States - National Museum. - - =Panamá=: Boquete, 10 (3[75], 1[8], 1[2], 3[4], 1[7]); Río Gariche - [é], 5300 ft., 1[1]; Siola, 1[1]; Chiriquí, 1[7]; Río Indio, near - Gatún, 1; Mt. Pirre, 3 (2[1]); Calovébora, 1[7] (locality not - found, possibly misspelling of Calovébora); no locality more - definite than Panamá, 1[4]. - - -=Mustela frenata meridana= Hollister - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 25, 26, 27, 37, 38 and 39 - - _Mustela meridana_ Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, - July 10, 1914. - - _Putorius affinis_, Robinson and Lyon, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., - 24:147, October, 1901; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 30:256, December 2, 1911. - - _Mustela affinis_, Osgood, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ. 155, zoöl. - ser. 10:61, January 10, 1912. - - _Putorius macrurus_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 31:92, - April 19, 1912. - - _Mustela affinis affinis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 35:100, April 28, 1916 (part). - - _Mustela affinis costaricensis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916 (part). - - _Mustela frenata meridana_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:110, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:175, 1939. - - - _Type._--Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 123341, U. S. Nat. - Mus., 1630 meters elevation, Montes de Mérida, near Mérida, - Venezuela; August 14, 1903; obtained by S. Briceno. - - The skull (plates 25 and 26) lacks the right exoccipital condyle - and posterior half of the right zygomatic arch. The teeth all are - present, unworn and entire. The skin is well made and complete. - - _Range._--Near sea level (San Julián) to 8500 feet (Montes de - Culata, Mérida, Venezuela), and 9000 feet (Santa Elena, Colombia). - Temperate to Subtropical life-zones of Venezuela and northern and - western Colombia. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - africana stolzmanni_ by absence of median, longitudinal, abdominal - stripe of same color as upper parts, presence of p2 and two roots, - rather than one root, on P2; from _M. frenata panamensis_ in - lighter color of upper parts (tone 3 rather than tone 4, pl. 344, - Reddish Black, Oberthür and Dauthenay), flat rather than convex - dorsal outline of skull immediately behind postorbital processes - (see pl. 27); from _M. f. affinis_, in males, by lesser average - breadth and length of skull and greater actual and relative size - (see measurements) of facial part of skull; from _M. f. - aureoventris_, in males, by lighter upper parts (tone 3 rather - than tone 4, pl. 344, Reddish Black, Oberthür and Dauthenay) and - by smaller skull and teeth (basilar length less than 45, length of - m1 less than 6.3, width of M1 less than 4.8, outside length of P4 - less than 5.7). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Average and extreme measurements of - topotypes (as recorded by collectors on labels, and so uniform as - to show them not to be accurate to within more than 5 mm.) are as - follows: Total length, 434 (410-460); length of tail, 164 - (150-180); length of hind foot, 50 (no variation in collectors' - measurements). Tail averages 61 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot more than basal length. Corresponding - measurements of no. 22191, a young male from Mérida, measured by - Osgood or Conover, are 439, 165, 54. The adult male no. 18703, - from Páramo de Tama (eastern boundary of Venezuela) has the - following measurements written on the label by Osgood: 404, 150, - 47. - - Female: Average and extreme measurements of topotypes (as recorded - by collectors on labels and so uniform as to show them not to be - accurate to within more than 5 mm.) are as follows: Total length, - 347 (320-370); length of tail, 128 (120-130); length of hind foot, - 40 (no variation in collectors' measurements). Tail averages 57 - per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more than - basal length. Two females, adult no. 11034 and young no. 11033 - from Cincinnati, Santa Marta, Colombia, measured by M. A. - Carriker, Jr., measure, respectively, as follows: 371, 330; 140, - 140; 38, 36. No. 14463, adult, from Río Zapata, Colombia, measured - (by J. H. Batty), 315, 138, 39. No. 32182, adult, from Mira - Flores, Cauca, Colombia, measured (by W. B. Richardson), 375, 150, - 43. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, - at Mérida, are: Total length, 87; length of tail, 36; length of - hind foot, 10. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black (few rarely white) - and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae colored like underparts - or upper parts, and not extending beyond apical pad of fifth - digit; hairiness of foot soles slightly greater than shown in - figure 21. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela frenata panamensis_ except - that: Posterior fourth of each upper lip rarely, and small spot in - front of ear usually, white; black of head proper not extending - back of ears and grading insensibly into color of upper parts; - anterior half of upper parts of adults "frosted" with numerous - white hairs (tick bites?), upper parts near (_n_) Bay or tone 2 of - Reddish Black (pl. 344, Oberthür and Dauthenay) or tone 3 in - freshest, unfaded pelage. Least width of color of underparts (in - ten males from Mérida) 20 (17-23) per cent of greatest width of - color of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in same series, 60 to 75 - mm. long, thus longer than hind foot and 41 (40-44) per cent as - long as tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type specimen and seven - topotypes, five adults and three subadults): See measurements and - plates 25-27; weight, 4.1 (3.8-4.3) grams; basilar length, 43.6 - (42.3-44.3); zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar - foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than - postpalatal length; postorbital breadth greater than length of - upper premolars or than width of basioccipital measured from - medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - interorbital breadth not less than distance between foramen - opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum - greater than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate - greater than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as - far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 to 5 upper incisors; - height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior - margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more or less - than (approximately equal to) alveolar length of lower molar and - premolar tooth-row and shorter than rostrum; anterior margin of - masseteric fossa posterior to m2 and confined to posterior third - (34 per cent average, 32 minimum, 37 maximum) of mandible. - - Female (based on four adult topotypes): See measurements and - plates 37-39; weight (no. 143665), 2.3 grams; basilar length 37.2 - (36.3-38.2); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between - condylar foramen and M1 or than distance between anterior palatine - foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth - (sinuses badly infested with parasites) more than length of upper - premolars or width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of - one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of - palate more than length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to - foramen ovale as combined width of 4 to 5 upper incisors; height - of tympanic bulla less than (one half to three fourths of) - distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of - tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar - tooth-row. - - The skull of the female is 44 per cent lighter than that of the - average male. - -Comparisons of the skull with those of _M. f. panamensis_ and _affinis_ -have been made in the accounts of those subspecies. As compared with -the skull of the male of _M. f. aureoventris_, that of _meridana_ -averages smaller in every measurement taken. Indeed, none of the skulls -of _meridana_ equals that of _aureoventris_ in basilar length, length -of tooth-rows, length of tympanic bulla, depth of skull at anterior -margin of basioccipital or at posterior margin of upper molars, or -measurements of teeth. Relative to the basilar length, most of the -measurements are greater in _meridana_. Exceptions are the relative -length of the tooth-rows, and the two measurements of depth of the -skull which average less. - -_Remarks._--In 1914 when Hollister named this weasel he compared it -with _M. f. affinis_ and most of the differential characters which he -ascribed to _meridana_ were merely "more than" or "less than" in -_affinis_. In _affinis_, Hollister included specimens from Chiriquí, -Panamá, and the coast of Venezuela. The specimens from these three -places were referred by Allen (1916:101) to _Mustela affinis -costaricensis_, and he restricted (_op. cit._:100) the type locality of -_Mustela affinis affinis_ to Bogotá, Colombia, and synonymized _Mustela -meridana_ with _M. a. affinis_. Hollister probably would not have named -_meridana_ had he had specimens from Bogotá for comparison and had he -regarded them as topotypes of _affinis_ for the difference is slight. -Nevertheless, within the large geographic range of _M. f. meridana_ -there is some geographic variation. There is more of such variation in -the color of the pelage than in shape and size of the skull. The -specimen from San Julián is darker than the average and in this respect -approaches true _panamensis_. San Julián is situated at a relatively -low elevation on the coast of Venezuela. - -_M. f. meridana_ so closely resembles _M. f. affinis_ that the writer -has no quarrel with anyone who would synonymize _meridana_. However, as -represented by topotypes, the two races unquestionably are, _on the -average_, different, and specimens from the southeastern part of the -range of _affinis_ probably are individually distinguishable from -topotypes of _meridana_. - -Variation in the skulls of the series from Mérida is relatively small. -This applies to both males and females. The external measurements -recorded by native collectors are not accurate to within more than five -millimeters but, considering this, variation in external measurements -also seems to be slight. The difference in size of the two sexes -appears to be uniformly greater than in weasels from Central America. -The twenty-six topotypes show that the color and color pattern are -relatively uniform. All are of nearly the same tone except juveniles or -young which are, as in the case of _panamensis_, much brighter colored -on the underparts. Also, the young have darker-colored upper parts. The -adults, without exception, have numerous white hairs scattered over the -back of the head, neck and between the shoulders. I have no -trustworthy evidence to support the suggestion that these white hairs -are the results of tick bites or that they are caused by other -parasites which damage the hair follicles. The white facial markings -vary relatively little in the 45 specimens carefully examined in this -regard. Also, the variation in color pattern of the two sides of the -head is small. Indeed, within rather narrow limits, the color of the -two sides of the head is the same in every specimen except two. In -these two the white spots anterior to the ears are confluent with the -color of the underparts. Only one specimen, no. 21342, has a white spot -between the eyes and this spot is small. Ten of the twenty-six -specimens have a definite white spot or band in front of each ear. Two -specimens have such a spot on one side only. The dark spots at the -angles of the mouth are present on two sides in three specimens and on -one side only in three others. The mentioned spots are, then, present -nine out of a possible fifty-two times. When the spots are absent, dark -color usually is present in the required area but is confluent with the -color of the upper parts. - -A young male from San Julián, Robinson and Lyon (1901:147) state ". . . -was shot . . . as it ran over some bowlders in a ravine. Its eyes shone -with the same greenish light as do the eyes of our common weasel, and -it emitted the same strong odor." No. 14463, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., from -Río Zapata, Colombia, according to data on the label, was "taken in -timber belt in valley in balk hills" and the native name is Cosonebi. -Two specimens taken on the Páramo de Tama, head of Tachira River, -Venezuela and Colombia are commented on by Osgood (1912:61) as follows: -"One . . . was caught in a steel trap baited with birds and set by the -side of a rushing mountain stream. . . . The other was shot in midday -as it came prowling about our 'house' in the clearing. . . ." - -Of the thirty-three skulls before me, twelve have the frontal sinuses -malformed by parasites. These twelve include most of the adults for few -of the subadults and fewer of the young show pathologic conditions in -the frontal region. - -_Note on localities._--Several of the localities in Colombia mentioned -in "Specimens examined" are described and located by Chapman -(1917:640-656, pl. 41) in his "Distribution of Bird-life in Colombia." -Place names for Colombia on labels, not found on any map, or duplicated -names of which I can not certainly select one, are Río Barrotow, Río -Oscuro, Río Zapata, Río Japata, Guasca and El Baldro. Sonson may or -may not be the town of that name situated some eighty miles northwest -of Bogotá and on the east flank of the Central Andes west of the -Magdalena River on the drainage of the Cauca River. In Venezuela most -of the specimens from Mérida are labeled 1630 meters, Montes de Mérida. -San Julián is some seven miles east of La Guaira (see Robinson and -Lyon, 1901:136). San Esteban is located a little way back from the -coast between Puerto Cabello and Valencia. Páramo de Tama is on the -Venezuelan-Colombian border near the source of the Tachira River (see -Osgood, 1912:35). Mt. Duida is shown as at 3° 30´ N and 65° 40´ W by -Chapman (1931:13) and Mt. Auyán-tepui as near 5° 15´ N and 62° 50´ W by -Chapman (1937:760). - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 78, arranged by localities - from north to south and unless otherwise indicated in the British - Museum of Natural History. - - =Venezuela=: San Julián, 1[91]; Carácas, 2; Galipare, Cerro del - Avila, 6500 feet, 1; San Esteban, 1[2]; Mérida, 45 (10[91], 14[2], - 10[4], 2[60], 2[14], 1[78]); Páramo de Tama, 1[60]. - - =Colombia=: Páramo de Tama, 1[60]; Cincinnati, 3[9]; Valdiva, 3800 - ft., 1; Medellín, 2; 7200 ft., Barro Blanco, 1[2]; Santa Elena, - 9000 ft., 1[2]; Santa Elena, 1[2]; Sonson, 2 (1[91], 1[2]); Mt. - Auyan-tepui, 1[2]; Pueblo Rico, 5200 ft., 1[91]; Mira Flores, - 1[2]; Jerico, near Cauca River, 1; Tornel, 20 mi. NE Quitichao, 1; - Mt. Duida, 1[2]; El Tambo, Cauca, 1[78]; El Baldro, 1[2]; Río - Japata, 2[2]; Río Zapata, 4500 ft., 1; Río Oscuro, 3300 ft., 1; - Río Barrotow, 3300 ft., 1; Guasca, 1[75]; no locality more - definite than Colombia, 1. - - -=Mustela frenata affinis= Gray - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plate 30 - - _Mustela affinis_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 14(ser. 4):375, - 1874. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877 (part). - - _Putorius affinis_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:31, June 30, 1896. - - _Mustela affinis affinis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 35:100, April 28, 1916; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 35:220, May 31, 1916. - - _Mustela frenata affinis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:110, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:175, 1939. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull with skin; no. 54.1.11.3 (skull - originally numbered 195d, later 54.6.3.4), Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.; - Colombia [given as new Granada in original description]; purchased - from Mr. S. Stevens. Type locality restricted by Allen (1916:99) - to Bogotá, Colombia. - - The skin is in a good state of preservation and has been made over - into a conventional study specimen from a mount on exhibition. - Exposure to light when mounted probably accounts for the faded - color. The skull (plate 30) lacks the middle 9 mm. of the right - zygomatic arch, occiput, basioccipital and posterior two-thirds - of the left tympanic bulla. The teeth all are present and entire. - - _Range._--Four thousand six hundred feet (Quetame) to 9154 feet - (El Carmen), Tropical to Temperate life-zones of eastern Andes of - Colombia. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - africana stolzmanni_ by absence of median, longitudinal, abdominal - stripe of same color as upper parts, by presence of p2 and by two - roots rather than one root on P2; from _M. frenata meridana_, in - case of males, by, on average, greater breadth and length of skull - and lesser actual and relative size (see measurements) of facial - part of skull; from _M. f. aureoventris_ by lighter-colored upper - parts (tone 2 rather than tone 4, pl. 344, Reddish Black of - Oberthür and Dauthenay); from _M. f. macrura_ by darker color - (Reddish Black, tone 2, pl. 344, Ober. and Dauth., rather than - Chocolate, tone 3, pl. 343, Ober. and Dauth.). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Measurements in life, estimated - from dried skins, are: Total length, 455; length of tail, 175; - length of hind foot, 52. Proportions of parts supposedly as - described in _Mustela frenata meridana_. - - Female: Estimates from two dried skins: Total length, 365; length - of tail, 135; length of hind foot, 43. Proportions of parts - supposedly as described in _Mustela frenata meridana_. - - The estimated differences in external measurements of the two - sexes are: Total length, 90; length of tail, 40; length of hind - foot, 9. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata meridana_. - - _Color._--As described in _Mustela frenata panamensis_ except - that: posterior fourth of each upper lip and spot in front of each - ear white in approximately half of the specimens; black of head - proper not extending back of ears and grading insensibly into - color of upper parts; upper parts near (_n_) Bay, or tone 2 of - Reddish Black (pl. 344, Oberthür and Dauthenay). Least width of - color of underparts (in five males from vicinity of Bogotá) 24 - (15-29) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black - tip of tail, in same series, 60 to 75 mm. long, thus longer than - hind foot and averaging 38 per cent as long as tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on three adults and two subadult - topotypes): See measurements and plate 30. As described in - _Mustela frenata meridana_ except that: Weight, 4.5 grams - (estimated); basilar length 45.8±; interorbital breadth not - greater than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin - of tympanic bulla (type as in _meridana_ where interorbital - breadth is more than distance between foramen opticum and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla); least width of palate not less than - length of P4; masseteric fossa confined to posterior two-fifths - (38 to 40 per cent; average 39 per cent) of mandible and not - extended anteriorly to middle of m2. - - Female: No adults examined. - -As compared with _M. f. meridana_ the skull of the male is larger, to -the average amount of 2.2 mm. in basilar length and 1.2 mm. in -zygomatic breadth of adults; length of tooth-rows and mastoid breadth -average greater but relatively less; breadth of rostrum, interorbital -breadth and orbitonasal length average actually and relatively less. -Thus the skull of _affinis_ is longer and broader, but the facial -region is actually, as well as relatively, smaller. As compared with -the skull of the male of _M. f. aureoventris_, that of _M. f. affinis_ -is about the same in basilar length. However, in no specimen of -_affinis_ are the measurements of length of tooth-rows or breadth of -rostrum, actually, or relatively, as great as in _aureoventris_. The -same is true of all measurements taken of M1, P4 and m1. The specimens -from the vicinity of Quito and north of there, although referred to -_macrura_, are nearly as dark as typical _affinis_, approach _affinis_ -in cranial characters, and indicate intergradation of _affinis_ with -_macrura_. - -_Remarks._--_Mustela affinis_ was named by John Edward Gray in 1874 (p. -375) on the basis of a specimen from New Granada. Although usually -synonymized with _Mustela brasiliensis_ by later authors until 1896 -when Merriam (1896:31) applied the name to weasels from Costa Rica, -nearly all the South American and several of the Central American -weasels have, at one time or another, had Gray's name, _affinis_, -applied to them. Gray, in 1865 (p. 115) when giving measurements of -_Mustela aureoventris_, probably mentioned the specimen, that later -became the holotype. In 1916 (p. 98) Allen restricted the type locality -to Bogotá, Colombia. Allen's action was a necessary procedure in -clearing up the systematics of South American weasels and was based on -good grounds. As set forth by Allen (_loc. cit._), and more in detail -by Chapman (1917:642), Bogotá has long been the shipping point for -Colombian vertebrate specimens, many of which were obtained in the -mountains to the east. Allen (1916A:220) quotes Thomas as saying that -the type specimen was purchased from Stevens at about the same time -that a number of Colombian birds were purchased from the same dealer. -Also, specimens from Bogotá agree with Gray's description of the type -specimen. - -_Mustela frenata affinis_, as here defined, constitutes one of the -several slight geographic variants met with, on the sides of, and -between, the three north and south mountain chains of Colombia. The -others are lumped under the name _Mustela frenata meridana_. _M. f. -affinis_, in common with specimens from the northern part of the range -of _macrura_ has large teeth. Weasels of all of the region from Quito -to Bogotá have large teeth. To the north there is the smaller-toothed -_meridana_ and to the south the smaller-toothed _macrura_ grading into -the still smaller-toothed _agilis_, and _boliviensis_. - -Two skins, without corresponding skulls, from Caqueta are lighter -colored than any others of _affinis_; possibly the skins are faded by -exposure to light. Since they probably come from an elevation of less -than 1000 feet in the Amazonian region, they may pertain to another -subspecies. - -Complete, unbroken, skulls of _affinis_ are needed to ascertain the -degree to which _affinis_ and _meridana_ differ in cranial features. -The several specimens from the immediate region of Bogotá show well the -color and the color pattern but lack collectors' measurements. - -None of the ten skulls examined shows malformation of the frontal -region due to infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites. Possibly -three of the four adults were infested, although not severely. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 27, arranged by localities - from north to south and unless otherwise indicated in the United - States National Museum. - - =Colombia=: El Carmen, 1[2]; W. Cundinamarca, 1[7]; Muzzo [= - Muzo?], 1[4]; Bogotá, 1; Castillo, near Bogotá, 1[7]; Fambrias, - near Bogotá, 1[75]; Bogotá district, 1[2]; Choachí, 9 (1[75], - 2[7], 1[84]); Páramo de Choachí, 2 (1[2], 1[84]); Laguna del - Verjón (= City of Bogotá), 1[75]; Quetame, 2[2]; Fusagasuga, 1; - Caqueta, 2[2]; no locality more definite than Colombia, 3 (1[7]). - - -=Mustela frenata aureoventris= Gray - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 27, 28 and 29 - - _Mustela aureoventris_ Gray, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, 1864:55, pl. - 8, 1864; Gray, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, 1865:115, 1865. - - _Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis_ var. _aequatorialis_ Coues, - Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877, part? ("merely as a substitute - for Gray's [supposedly] preoccupied name," that is, - _aureoventris_). - - _Mustela affinis costaricensis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916 (part). - - _Mustela macrura_, Lönnberg, Arkiv för Zool., 14 (no. 4):11, 1921 - (part ?). - - _Mustela frenata aureoventris_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:110, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:175, 1939. - - _Type._--Probably female, juvenile, skull with skin, no. 64.6.6.3 - (formerly 1432a), British Mus. Nat. Hist.; probably Subtropical - Life-zone of western Ecuador (locality given as Quito, probably - because received from that place). - - The skin, once exhibited as a mount, has lost some hair from the - back and other parts of the body and is not suitable for remaking - into a conventional study specimen. The skull lacks the occiput, - basioccipital, premaxillae, upper incisors, two of the lower - incisors, all of the canines, premolars 2/2 on both sides, right - P3, left p3, and has the left jugal mesially defective. The - premolars present are not all fully emerged. - - _Range._--Pacific coastal regions of Ecuador and Colombia; - Subtropical and Tropical life-zones. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - africana stolzmanni_ by absence of median, longitudinal, abdominal - stripe of same color as upper parts, by presence of p2 and by two - rather than one root on P2; from _Mustela frenata macrura_ by - Reddish Black, tone 4, plate 344 rather than Chocolate, tone 3, - pl. 343 (of Oberthür and Dauthenay), or slightly darker color of - upper parts; from _M. f. affinis_ and _M. f. meridana_ by darker - color (tone 4 rather than tone 2, Reddish Black of Ober. and - Dauth.) of upper parts and larger size of teeth (M1 with length - more than 2.4 and breadth more than 4.7; P4 with outside length - more than 5.9; length of m1 more than 6.2). - - _Description._--Unless otherwise stated, information concerning - this subspecies is derived from the one referred specimen - available, a young male, no. 34677, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. - - _Size._--Male: Total length, 470; length of tail, 160; length of - hind foot, 50. Tail 51 per cent as long as head and body. - - Female: Not known. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black and reaching beyond - ear. Carpal vibrissae reaching to or beyond apical pad of fifth - digit; hairiness of foot soles slightly less than shown in figure - 20. - - _Color._--Sides and top of head and neck posteriorly to shoulders - black; white facial markings represented by only five white hairs - anterior to right ear, one anterior to left ear and three far back - on forehead; dark areas at angles of mouth confluent with color of - upper parts; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts near - (_n_) Bay or Reddish Black, tone 4 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. - 344; chin whitish; remainder of underparts Warm Buff, deep orange - in juvenile, type specimen, according to Gray (1864, pl. 8); color - of underparts extending distally on posterior sides of forelegs to - wrists but not reaching foot soles and on hind legs to or slightly - below knees. Least width of color of underparts equal to 15 per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail - equal to 27 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - In color, no. 34677 is, to me as it was to Allen (1916:101), - indistinguishable from the darkest specimens (nos. 178970 and - 10112) of _M. f. panamensis_. Therefore, _M. f. aureoventris_ is - one of the two darkest subspecies of weasels. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male: See measurements and plates 27-29; - weight, 4.3 grams; basilar length, 45.8; zygomatic breadth - approximately equal to distance between condylar foramen and M1 - and to distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal - length; postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars - and greater than width of basioccipital measured from medial - margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; - interorbital breadth greater than distance between foramen opticum - and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less (at - least in young specimen) than length of tympanic bulla; least - width of palate seldom if ever greater than length of P4; anterior - margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as - width of three (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic - bulla not greater than distance from its anterior margin to - foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower - molar and premolar tooth-row and shorter than orbitonasal length; - anterior margin of masseteric fossa below anterior half of m2. - - Skulls of males of _M. f. aureoventris_, and _Mustela frenata - macrura_ from the vicinity of Quito so closely resemble one - another as not to be distinguished with the material now - available, although the teeth of _aureoventris_ are larger. - Comparisons of the skulls of males with those of _M. f. meridana_ - and _affinis_, which are readily distinguishable from those of - _aureoventris_, have been made in the accounts of those - subspecies. - - Female: Skull of adult unknown. - -_Remarks._--This subspecies of the Tropical Life-zone, or at least the -Subtropical Life-zone, of Ecuador, in certain cranial characters -resembles _Mustela frenata macrura_ of the Temperate Life-zone. The two -differ markedly in color. Nevertheless, a large number of the specimens -collected in Ecuador are intermediate in color as well as in zonal -distribution. - -The type specimen is young or a juvenile. The measurements of no. 34677 -from Gualea indicate an animal similar in size to _M. f. affinis_. Gray -(1864:55) states that the type specimen measures "Length of body and -head 6 inches, of tail 4-1/2 inches." The plate (pl. 8) accompanying -Gray's original description (_loc. cit._) is marked one-half natural -size and represents the animal as having a head and body length of -eight and one-half inches. One year later Gray (1865:115) gives the -measurements of this species as "Length of body and head 12, tail 8 -inches." Since he had at this time another specimen, larger than the -type specimen (which specimen later, probably, became the type of -_Mustela affinis_ Gray), the larger measurements probably were taken -from it. - -Geographically, and as regards cranial characters, _Mustela frenata -aureoventris_ is most closely related to _M. f. affinis_ and to the -northern section of _M. f. macrura_, but in color to _M. f. -panamensis_. _M. f. aureoventris_ and _M. f. panamensis_ are the two -darkest-colored subspecies and each occurs in a region of extremely -heavy rainfall. There is a skin only, no. 32620, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., -from Munchique, obtained on June 1, 1911, which is appreciably darker -than specimens of _M. f. affinis_ in corresponding pelage and is -intermediate between _M. f. affinis_ and _M. f. aureoventris_ in color -as it is geographically. The specimen measures 495, 202, 52. - -The name _Mustela aureoventris_ Gray has been regarded by most authors -as preoccupied by _Mustela auriventer_ Hodgson (1841:909). However, the -writer is not of this opinion and agrees with Thomas (1920:224) that -"The name _aureoventris_ is not invalidated by the _auriventer_ of -Hodgson, as, apart from 'one-letterist' differences, its first half -comes from the adjective _aureus_, while Hodgson's name is based on the -substantive _aurum_, so that not only the spellings but the derivations -are different." The spelling of Gray's name should be _aureoventris_ -for this is the spelling in the original description which in -pagination precedes the colored plate of the animal that is labeled -_Mustela aureoventris_. _Putorius brasiliensis_ var. _aequatorialis_ -Coues (1877:142) is the only name known to the writer that has been -proposed as a substitute for _Mustela aureoventris_ Gray. - -Thomas (1920:224) treats _Mustela macrura_ Taczanowski as a synonym of -_Mustela aureoventris_ Gray. Allen (1916:101) also treats the two names -as applying to the same kind of weasel but regards _aureoventris_ as -preoccupied and therefore uses the name _macrura_. Taczanowski's -original description (1874:311) and plate of _Mustela macrura_ indicate -an animal that is lighter colored than _M. f. affinis_. Gray's original -description (1864:55) and plate of _aureoventris_ indicate an animal -that is darker colored than _M. f. affinis_. Indeed Gray (1865:115) in -speaking of the type of _aureoventris_ as compared with an adult from -New Granada [= Colombia] that probably later became the type specimen -of _Mustela affinis_, states: "The young from Quito is much darker than -the adult;. . . ." Comparison of the plates accompanying the original -descriptions of _aureoventris_ and _macrura_ well illustrate the -difference stated in the written descriptions. My examination of the -type specimens of _M. macrura_ and _M. f. aureoventris_ shows them to -have been fairly accurately portrayed in the plates accompanying the -original descriptions. Accordingly the two names are used for the two -kinds of animals which appear, however, to be only subspecifically -distinct. - -Comparison of Gray's plate (1864, pl. 8) with the available specimens -from South America indicates that the name _aureoventris_ is based on -an individual that is lighter colored than no. 34677 Amer. Mus. Nat. -Hist., from Gualea, Ecuador, but on one which resembles no. 34677 more -than it does the lighter-colored specimens from the Temperate Zone of -Ecuador and northern Perú. Because Quito, Ecuador, is in the Temperate -Life-zone and because the available specimens from this zone in Ecuador -and northern Perú are distinctly lighter colored than Gray's plate -representing the type of _aureoventris_ shows this specimen to be, it -is judged to have come from an altitude lower than that of Quito (9350 -feet, according to Chapman, 1926:717); probably it came from the -Subtropical Life-zone of Ecuador. Indeed Gray (1864:55) did not say -that the specimen was collected or obtained at Quito but that it -was ". . . received from Quito. . . ." Chapman (1926:717) has pointed -out that Quito, since 1846 has been the distributing point for bird -skins which specimens ". . . come from the vicinity of the city, from -the 'Napo' region on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes, and from -Nanegal, Gualea, and other localities on the Pacific side rarely below -the Subtropical Zone." It is also pointed out that only some of the -specimens are labeled with their approximate place of capture and that -even then these localities cannot be accepted as definite; they -indicate mainly whether the specimen is from the eastern or western -side of the Andes. - -The above mentioned considerations and information gained by study of -the specimens cause me to think that the type is an intergrade tending -toward the lighter-colored _Mustela f. macrura_ of the Temperate Zone -although sufficiently dark to be referred to the dark subspecies -represented by no. 34677 Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., from Gualea, Ecuador. - -The skull of no. 34677 shows no infestation of the frontal sinuses by -parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 3, as follows: - - =Ecuador=: Gualea, 1, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. - - =Colombia=: 8325 ft., Munchique, 1, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. In the - British Museum of Natural History, the type, (1). - - -=Mustela frenata helleri= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 27, 28 and 29 - - _Mustela frenata helleri_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 48:143, August 22, 1935; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:110, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:175, 1939. - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 24133, Field Mus. Nat. - Hist.; 3000 feet, Hacienda San Antonio, Río Chinchao, Perú; August - 22, 1922. Obtained by Edmund Heller. Original no. 6589. - - The skull (plates 27-29) is complete and unbroken. The teeth all - are present, entire and but slightly worn. The skin is well made, - unfaded, and in good condition. - - _Range._--Three thousand feet (type locality) to 6700 feet (Ambo), - Tropical and Subtropical life-zones of eastern Perú. See figure 29 - on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - africana stolzmanni_ by absence of median, longitudinal, abdominal - stripe of same color as upper parts, presence of p2 and two roots - rather than one root on P2; from _Mustela frenata macrura_ by - darker color (Carbon Brown, tone 3, pl. 342 rather than Chocolate, - tone 3, pl. 343, Oberthür and Dauthenay) of upper parts. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: Measurements of the type specimen - and topotype, no. 24132, are, respectively, as follows: Total - length, 382, 418; length of tail, 152, 164; length of hind foot, - 52, 48. Tail 66 and 65 per cent as long as head and body. Hind - foot more than basal length. - - Female: Measurements of two referred females, no. 24134 from Ambo - and no. 24136 from Huanuco, are, respectively, as follows: Total - length, 328 and 303; length of tail, 118 and 103; length of hind - foot, 39 and 38.5. Tail 56 and 51 per cent as long as head and - body. Hind foot shorter than basal length. - - The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes - are: Total length, 85; length of tail, 49; length of hind foot, - 11. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black and extending beyond - ear; carpal vibrissae same color as upper parts and extending to - apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in - figure 20. - - _Color._--Rarely a few white hairs anterior to each ear; posterior - fifth of each upper lip white; top of head, posteriorly to - slightly behind ears, black, grading into color of upper parts of - body; dark spots at angles of mouth absent; tip of tail black; - remainder of upper parts near (_n_) Argus Brown and Carbon Brown, - tone 3 (pl. 342, Oberthür and Dauthenay); chin whitish; remainder - of underparts Warm Buff; color of underparts extends distally on - posterior sides of forelegs to wrists but not reaching foot-soles - and on hind legs to slightly below knees. Least width of color of - underparts 24 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts - in each of two males and 19 to 30 per cent in three females. Black - tip of tail longer than hind foot and averaging 40 (39-42) per - cent of length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type specimen and adult no. - 24132): See measurements and plates 27-29. As described in - _Mustela frenata macrura_ except that: Weight, 4.5 (4.2 and 4.8); - basilar length, 44.6 (44.0-45.3); zygomatic breadth more than - distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior - palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of - rostrum more or less than (approximately equal to) length of - tympanic bulla; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from - its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla - less than length of rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa - posterior to m2 by length of that tooth. - - Female (based on nos. 24134 to 24136): See measurements. As - described in _Mustela frenata macrura_ except that: Weight, 1.7 - (1.5-1.9) grams; basilar length, 36.5 (35.3-38.1); zygomatic - breadth less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and - anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more or - less than (approximately equal to) outside length of P4; length of - tympanic bulla less than length of rostrum. - - The skull of the female averages 62 per cent lighter than that of - the male. - -The skull of the male is generally large and heavy as are the teeth. -Comparison with _macrura_ is made in the account of that subspecies. -From males of _affinis_ those of _helleri_ differ in: skull shorter; -breadth of rostrum and interorbital breadth actually and relatively -greater. - -_Remarks._--The five specimens examined of this subspecies were taken -by Edmund Heller for the Field Museum of Natural History in 1922 and -1923. It is to honor his contributions to mammalogy that the subspecies -is named _helleri_. No. 24135 is the specimen carried as a pet for some -time by Mr. and Mrs. Heller and of which Mrs. Heller (1924:481) has -given an account. - -This subspecies is insufficiently known, especially as to geographic -range; probably it occupies a considerable range in the Tropical -Life-zone along the eastern base of the Andes. The three females, two -from Ambo and one from Huanuco, come from a much higher altitude than -do the two males and the climate is said to be arid at Ambo and -Huanuco. The skulls of the females are 62 per cent lighter and -correspondingly smaller in measurements, than those of males. This -difference is more than that found in any other South American weasel -and it may be that the females are of a subspecies other than -_helleri_. - -The type specimen has a broad skull with major proportions strikingly -like those of _Mustela stolzmanni_. Possibly the similar climatic -conditions under which the two live have left their impress in similar -fashion in this part of each of the two species. The teeth, tympanic -bullae, and certain other parts of the skull are, however, so -differently proportioned as to show that the skulls represent two -species. The referred male has a much longer skull than the type -specimen and the relative proportions of breadth and depth of the two -skulls differ widely. Judging from large series of weasels examined -from localities outside the range of _M. f. helleri_, the two skulls -probably represent almost the maximum of individual variation occurring -in one subspecies. - -The dark color is as might be expected since _helleri_ inhabits the -humid Tropical Zone. - -None of the five skulls shows signs of having had the frontal sinuses -infested by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 5, all in the Field Museum of - Natural History. - - =Perú=: 3500 ft., Hacienda Buena Vista, Río Chinchao, 1; 3000 ft., - Hacienda San Antonio, Río Chinchao, 1; Huanuco, 1; Ambo, 2. - - -=Mustela frenata agilis= Tschudi - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 27, 28, 29, 39 and 40 - - _Mustela agilis_ Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, p. 110, 1844; Gray, Proc. - Zoöl. Soc. London, 1865:113, 1865; Taczanowski, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. - London, 1874:311, 1874; Taczanowski, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, - 1881:648, 1881; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:104; April - 28, 1916; Thomas, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 58-224, 1920. - - _Mustela macrura_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:103, - April 28, 1916. - - _Mustela frenata agilis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:110, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:176, 1939. - - _Type._--No type specimen, or type locality more restricted than - cold, barren highlands of the Cordillera [referring to Perú] - designated. - - _Range._--High, barren Cordillera of Perú (see Tschudi, orig. - descr.); as here restricted, Temperate Life-zone and higher in - western Andes and intermountain valleys of Perú. See figure 29 on - page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela frenata - macrura_ by lighter color (Chocolate, tone 2 rather than 3, pl. - 343, Oberthür and Dauthenay) of upper parts; length of upper - tooth-rows, in females, less than 13; inside length of P4 more - than 4.6; from _M. f. aureoventris_ by smaller teeth (maximum size - just given for _agilis_); from _M. f. boliviensis_ by lighter - color, upper parts being Chocolate, tone 2, pl. 343, rather than - tone 4 or darker of Carbon Brown, pl. 342 (Oberthür and - Dauthenay). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The stuffed skin of an adult, from - Lima, measures: Total length, 460; length of tail, 125; length of - hind foot, 45.7. A skin alone from Huarochirí has a body, as now - stuffed, 277 mm. long. The tail is missing and the bones of the - hind feet have been removed. - - Female: The mounted specimen, no. 565, Mus. Polonais d'Hist. Nat., - yields measurements, taken by me, as follows: Total length, 250; - length of tail, 75; length of hind foot, 32.5. The female, no. - 21147, from Macate, measures, 300, 102, 34. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae, either dark-or - light-colored and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae either - dark-or light-colored and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; - hairiness of foot soles as shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--Tschudi's description of the color is, in substance, as - follows: Head, back and tail reddish gray; base of hair gray, - followed by broader grayish-yellow ring and then reddish-brown - tip; nose simply dark brown or upper lips edged with white; - throat, breast, belly and higher parts of inner sides of - extremities whitish gray, at times wholly gray, bases of hairs - always gray; feet darker than body, almost chestnut brown; tail - darker on tip than at base; ears externally dark brown, internally - whitish. - - No. 565 possibly somewhat faded from exposure to light, has all - the upper parts near (14´ _j_) Ochraceous-Tawny or Cinnamon, and - tone 4 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, plate 323; posterior half of - each upper lip white; no other white facial markings present; dark - spot at each angle of mouth (one spot confluent with color of - upper parts); tip of tail probably black (tip missing); underparts - white, belly probably originally with slight tinge of yellow or - allied color; color of underparts extending distally on forelegs - to feet and onto upper sides of toes and on hind legs to just - above heels. Least width of color of underparts equal to about - one-fourth of greatest width of color of upper parts. - - No. 21147, subadult, from Macate, has a white band confluent with - the underparts extending anterodorsally anterior to each ear and - the posterior third of each upper lip white. Top of head near - (_n_) Mars Brown, and Carbon Brown, tone 3 (pl. 342, Ober. and - Dauth.); tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts near (16" - _j_) Tawny-Olive, and Chocolate (tone 2, of pl. 343 of Ober. and - Dauth.) or Raw Umber (tone 3 of pl. 301 of Ober. and Dauth.); - anterior half of underparts, including posterior sides of forelegs - and antipalmar faces of forefeet, white; remainder of underparts - tinged with Warm Buff and extended on posterior legs almost to - ankles. - - No. 8.1.10.1., male adult, from Lima, is also light colored, and - as described in no. 21147, except that left side of head has a - white spot rather than bar; posterior eighth of each upper lip - white; white frontonasal spot present, 11 x 11 mm.; antipalmar - faces of forefeet spotted with brown color of upper parts; color - of underparts extending distally on hind legs along medial side of - foot to point halfway between heel and tip of inner toe. - - No. 13257 from Huarochirí in color and color pattern closely - resembles no. 21147. It differs from no. 21147 in slightly lighter - color of upper parts, entirely white underparts, less extension of - color of underparts onto forefeet, few white hairs instead of - white band in front of each ear; color of underparts more - restricted. - - In each of the four specimens, the least width of the underparts, - expressed as a percentage of the upper parts, is as follows: no. - 13257, 11 per cent; no. 21147, 29 per cent; no. 565, 31 per cent; - no. 8.1.10.1., nineteen per cent. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on no. 8.1.10.1.): See - measurements and plates 27-29. As described in _Mustela frenata - macrura_ except that: Weight 4.1 grams; basilar length, 42.5; - zygomatic breadth more than distance between anterior palatine - foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth - less than postpalatal length; tympanic bullae shorter than - rostrum. - - Female (based on no. 21147): See measurements and plates 39 and - 40. As described in _Mustela frenata macrura_ except that: Weight - (no. 21147, subadult), 1.5 grams; basilar length, 35.2; least - width of palate less than outside length of P4; tympanic bulla as - far posterior to foramen ovale as combined width of five upper - incisors; no. 565 answers to the same description but differs from - no. 21147 in greater basilar length and larger tympanic bullae - which are slightly more projected, at their anterior margins, from - the braincase. - -To judge from the skull of the female from Macate and the skull of the -male from Lima, the skull and teeth of _agilis_ are smaller than in any -other South American subspecies of _Mustela frenata_, except _M. f. -boliviensis_. - -_Remarks._--Tschudi almost certainly used the name _Mustela agilis_ in -a composite sense. His statement (see quoted matter below) about the -marked variation in color of this species, as represented by the skins -carried by the Indian women as purses, indicates that the forms here -designated as _Mustela macrura_, _M. helleri_ and possibly others -additional to the one here called _agilis_ were included by him under -the name _Mustela agilis_. Taczanowski took account of _Mustela agilis_ -when he described other species from Perú. Allen (1916:104) and Thomas -(1920:224) were not convinced that _Mustela agilis_ and _Mustela -macrura_ were distinct species or subspecies. - -Search on August 28, 1937, in the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle, at -Neuchatel, Switzerland, by Mr. Théodore Delachaux, assistant there, and -the writer, revealed no trace of weasels from Tschudi's collection, -although some other specimens of mammals that he figured in the "Fauna -Peruana" are preserved in that Museum. Not only were the collections of -specimens examined but the new catalogue and old catalogue of mammals -were vainly searched for mention of weasels deposited by Tschudi. -Later, at the British Museum of Natural History, on page 105 of a -personal notebook, of the late Mr. Oldfield Thomas, record was found of -his fruitless search for the same specimens of _Mustela_ in May, 1902, -at Neuchatel. - -Although Tschudi certainly used the name _Mustela agilis_ in a -composite sense, as subspecies are at present understood, his -description most nearly applies to the light-colored animals from -western Perú--the lightest colored of any South American weasels seen. -They are of approximately the same color as North American subspecies -inhabiting semiarid regions, for example _Mustela frenata longicauda_ -of the Great Plains. - -Another, but in my opinion less weighty, justification for applying -Tschudi's name _agilis_ to these light-colored weasels of western Perú -is that by one line of reasoning, Taczanowski in naming _macrura_ -(_jelskii_ is a synonym of it) from farther eastward in Perú, and that -Hall in naming _helleri_ from still farther eastward, and _boliviensis_ -to the southeastward, geographically restricted the application of the -name _agilis_. Hall's action did this because he recognized geographic -variation and employed the subspecies concept. Taczanowski, however, -proposed his name _macrura_ for a kind of animal which he indicated was -specifically (as opposed to subspecifically) distinct from _agilis_ and -his account (1881:649) of _jelskii_ indicates that he thought _Mustela -agilis_ Tschudi might occur in the same place as the animals which he -named as new kinds. Thus, we can not credit Taczanowski with _intent_ -to restrict the name _agilis_ geographically, even though later authors -may choose to rule that his naming of _macrura_ in effect did so -restrict the application of _Mustela agilis_ Tschudi. - -The equivalents in millimeters given by Allen (1916:104) for Tschudi's -measurements of 9 to 10 inches entire length, and tails of 4 inches to -4 inches and 4 lines, apparently are based on the London scale in use -today. If Tschudi employed the Rhine scale also of eight lines to the -inch, but one which has the foot longer by an amount of 20 millimeters, -or the Leipzig scale in which the foot is 22 millimeters shorter than -the London foot, the measurements recorded by Tschudi differ in one -direction or the other from those computed by Allen. However, knowledge -of which scale Tschudi employed would not help much, if any, in more -precise application of the name _agilis_ because he does not indicate -whether his measurements are of male or female animals; animals of the -two sexes of the same subspecies differ more in external measurements -than animals of the same sex of different subspecies of Peruvian -weasels. - -Specimen no. 565, in the Polish Museum of Natural History, without -definite locality, is provisionally referred to this subspecies. The -specimen is intermediate in several respects between the female from -Macate and the one of _macrura_ from Cutervo. - - Tschudi (1844:111-112) has given the following account: - "_Lebensweise und geographische Verbreitung_. Das peruanische - Wiesel lebt auf den kalten, öden Hochebenen der Cordillera an - sonnigen Steinhaufen und Felsen gewöhnlich in Gesellschaft von - 8-12 Stücken. Diese Thierchen sind so ausserordentlich behende und - scheu, dass bei dem leisesten Geräusche die ganze Schaar mit - Blitzesschnelle verschwindet. Es ist uns auch nie gelungen, eines - derselben zu erlegen. Die Indianer aber verstehen es, dieselben - lebendig einzufangen und zu zähmen. Ein sehr zahmes sahen wir bei - einer uns befreundeten Dame in Tarma; gegen alle Fremden biss es - mit Wuth und liess sich nicht anfassen, während es sich von seiner - Herrin Alles gefallen liess; sie öffnete ihm den Mund und steckte - ihm den Finger hinein, ohne dass es eine böse Miene dazu machte, - während es bei der geringsten Bewegung, die wir machten, es zu - ergreifen, grimmig auf uns lossprang. Wenn es eingeschüchtert - wurde, versteckte es sich in den Busen seiner Gebieterin und kroch - ihr bald nachher zum Aermel heraus. An den Wänden und Meublen - kletterte es mit grosser Behendigkeit und schlüpfte durch so - kleine Ritzen und Löcher, dass wir fast an der Möglichkeit dieses - Hindurchdringens gezweifelt haben würden, wenn wir es nicht selbst - mit angesehen hätten. Wenn es unartig war, wurde es mit einer - Schnur an seinem kleinen Halsbande festgebunden; dadurch vermehrte - sich sein Zorn, so dass es zuweilen gegen die Dame auffuhr. - Mehrmals verschwand es während 8-10 Tagen und kam dann plötzlich - wieder zum Vorschein. Seine Nahrung bestand in Gemüse und Fleisch, - besonders aber liebte es Zuckerbrod in Milch aufgeweicht; einmal - machte es sich an einen Kanarienvogel, den es auch tödtete. Es - erhielt seine Strafe und verschwand dann für immer. Die Indianer - sollen dieses Wiesel zum Fange der Viscacha abrichten (davon - weiter unten). Sie nennen es Comadreja, auch Ardilla. ([footnote] - Ardilla ist spanisch und heisst Eichhörnchen. Mit diesem Namen - werden sehr verschiedene Thiere bezeichnet; ausser dem Sc. - variabilis und der Galictis agilis auch noch mehrere Nager und - einige Didelphysarten.) Die Indianerinnen verfertigen sich aus dem - kleinen Felle Geldbeutel. Des Sonntags trifft man unter den vielen - tausend Punaindianerinnen die nach den grossen Dörfern der Sierra - kommen, um ihre Einkäufe zu machen, kaum ein halbes Dutzend, die - nicht solche Börsen mit sich führten, und dann kann man auch die - verschiedensten Farbennuancen, die bei dieser Species vorkommen, - beobachten." - -None of the three skulls referred to this subspecies shows infestation -of the frontal sinuses by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 4. - - =Perú=: Macate, 1 (Field Mus. Nat. Hist.); Huarochirí, 1 (Mus. - Comp. Zool.); Lima, 1 (British Mus. Nat. Hist.); no locality more - definite than Perú, 1 (Mus. Polonais d'Hist. Nat.). - - -=Mustela frenata macrura= Taczanowski - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 1, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 39 and 40 - - _Mustela macrura_ Taczanowski, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, 1874:311, - pl. 48, May 19, 1874; _ibid_., 1881:647, May 17, 1881; _ibid_., - 835, November 15, 1881; Lönnberg, Arkiv för Zool., 8 (no. 1):21, - 1913 (?); Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, July - 10, 1914; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:101, April 28, - 1916; Lönnberg, Arkiv för Zool., 14 (no. 4):11, 1921. - - _Putorius (Gale) braziliensis frenatus_, Coues, Fur-bearing - animals, p. 142, 1877. - - _Mustela jelskii_ Taczanowski, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, 1881:647, - May 17, 1881. - - _Mustela affinis_, Lönnberg, Arkiv för Zool., 8 (no. 1):21, July - 12, 1913. - - _Mustela aureoventris_, Thomas, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 58:224, - 1920. - - _Mustela frenata macrura_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:110, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:176, 1939. - - _Type._--Male, adult, mounted skin, with skull separate; no. 561, - Mus. Polonais d'Hist. Nat. (Warsaw, Poland); Lake Junín, central - Perú; 1873; obtained by M. Jelski. - - The skull (plates 27-29, 30), mounted with the skin but removed by - me for study, lacks the right jugal, the basisphenoid, the - basioccipital and parts of each exoccipital bearing the - exoccipital condyles. The right tympanic bulla, although detached - from the skull, is preserved separately. The teeth all are present - and entire. The skin is fairly-well mounted, in a good state of - preservation, and shows no fading due to exposure to light. - - _Range._--Altitudinally, 3200 (Guainche) to at least 12000 feet - (Pichincha); Upper Subtropical and Temperate life-zones of central - Perú and Ecuador north from the states of Apurimac and Cuzco, - Perú, to San Antonio, northern Ecuador. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - africana stolzmanni_ by absence of median, longitudinal, abdominal - stripe of same color as upper parts; presence of p2 and two roots - rather than one root on P2; from _Mustela frenata helleri_, _M. f. - affinis_ and _M. f. aureoventris_ by lighter color of upper parts - which are Chocolate tone 3, pl. 343, Oberthür and Dauthenay, - whereas, with reference to the same color standard, the colors - are: in _helleri_, Carbon Brown, tone 3, pl. 342; in _affinis_, - Reddish Black, tone 2, pl. 344; in _aureoventris_, Reddish Black, - tone 4, pl. 344; from _M. f. agilis_ by darker color (Chocolate, - tone 3 rather than 2, pl. 343, Oberthür and Dauthenay) of upper - parts, length of upper tooth-rows, in females, more than 13, - inside length of P4 more than 4.6; from _M. f. boliviensis_ by - lighter color of upper parts which are as above rather than tone 4 - of Carbon Brown, pl. 342 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, and larger - size (in males, hind foot more than 45 and m1 more than 5.6). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male (measurements as recorded by - Taczanowski in the original description, for two specimens, type - and topotype, with correction of the length of tail of his - "female" [= male]): Total length, 420, 415; length of tail, 150, - 145; length of hind foot, 51, 51. An adult from Yana Mayo, Río - Tarma, was measured by Hendee as 394, 134. Hind foot relaxed - measures, 47. Tail 55 per cent as long as head and body. Length - of hind foot more than basal length. - - Female (based on measurements given by Taczanowski (1881:647) of - no. 564): Total length, 323; length of tail, 120; length of hind - foot, 37. Tail 59 per cent as long as head and body. Length of - hind foot approximately equal to basal length. - - Differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total - length, 87; length of tail, 23; length of hind foot, 13. - - _Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae extending beyond ear; - carpal vibrissae color of either upper parts or underparts; - hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure 20. - - _Color._--(Based on specimens from Cutervo and south thereof). - Rarely few white hairs between eyes and in front of ears; top of - head posteriorly to slightly behind eyes, near (_n_) - Chestnut-Brown (Ridgway) and Carbon Brown, tone 2 or darker (pl. - 342, Oberthür and Dauthenay); posterior half of upper lip rarely - white; dark spots at angles of mouth absent; tip of tail black; - remainder of upper parts near (_l_) Russet (Ridgway) and - Chocolate, tone 3 (pl. 343, Ober. and Dauth.); underparts white or - whitish on medial sides of forelegs, otherwise cream color with - tinge of Ochraceous-Buff; color of underparts extended distally on - posterior sides of forelegs to just below elbow (in type specimen) - or onto forefeet (in specimen from Yana Mayo) and on medial sides - of hind legs to points between knees and ankles. Least width of - color of underparts averages (in six skins) 17 (14-21) per cent of - greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail longer - than hind foot and averaging 36 (32-49) per cent of length of - tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on type specimen and no. 562): See - measurements and plates 27-30; weight, not known; basilar length, - 43.2 (40.8 and 45.5); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance - between condylar foramen and M1 and more than that between - anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; - mastoid breadth more or less than postpalatal length; postorbital - breadth more than length of upper premolars and greater than width - of basioccipital, measured from medial margin of one foramen - lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more than - distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic - bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; - least width of palate more than inside length of P4; anterior - margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as - width of 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla - not more than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; - length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and - premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum; anterior - margin of masseteric fossa below or behind m2. - - Female (based on no. 564, from Cutervo, Perú, type specimen of - _Mustela jelskii_ Taczanowski): See measurements and plates 37-40; - weight, not known; basilar length, 38±; zygomatic breadth less - than distance between condylar foramen and Ml and not greater than - that between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of - tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than alveolar length of - upper premolars and (probably) more than width of basioccipital - measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to - its opposite; least width of palate more than inside length of P4; - tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of at - least 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than - distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of - tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar - tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum. - -As compared with that of _helleri_, the skull of the male of _macrura_ -from Junín southward has a lesser mastoid breadth, notably smaller -teeth, and a flatter skull which averages lighter throughout. The -skulls of females available indicate that the skull and teeth are -larger than in _agilis_. - -_Remarks._--Seven years after Taczanowski named this subspecies, he -applied the name _jelskii_ to a female taken farther north than the -original examples of _macrura_. As indicated in synonymy, various other -names have been applied to animals included by the present author in -this subspecies. - -_Mustela frenata macrura_ intergrades with _M. f. affinis_ as shown by -practically all the referred specimens from north of Junín. As one -proceeds northward the color of the weasels becomes progressively -darker and the teeth become larger until the conditions found in -_affinis_ are met with near the northern border of Ecuador. From the -material available it appears that the light-colored upper parts found -in _macrura_ characterize weasels of, at least, the Temperate Zone, -from Marcapata, Perú, to near Quito, Ecuador. West of the range of -_macrura_ there exists the still lighter-colored subspecies, _M. f. -agilis_. Immediately adjacent on the north, east, and south, -darker-colored weasels occur. So far as color is concerned, the -geographic range of the subspecies _M. f. macrura_ is not difficult to -define. However, the small size of the teeth characterizes only that -part of this light-colored subspecies from Junín southward including -the subspecies _boliviensis_ at the southern extremity of the range of -the species. From Cutervo northward the light-colored weasels of the -Temperate Zone have teeth similar in size to those of the darker, more -northern _affinis_. To designate the slightly larger-toothed, -light-colored animals from Ecuador as a subspecies distinct from -_affinis_ and _macrura_ is one solution but at present it seems best to -refer all of these light-colored animals to _macrura_. - -The type specimen and topotype no. 562 differ more in the amount of -inflation of the tympanic bullae than adult males of comparable ages -from a given locality usually do. In other respects, the differences -between the two skulls are not greater than those ordinarily found in -specimens from the same locality. No. 562 has the tympanic bullae -greatly, relative to the other South American weasels, inflated -posteriorly. Otherwise, the bullae agree with those of the type -specimen. - -Specimens from southwestern Ecuador, average large, and include the -largest specimens of the species _Mustela frenata_ seen from South -America. A subadult male, no. 61406, in the American Museum of Natural -History, is the largest. Its external measurements are 482, 191, 56. -The basilar length of the skull is 48.2 and the zygomatic breadth is -30.3. Although not so large as this specimen, the corresponding -measurements of specimens from Alamor, El Chiral, and even from as far -away as Sigsig also are distinctly large. - -The skull of the female from Ollantaytambo and that of the male from -Marcapata have teeth equally as small as do the specimens from Lake -Junín. - -The skin alone, no. 194328, from Ollantaytambo has the color of the -underparts extended over the entire upper sides of the forefeet. The -male from Marcapata has less of this color on the forefeet and is in -this respect intermediate between the specimens from Lake Junín and the -one from Ollantaytambo. - -In size of teeth the female, type specimen of _M. jelskii_, from -Cutervo, shows an approach to the larger-toothed weasels of the -northern part of the range of _macrura_. - -The specimens in the Riksmuseum from the vicinity of Quito, Ecuador, -have been rather fully described by Lönnberg (1921:11-17) and need -little comment here, except to say that they show, as he suggested, -that the weasel of the Temperate Zone of Ecuador is an intermediate -link between _M. f. macrura_ and _M. f. affinis_. - -The adult female and juvenal male labeled as from Ambato have little -left of the skulls except some of the teeth and the assignment of the -specimens to the subspecies _macrura_ is made mainly on geographic -grounds. These two specimens probably are part of the shipment of birds -and mammals of which Chapman (1926:703) speaks as follows: "A small -collection of native-made skins purchased by the American Museum from a -commission merchant in New York City as from 'Ambato' proved to be from -the eastern slope of the Andes." Another skin in the same Museum, -labeled by a native collector as from "Baeza arriba" [= above Baeza] is -so dark colored and has the color of the underparts so much restricted, -as to suggest that it belongs to the race _aureoventris_. Possibly, -therefore, it was taken not at Baeza, Ecuador, which I find to the -eastward of Quito at 77° 55' W and O° 25' S, but at some place of the -same name on the Pacific Slope, unless the locality has been altogether -wrongly recorded on the label. If the specimen was taken near the Baeza -above referred to, then it gives evidence of an unnamed race of -_Mustela_ on the eastern slope of the Andes, characterized by its dark -color. Unfortunately the specimen is young and its skull therefore -offers insufficient basis for the judging of its subspecific -relationships. - -Other specimens, in the British Museum of Natural History, recorded as -taken "near Quito" and here tentatively listed under _macrura_, mostly, -include specimens so dark colored as to lead me to think they came from -country, lower than Quito, adjacent to the range of _aureoventris_. - -Nematodes taken from the right frontal sinus of no. 562 from Junín -proved to belong to the superfamily Oxyuriodea according to Professor -W. B. Herms and Mr. O. L. Williams, who have independently identified -them. Because these worms had been dried fifty-five years in the -mounted specimen and were later boiled in cleaning the skull, a more -accurate determination was impossible and whether or not they pertain -to the same species found in North American weasels cannot be said. Of -18 adult skulls examined for this type of infestation, 13 were found -affected as judged by the evident malformation of the frontal region. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 74, arranged by localities - from north to south and unless otherwise indicated in the American - Museum of Natural History. - - =Ecuador=: Ibarra, 6600 ft., and 7500 ft., 2[7]; San Antonio, - 8000-8500 ft., 5 mi. N Quito, 4 (2[7], 2[78]); Nono, 10000 ft., 1; - Mindo, 1[78]; Zambiza, 8000-8100 ft., NE Quito, 4 (2[78], 2[95]); - Carapungo, 8500 ft, NE Quito, 1[78]; Panecillo, 10000 ft., near - Quito, 2[78]; Guapulo, 8800 ft., 3 mi. E of Quito, 1[78]; - Pichincha, 10500 ft., and 12000 ft., 2 (1[78], 1[95]); San - Ignacio, 11500 ft., Pichincha, 1; Santa Rosa, 9600 ft., Río Pita, - 2; near Santa Rosa, 9000 ft., 1; Río San Rafel, 9000 ft., 1; N - side Quito, 9000 ft., 1[78]; Quito, 1[4]; near Quito, 5[7]; Nára - Papallacta, 11000 ft., 1[78]; below Papallacta, 9000 ft., 1[78]; - Chillo Valley, 1[78]; "Hacienda Hda," 10000 ft., Pintag, Valencia, - 1; Baeza arriba, 1; Ambato, 2; San Francisco, 8000 ft., E of - Ambato, 1; Chunchí, Pagma Forest, 6400 ft., 1[1]; Canar, 2600 M., - 1[7]; Malletura, 7600 ft., 1; Contrayerbas, 11000 ft., 1; Sisig, - 8500 ft., 3[7]; El Chiral, 1; Almor, 1; Guainche, 3200 ft., 1; no - locality more definite than Ecuador, 4[95]; "Received from Quito," - 1[7]; Quisaya, 6000 ft. (locality not found), 1[7]; La Carolina - (locality not found), 1[78]. - - =Perú=: La Lejía, 1; Huancabamba, 4 (2[75]); Cutervo, 9000 ft., - 1[73]; Condechacha, 7000 ft., Río Utcubamba, 1[7]; San Pedro, - 8600-9400 ft., S of Chachapoyas, 1; Celendín, 1[7]; Junín, 2[73]; - Yana Mayo, Río Tarma, 1[7]; Ollantaytambo, 9000 ft., 3 (1[7], - 2[91]); Ocabamba, 1[7]; Anta Cuzco, 3400 and 3500 M., 2[4]; - Marcapata, 1[91]. - - -=Mustela frenata boliviensis= Hall - -Long-tailed Weasel - -Plates 28, 29 and 30 - - _Mustela frenata boliviensis_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, - 51:67, March 18, 1938. - - _Mustela frenata macrura_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:110, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:176, 1939 (part). - - - _Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 72587, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist.; Nequejahuira, 8000 feet, Bolivia; May 19, 1926; obtained by - G. H. H. Tate; original no. 4135 (see plates 28-30). - - _Range._--As now known 8000 to 9500 feet in the Andes from - Limbaní, Perú, south to Nequejahuira, Bolivia; upper Subtropical - and Temperate life-zones. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - africana stolzmanni_ by absence of median, longitudinal, abdominal - stripe of same color as upper parts; presence of p2 and two roots - rather than one root on P2; from _Mustela frenata macrura_ by - darker color of upper parts (tone 4 or darker of Carbon Brown, pl. - 342 rather than tone 3 of Chocolate, pl. 343, Oberthür and - Dauthenay) and lesser size (in males hind foot less than 45 and m1 - less than 5.6); from _Mustela frenata agilis_ by darker color of - upper parts (as given above rather than tone 2 of Chocolate, pl. - 343, of Oberthür and Dauthenay). - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: The type and two young specimens - from Limbaní, Perú, measure respectively, as follows: Total - length, 383, 368, 304; length of tail, 140, 132, 115; length of - hind foot, 43, 44, 41. Tail 55 per cent as long as head and body. - Length of hind foot approximately equal to basal length. - - Female: Unknown. - - _Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata macrura_. - - _Color._--Top of head blackish posteriorly to behind ears; upper - lips same color as upper parts of head; dark area at angle of - mouth not separated from upper parts as a distinct spot; tip of - tail black; remainder of upper parts near (n) Mars Brown of - Ridgway and tone 4 or darker of Carbon Brown (pl. 342, Oberthür - and Dauthenay); underparts Cream-Colored with strong wash of - Ochraceous-Buff; whitish on insides of forelegs to just below - elbow; color of underparts extended distally on forelegs over - ankles onto antipalmar faces of inner toes, and on hind legs to - knees. Least width of color of underparts averages 15 (11-19) per - cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail - in type longer than hind foot and amounting to 36 per cent of - length of tail-vertebrae. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male (based on the type): See measurements and - plates 28-30. As described in _Mustela frenata macrura_ except - that: Weight, 2.8 grams; basilar length, 41.6; zygomatic breadth - less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior - margin of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far - posterior to foramen ovale as width of 5 upper incisors. - - Female: Skull unknown. - -_Remarks._--Apparently the first specimens of this race to find their -way into a zoölogical collection were the two young males taken on -February 17, 1904, at Limbaní, by Geo. Ockenden (sic). - -_M. f. boliviensis_ is smaller than any other South American weasel -except possibly _agilis_. Better material of the two races probably -will show even _agilis_ to be larger. - -Early in my study of _Mustela_ after examination of the one young -specimen, from Limbaní, in the United States National Museum, an -account of this race was drawn up, but the account was discarded for -want of satisfactory material and the animal was referred to _macrura_. -Then, in 1937, when the two other specimens were studied, the race was -formally characterized as different from previously recognized kinds. - -The collector has noted on the labels of the two young from Limbaní -that they were shot in the afternoon when running together beneath -bushes. The frontal sinuses of the type are malformed as a result of -infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 3, as follows: - - =Perú=: Carabaya, Limbaní, 2 (one in U. S. Nat. Mus. and one in - Berlin Zool. Mus.). - - =Bolivia=: Nequejahuira, 1 Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. - - -=Mustela frenata (?) gracilis= (Brown) - -Plates 39 and 40 - - _Putorius gracilis_ Brown, Mem. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 9(pt. - 4):182, pl. 17, 1908. - - _Mustela gracilis_, Hay, Iowa Geol. Surv. Bull., 23:32, 1914; Hay, - Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 322A:252, October 15, 1924; - Hay, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 390(vol. 2):528, 1930. - - _Mustela frenata gracilis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. - 473:112, November 20, 1936. - - _Type._--Adult skull without lower jaws, probably of a female, no. - 12431, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; from Conard Fissure, four miles west - of Willcockson, Newton County, Arkansas; obtained sometime in the - period 1903 to 1905 inclusive. (See plates 39 and 40.) - - _Range._--Known only from the Pleistocene deposit in Conard - Fissure, at the type locality in northern Arkansas. - - _Description._--Skull. Probably female (based on the type): See - measurements and plates 39 and 40; weight unknown; basilar length, - 38.1; least width of palate less than greatest length of P4; - tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to - 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from - its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla - less than length of rostrum. - -_Comparison and remarks._--The type specimen was the only individual -referred by Brown (1908) to this species. The remaining material of -weasels from this deposit was referred by Brown to his _Putorius -cicognanii angustidens_. Examination of the original materials -convinces the writer, too, that the specimens, except no. 12431, _are_ -of the species _erminea_ [= _cicognanii_ of Brown]. No. 12431 itself -may possibly be _erminea_ but is far more probably of the species -_frenata_. The uncertainty is due to the fact that an occasional skull -alone of a subadult male _erminea_ is extremely difficult certainly to -distinguish from a skull alone of an adult female _frenata_. This is -true among Recent specimens in the northern Mississippi Valley today; -more exactly in Iowa and southern Minnesota the females of _frenata_, -oftentimes intergrades between the subspecies _Mustela frenata -longicauda_, _M. f. noveboracensis_ and _M. f. primulina_, by only the -skulls are next to indistinguishable from certain, unusually slender -skulls of male _erminea_. At other places where the ranges of the two -species meet, this difficulty is not so often encountered. Also, the -type of _gracilis_ has the skull broken in such a way that the -postglenoid length in relation to the length of the skull as a whole -could not be accurately determined in this particular skull. - -The type specimen of _gracilis_ surely is an adult and because of its -small size is thought to be a female. Of known long-tailed weasels of -the species _frenata_, _gracilis_ is structurally nearest to _M. f. -primulina_ which occurs in the same region today and to _M. f. -noveboracensis_, the long-tailed weasel of the eastern United States. -_M. gracilis_ differs from _noveboracensis_ and agrees with _primulina_ -in possessing well-marked temporal ridges which fuse to form a low -sagittal crest, in having the mastoid processes projecting farther, -laterally, beyond the braincase, in having the anterior ends of the -tympanic bullae produced below the squamosal rather than on the same -plane with the squamosal, and in having the bullae more inflated -anteromedially. _M. gracilis_ differs from both _noveboracensis_ (97 -[M] and 56 [F] with skulls of comparable age) and _primulina_ (64 [M] -and 24 [F] with skulls of comparable age) in that the zygomatic breadth -amounts to less than 58 per cent of the basilar length. Another -difference from any one of the skulls of females of _primulina_ is the -longer rostrum, which, when measured from the posterior base of the -postorbital process of the frontal to the anterior end of the nasal on -the same side, amounts to more than 35 per cent of the basilar length. -As pointed out by Brown (1908:182) this specimen represents the extreme -of slender skull among known kinds of American weasels. - - Selected measurements of no. 12431, the type specimen of _Mustela - gracilis_, are as follows: Basilar length of Hensel, 38.1 mm.; - length of upper tooth-rows, 14.3 to 14.4; breadth of rostrum, - 11.0; interorbital breadth, 8.5; orbitonasal length, 13.6; mastoid - breadth, 18.2; length of tympanic bulla, 13.0; breadth of tympanic - bulla, 6.3; depth of tympanic bulla, 3.25; outside length of P4, - 4.5; inside length of P4, 4.7; breadth of M1, 3.4; length of inner - moiety of M1, 1.8; depth of skull at anterior margin of - basioccipital, 12.2; depth of skull at posterior borders of last - upper molars, 11.3; distance from foramen ovale to tympanic bulla, - 3.6 mm. - - -=MUSTELA AFRICANA= Desmarest - -Tropical Weasel - -(Synonymy under subspecies) - - - _Type._--_Mustela africana_ Desmarest, Nouv. Dict. d'Hist. Nat., - vol. 19, p. 376. 1818. - - _Range._--Known from the headwaters of the Amazon in eastern Perú - and from near the mouth of the same river, on its southern side in - Brazil, all within the Tropical Life-zone. See figure 29 on page - 221. - -_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela frenata_, -the only geographically adjacent species of the genus, by: presence of -thenar pad on forefoot; presence of a longitudinal, median, abdominal -stripe of same color as upper parts; upper lips being broadly edged, -entirely round, with color of underparts; failure of longest facial -vibrissae to reach posterior margin of ear; absence of p2; relative -flatness (see pl. 29, fig. i and pl. 39, fig. _h_) of tympanic bullae. - -_Characters of the species._--Size large (total length of adults -approximately 500 mm.); foot-soles naked; thenar pad present on -forefoot; length of claws, measured on concave sides, less than one and -one-fourth times depth of claws measured at bases; longest facial -vibrissae not reaching posterior margin of ear; tail relatively long -haired; tail at all ages terminating in point as is characteristic of -only juveniles and very young of _Mustela frenata_ and _M. erminea_; -tip of tail, and muzzle, only slightly darker than remainder of upper -parts; upper lips broadly edged with color of underparts; pelage -coarse, harsh and sparse; longitudinal, median, abdominal stripe of -same color as upper parts present; skull broad and deep; braincase -large, rounded, and much inflated anteriorly; palatal region wide; -tympanic bullae less inflated than in any other American species of the -subgenus; angle of lower jaw reduced; dental formula - - 3 1 2-3 1 - -, -, ---, -; teeth heavy; medial lobe of M1 but slightly larger than - 3 1 2 2 - -lateral lobe. See plates 28, 29, 30, 39 and cranial measurements. - -_Geographic variation._--The reddish versus chocolate color of the -upper parts constitutes the only variation of a geographic nature so -far detected. - -_Remarks._--One of the most noteworthy of the several unique characters -of this large, tropical weasel is the longitudinal, median, abdominal -band. The species exhibits the minimum degree of development of certain -features that become progressively less apparent as one proceeds -southward from Central America. The relative uniformity of the -coloration of the upper parts (reduction in intensity of black color on -the muzzle and tip of the tail) and the reduction of the tympanic -bullae are two cases in point. Viewed dorsally the general outline of -the skull is most nearly matched by that of the skull of _Mustela -frenata meridana_ from Venezuela or that of _M. f. helleri_ from Perú. -However, the resemblance is not close. The tympanic bullae, although -unique among American weasels, are more like those of _M. f. meridana_ -from Venezuela than like those of any other kind. The great postorbital -width (relatively less in _M. africana_ than in several South American -subspecies of _Mustela frenata_) and small angular process of the -mandible are characters, in varying degrees, also common to all South -American weasels. Structurally _M. africana_ clearly is more nearly -like other subspecies of _M. frenata_ from South America than it is -like any species or subspecies from North America. - -_Mustela africana_ is the most primitive of the American weasels. The -distinctive cranial and dental characters, excepting the reduction in -number of premolars, are of a primitive nature. For example, the -relatively wide postorbital region, the large braincase that is -inflated anteriorly, and the flattened, tympanic bullae, are points of -resemblance to the holarctic _Mustela erminea_, which species is -regarded as nearest the original stem form; also the mentioned -characters correspond to ontogenetic stages passed through by other -weasels. Mostly on these accounts, one is led to look upon _M. -africana_ as a migrant from North America. It may have become isolated -from its original stock, by a water barrier in the Central American -region, for a length of time sufficient to permit of a degree of -differentiation to develop between it and the North American weasels -which prevented crossbreeding with the _frenata_ stock when that stock, -at a later time, reached South America. This assumption is suggested -only by evidence from the Recent specimens. No remains of true weasels -(subgenus _Mustela_) have been recorded from deposits in South America -older than the Recent period. The alternate possibility, that _M. -africana_ intergrades with some race of _M. frenata_ in western or -northern South America, has been considered and regarded as highly -improbable. - -Cabrera (1940:15) has made the distinctive structural characters of -_Mustela africana_ basis of the generic name _Grammogale_ to include -the one species _africana_. I am inclined to accord _Grammogale_ only -subgeneric rank. - -It is possibly significant that _Mustela africana_ is intermediate in -several respects between _Lyncodon_ and typical _Mustela_. The median, -longitudinal, abdominal band of the same color as the upper parts in -_M. africana_ and the relative uniformity of the coloration of its -upper parts might be considered as an intermediate stage between the -dark, bicolored (black muzzle and tail tip and brown body) upper parts -and light-colored underparts of the North American weasels on the one -hand and the light, unicolored upper parts and dark-colored underparts -of the Patagonian weasel (_Lyncodon_) on the other hand. The number of -premolars, - - 2-3 - ---, is also intermediate between the numbers - 2 - - 3 2 - - and - of the North American _Mustela_ and the Patagonian - 3 2 - -_Lyncodon_, respectively. The American _Mustela_ and the Patagonian -_Lyncodon_, respectively. The more medially, as opposed to anteriorly, -directed medial cusp of P4 (characteristic of approximately half of the -specimens examined), and the structure of the skull in general of _M. -africana_ also seem to be morphologically intermediate between those -parts of _Mustela_ and _Lyncodon_. - -On the chance that _Lyncodon_ is closely enough related to _Mustela_, -to be included in a group with _Mustela_ rather than in a group with -_Grisonella_, it is worth noting that _Lyncodon lujanensis_ Ameghino -(1889:324, 325), from the villa of Lujan and at the city of Córdoba, at -each place in the Pampean [= Pleistocene] formation of Argentine (see -also Cabrera, 1928:263) is the first and only fossil form of this group -recorded from the whole of South America. Actually, however, _Lyncodon_ -seems to me to be as nearly related to _Grisonella_, if not more so, -than to _Mustela_. If _Lyncodon_ is more closely related to -_Grisonella_ and _Grison_ than to _Mustela_, then the above remarked -intermediacy in characters of _M. africana_ has more of interest as a -tendency to parallelism than it has of phylogenetic import. Appraisal -of phylogenetic relationships would require appraisal of the ancestral -stem forms of the _Grison_ stock and the _Mustela_ stock. None of -either is known from deposits of the Pliocene, the period of time -immediately preceding the Pleistocene. - -None of the skulls of _Mustela africana_ seen or figured has the -nasomaxillary sutures entirely obliterated and the specimens would, -judged on this character alone and by analogy with North American -species, be regarded as young and subadult. However, the sutures close -at what seems to be a later age than in _M. frenata_ and _M. erminea_. -The condition of the mammae in the type specimen of _M. stolzmanni_ and -in the specimen from Moyobamba, indicate that they have borne young. -North American weasels old enough to bear young lack visible traces of -the nasomaxillary sutures. I have examined no skulls of _africana_ -with greatly worn teeth and hence cannot say if the sutures are -obliterated in advanced age. - -If available data be correct, this species is unique within the genus -in that the two sexes are of approximately the same actual size and of -the same relative proportions in the body and in the skull. There was -no difference between individuals said to be of different sexes from -Pará, described and figured by Goeldi (1904:61-62, pls. 1, 2). The -undoubted female, type specimen of _Mustela africana stolzmanni_, is as -large as the undoubted male, no. 37475, of the same species, but of a -different subspecies, from Pará, Brazil. All the specimens of _M. a. -africana_ that I have handled are labeled male and those of _M. a. -stolzmanni_ female. More material may show that the female is smaller -than the male, as is the case in all near relatives of _M. africana_. - -Little has been recorded concerning the habits of this species. Tate -(1931:254) states that a live individual which he saw in a cage at Pará -had been captured "swimming in the salt water of the estuary about half -a mile away from the shore." On the label of the specimen from -Moyobamba, there appears: "caught in Willow tree." - -_Subspecies examined._--All described forms, of which there are two. - - -=Mustela africana africana= Desmarest - -Tropical Weasel - -Plates 28, 29, 30 and 41 - - _Mustela africana_ Desmarest, Nouv. Diction. d'Hist. Nat., 19:376, - 1818; Cabrera, Bol. Real Soc. Españ. de Hist. Nat., 13:429, - November, 1913; Cabrera, Bol. Real Soc. Españ. de Hist. Nat., - 14:175, pl. 1, March, 1914. - - _Putorius (Mustela) brasiliensis paraensis_, Goeldi, Zool. Jahrb. - abt. f. systematik, geogr. u., Biol., 10:556, pl. 21, September - 15, 1897, type from Pará, Brazil, near Pará, Ward of Marco da - Legoa, Brazil; Goeldi, Bol. do Mus. Paraense, 3:195 [translation - of orig. descr.], August, 1901. - - _Putorius paraensis_, Goeldi, Bol. do Museu Goeldi, 4:61, pls. 1, - 2, 1904. - - _Mustela affinis paraensis_, Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. - Washington, 28:143, July 10, 1914. - - _Mustela paraensis_, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:105, - April 28, 1916; Tate, Journ. Mamm., 12:253, August 24, 1931. - - _Mustela stolzmanni paraensis_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:111, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:167, pl. 1, - figs. 1-4, 1939. - - _Type._--Male, adult or subadult, mounted; no. 848, Paris Museum; - from the "Cabinet de Lisbonne 1808," originally from South America - as determined from the characters of the animal; probably came - from Brazil, and for the present assumed to be from Pará. - - On August 25, 1937, the skull was in the mounted skin and the - specimen was in the position shown in the figure published by - Cabrera (1914, pl. 1). Except for the loss of the distal part of - the tail, and fading because of exposure to light, the specimen - was in good condition. See also under remarks. - - _Range._--Known from the south side of the Amazon River, near its - mouth at Pará and Cametá, Río Tocantins, in the Tropical Life-zone - of Brazil. See figure 29 on page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - frenata_, the only other geographically adjacent species of the - genus, in presence of median, longitudinal, abdominal stripe of - same color as upper parts and naked foot-soles, in absence of p2 - and in reduced size of tympanic bullae (see pls. 29 and 30) and - from _Mustela africana stolzmanni_ by lighter color of upper parts - which although near Chestnut-Brown are in adults 10' _l_ (darker - in yg. M. C. Z., no. 30802), instead of 11' _n_ as in _M. a. - stolzmanni_. - - _Description._--_Size._--This is a relatively large weasel. Goeldi - (1897:559) gives the total length of the type specimen of his _P. - b. paraensis_, a female, as 520 mm. (495 in the flesh) and, by - computation from his figures, the length of the tail as 200 (205 - in the flesh). These measurements probably include the hairs on - the tip of the tail as probably also do the measurements given of - two other specimens (see Goeldi, 1904:62). One of these specimens, - a female, measured: Total length, 520; length of tail, 200. The - other specimen, a male, measured: Total length, 510; length of - tail, 200. The skin of no. 37475, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., a male, - has the following measurements written on the attached label: - Total length, 548; length of tail, 234; length of hind foot, 56. - The hairs project 20 mm. beyond the tip of the last vertebra of - the tail and probably are included in the measurements of total - length and length of tail. Collectors' measurements of a young - male from Cametá, and a subadult labeled as male, from Pará - Murutucu, are respectively as follows: 500, 430; 210, 190; 50 and - 54. - - _Externals._--Foot-soles naked, except for a few scattered hairs - on ventral sides of interdigital membranes; length of claws, - measured on concave sides, not more than one and one-fifth times - depth of claws measured at bases; carpal vibrissae not extending - beyond apical pad of first digit (not beyond hypothenar pad except - in one young specimen); longest facial vibrissae not extending to - posterior margin of ear; superior genal tuft not found, hairiness - of foot-soles as shown in figure 22. - - _Color._--Upper parts near (10 l) Chestnut-Brown and relatively - uniform since tip of tail and muzzle are only slightly darker than - remainder; underparts with longitudinal stripe of same color as - upper parts extending along median line of belly from throat or - breast posteriorly to within 40 to 50 millimeters of anus. - Underparts otherwise near (20" _a_) Olive-Ocher (lips and chin - whiter in one young specimen). Color of underparts extends - distally on median sides of forelegs to bare foot-soles and on - median side of hind legs two-thirds of distance from knee to - ankle. Upper lips broadly edged with whitish, which color passes - posteriorly below and not touching eye to ventral margin of concha - of ear. An inverted, basally broad, V-shaped extension passes - upward 4 millimeters, just posterior to the eye. - - _Skull and teeth._--See measurements (plates 28-30). Male: (based - on 3 adult and subadult topotypes and figures and descriptions - published by Goeldi, 1897 and 1904.) Weight, 7.0 grams; basilar - length, 45.8 (44.6-47.8); skull broad and deep; braincase large, - rounded, and much inflated anteriorly; distance from postorbital - process to anterior, nasal notch approximately equal to breadth - across exoccipital condyles; palatal region wide; tympanic bullae - less inflated than in any other species; mastoid bone, laterally, - concave; length of upper tooth-rows in adults and subadults less - than breadth of palate measured between two outer margins of - fourth upper premolars; alveolar distance between C1 and P4 less - than length of P4; teeth heavy; medial lobe of M1 only slightly - larger than lateral lobe; deuterocone of P4 heavy and often - inclined mesially; p2 absent (P2 present above on both sides in - only one of seven specimens seen or described); lower jaw heavy; - masseteric fossa not extending anteriorly to posterior fourth of - talonid of m1; paraconid of m1 low and base of cleft between it - and protoconid relatively low on tooth. - - Female: No skull examined but from figures published by Goeldi - (1904, pl. 2), apparently as described in the male. - -_Remarks._--Desmarest in 1818 gave a remarkably good description of -this animal which he named as a new species, _Mustela africana_, but -mistakenly indicated that the single specimen known to him came -originally from Africa. Until 1913 the name was applied, wrongly, to -weasels of northern Africa or to those of the Azores Islands and St. -Thomas Island. In that year Cabrera (1913:429) identified the species -with the one later named _Putorius (Mustela) brasiliensis paraensis_ by -Goeldi (1897:556, pl. 21) from Pará, Brazil. Despite Cabrera's clear -identification in 1913, and his later mention of the correct -application of the name _Mustela africana_, it was not correctly -employed by other authors, including myself who even as late as 1936 -(p. 111) instead used Goeldi's name. In 1937 Mr. Cabrera called my -attention to his published account of _Mustela africana_ and so -permitted me to examine the type specimen in the Paris Museum, whither -I was bound when I received Mr. Cabrera's letter. My own examination of -the specimen fully confirmed the conclusions published by Cabrera -(1913:429). - -As a matter of historical interest, however, it is worth noting that -Cabrera (1913) originally supposed the type specimen to have been taken -as booty of war from Portugal by the French and that Cabrera later, at -the request of P. Trouessart, pointed out (1914:176) that the specimen -had been acquired in exchange ("a cambio") since according to Dr. -Trouessart the Museum register showed that offer had been made to -Portugal to return this and other specimens but that Portugal had -replied that it had nothing to reclaim. Dr. P. Rode in August, 1937, at -the Paris Museum, gave it to me as his opinion that the specimen had -been an outright gift from the "Cabinet de Lisbonne" to E. Geoffroy -St.-Hilaire on his trip to Portugal in 1808 when he was given also from -the same cabinet several primates, all from Brazil. Of the labels -attached to the pedestal on which the specimen is mounted, that of most -ancient appearance is glued to the bottom of the stand and bears in a -hand apparently written before Trouessart's entries on the same label, -the information "Du Cabinet de Lisbonne 1808" and "J. H. S. 1809." - -The opened mouth of the mounted specimen permits one to determine that -P2 is absent on each side above. The stuffed scrotal pouch and hair -projecting downward about the preputial opening clearly show the animal -to have been a male. The least faded portions of the mounted specimen, -its sides, are of the same reddish color as characterizes adults from -Pará and not of the darker chocolate color of specimens of _M. -stolzmanni_ from Perú. The specimen is indistinguishable from topotypes -of _P. paraensis_ of Goeldi and his name will have to fall as a synonym -of _Mustela africana_ Desmarest. - -Goeldi gave an extended description, with figures of the skull, head, -and entire animal, when he named _paraensis_. As his account shows, he -was unaware that Taczanowski had described a similar weasel from the -headwaters of the Amazon, or for that matter that any weasel excepting -_Mustela affinis_ Gray, had been found in South America. Goeldi's later -account of additional specimens (1904:61, pls. 1, 2) gives much useful -information about the animal. Photographs of several specimens and -photographs and detailed measurements of several skulls are presented -by him. - -Pará, and Cametá, Brazil, places from which _Mustela africana africana_ -is known, are nearly 2000 miles from the localities in eastern Perú and -eastern Ecuador from which _M. a. stolzmanni_ is known, and no -specimens, from intermediate localities, are available to show actual -intergradation of the two. However, the similarity in structure of the -two weasels is so great as to indicate close affinity. Furthermore, it -is understood that environmental conditions at and between the two -localities are similar. These considerations, in the light of our -knowledge of actual intergradation of geographic races of weasels in -other places, cause me to treat, with a feeling of assurance, _M. -africana_ [= _P. paraensis_ Goeldi] and _M. stolzmanni_ Taczanowski as -subspecies of a single species. M. Rodolpho Legueira Rodríguez writes -me, under date of June 16, 1928, that the type specimen of _Putorius -(Mustela) brasiliensis paraensis_ Goeldi is stuffed and preserved in a -"vitrine" at the Museum Goeldi (Museum Paraense) De Historia Natural e -Ethnographia, Pará, Brazil. - -The one young specimen seen, that from Cametá, is darker colored than -any of the four older specimens examined. It is almost exactly the -Chestnut Brown of Ridgway (1912) and therefore approaches closely in -color the adult specimens of _M. a. stolzmanni_. This same tendency to -greater richness of color in young than in adults is seen also in -_Mustela frenata_. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 5, all from eastern Brazil, - as follows: Pará, 2 (1[2], 1[7]); Pará Murutucu, 1[7]; Río - Tocantins, Cametá, 1[75]; type specimen, 1[84]. - - -=Mustela africana stolzmanni= Taczanowski - -Tropical Weasel - -Plates 39 and 40 - - _Mustela stolzmanni_ Taczanowski, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, - 1881:835, November 15, 1881; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 35:105, April 28, 1916. - - _Mustela stolzmanni stolzmanni_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington - Publ. 473:111, November 20, 1936; Hall, Physis, 16:167, pl. 1, - figs. 5, 6, 1939. - - _Type._--Female, adult, mounted skin, with skull separate; no. - 563, Mus. Polonais d'Hist. Nat. (Warsaw, Poland); Yurimaguas, - Perú; 1880; obtained by J. Stolzmann. - - The skull (plate 40), mounted with the skin but removed by me for - study, consists of the premaxillae, maxillae, two halves of the - lower jaw and dentition. Of these parts, right m2, left coronoid - process, right P4 and M1 and adjacent part of maxilla are lost. - The skin is well mounted, in a good state of preservation and - shows no fading due to exposure to light. Inguinal mammae are - distinctly shown on the skin and prove that the specimen is a - female. Except for a few scattered hairs on the lower throat, a - spot six by eight millimeters on the medial side of the region of - the olecranon of the left foreleg and another of similar size in - the left axilla, the underparts are, excepting the ventral - longitudinal, abdominal stripe, unmarked by color of the upper - parts. - - _Range._--Known from the Tropical Life-zone of eastern Ecuador and - Perú from Jatun Yacu south to Valle del Perené. See figure 29 on - page 221. - - _Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _Mustela - frenata_, the only other geographically adjacent species of the - genus, in presence of median, longitudinal, abdominal stripe of - same color as upper parts and naked foot soles, in absence of p2 - and in reduced size of tympanic bullae (see pls. 28, 29, 30, 39 - and 40) and from _Mustela africana africana_ by darker color of - upper parts which, although near Chestnut Brown, are 11' _n_ - instead of 10' _l_ as in _M. a. africana_. - - _Description._--_Size._--Male: unknown. - - Female: Taczanowski (1881:836) gives, among others, the following - measurements of the type specimen: Total length, 523, length of - body, 260; length of tail without hair, 190 (with hair 224); - length of hind foot, 54. Whether or not the measurements were - taken from the animal when in the flesh I do not know. Allowing - for shrinkage of hind feet and changes due to the posture of the - now mounted specimen, I get from it essentially the same - measurements. Collectors' measurements of a subadult from - Moyobamba and a young female from Valle del Perené, are - respectively, as follows: 469, 415; 184, 160; 57, 52. My own - measurements of the dry hind feet on the skins are respectively, - 48 and 49. - - _Externals._--As described in _M. a. africana_ except that the - length of the concave sides of the claws are approximately one and - one-fourth times the depth; thus the claws are relatively longer - than in _M. a. africana_. - - _Color._--As described in _M. a. africana_ with the following - noted exceptions: Upper parts near (11' _n_) Chestnut-Brown; area - of lighter ventral coloration on the throat and sides of head less - strongly tinged with yellow; pelage more dense, finer and softer - than in _M. a. africana_. - - _Skull and teeth._--Male: Skull unknown. - - Female: See measurements and plate 39 and 40. As described in male - of _Mustela africana africana_ except that: Weight, 4.7 grams. As - contrasted with _M. a. africana_, the dentition of the lower jaw - is lighter; the transverse diameter of m2 is 1.2 mm. in the type - and also in the specimen from Moyobamba as against 1.5 to 1.7 in - three male topotypes of _M. a. africana_. - -_Remarks._--After the Polish naturalist, Stolzmann, in the course of -his explorations in Perú, obtained the single specimen which was made -the type, no other naturalist, so far as known, visited the type -locality until thirty-two years later when Wilfred H. Osgood and M. P. -Anderson spent more than a month collecting at Yurimaguas (see Osgood, -1914:147), but secured no topotypes of this little-known weasel. C. O. -Schunke took the second specimen in the Valle del Perené in April, -1921; L. Rutter on January 25, 1924, took the third specimen, and W. -Clark-MacIntyre took the fourth specimen on the Jatun Yacu. This -obscure place name is shown on the map (fig. 4, page 827) published by -Brown (1941) and is the stream flowing from the west to the town of -Napo. Napo is situated at approximately 1° 2' S and 77° 49' W. - -In the female from Moyobamba there are only 3 pairs of mammae. One pair -is inguinal and two pairs are on the posterior part of the abdomen. - -Taczanowski (1881:836) relates that this species was taken in the -forest to which it appears to be restricted since the inhabitants of -the village did not know of the animal. He points out also that the -previously known Peruvian species [_M. f. macrura_ and _M. f. agilis_] -live in the treeless territory of eight to eleven thousand feet -altitude whereas _M. stolzmanni_ was found in the humid forest of the -great plain of the Maynas at an elevation of 500 feet or less above sea -level. The frontal sinuses of the specimens seen reveal no malformation -as a result of infestation by parasites. - - _Specimens examined._--Total number, 4, as follows: - - =Ecuador=: R. Tatun [= Jatun] = Yacu, 1, Mus. Comp. Zoöl. - - =Perú=: Yurimaguas, 1 in Mus. Polonais d'Hist. Naturelle, Warsaw; - Moyobamba, 2700 ft. [6° S, 77° W], 1 in Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.; - Valle del Perené, 1200 meters, 1 in Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. - -EXPLANATION OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS APPEARS ON PAGE 417 - -[Illustration: FIG. 31. Four views of the skull and a lateral view of -the left lower jaw to show points between which measurements of the -skull were taken. Based on _M. f. primulina_, from 3 mi. E Bergman, -Boone County, Arkansas, obtained December 12, 1933, by B. G. Roberts; -ad. [F]. 62854 Mus. Vert. Zoöl. × 1-2/5.] - - - - -EXPLANATION OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS - - - Basilar length (of Hensel).--From the anteriormost border of the - foramen magnum to a line connecting the posterior margins of the - alveoli of the first upper incisors. F to F' on fig. 31. - - Condylobasal length.--Least distance from a line connecting the - posteriormost parts of the exoccipital condyles to a line - connecting the anteriormost projections of the premaxillary - bones. - - Length of tooth-rows.--Least distance between a line connecting - posterior borders of upper molars and a line connecting anterior - faces of middle upper incisors. G to G' on fig. 31. - - Breadth of rostrum.--Least distance from lateral base of hamular - process of lacrimal bone to corresponding point on opposite side - of skull. B to B' on fig. 31. - - Interorbital breadth.--Least distance across top of skull between - orbits (eye sockets). O to O' on fig. 31. - - Orbitonasal length.--Distance on anterior part of skull from - posterior margin of base of postorbital process of frontal bone - to posteriormost part of anterior border of nasal bone on same - side of skull. A to A' on fig. 31. - - Mastoid breadth.--Greatest distance across mastoid bones - perpendicular to long axis of skull. E to E' on fig. 31. - - Zygomatic breadth.--Greatest distance across zygomatic arches of - cranium perpendicular to long axis of skull. D to D' on fig. 31. - -Tympanic bulla: - - Length.--From posterior face to most anterior part of anterior - border. H to H' on fig. 31. - - Breadth.--From bottom of pit immediately posterior to external - auditory meatus to medial face of bulla at right angle with - longitudinal axis of skull. J to J' on fig. 31. - - Depth.--Least distance from ventral face of basioccipital, - excluding median ridge, to line touching ventralmost points of - the two bullae. L to L' on fig. 31. - -m1, Length.--Greatest length which rarely or never is alveolar length. - -P4.-- - - Lateral.--Length from posterior margin of tooth to anteriormost - part of the protocone (anterolateral cusp). - - Medial.--Length from the posterior margin of tooth to - anteriormost part of the deuterocone (anterointernal cusp). - -M1.-- - - Breadth.--Distance from medial edge of crown to lateral margin of - crown, approximately at a right angle with longitudinal axis of - the skull. - - Length.--Greatest diameter, anteroposteriorly, of the inner lobe - or inner half of the tooth. - - Depth of skull at anterior margin of basioccipital.--Measured from - anterior end of ventral face of basioccipital, excluding median - ridge, vertically to dorsal face of parietal excluding sagittal - crest. K to K' on fig. 31. - - Depth of skull at posterior borders of Ms1.--Measured from ventral - face of palatine bones at posterior edge of upper molars to - dorsal face of frontals in plane of postorbital processes of - frontals. S to S' on fig. 31. - - - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS - - - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela frenata - average} {45.1 16.6 13.7 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 Adirondacks, New York {47.0 17.4 14.6 - minimum} {43.2 15.9 13.0 - - average} {44.7 16.3 13.7 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 Massachusetts {47.0 16.8 14.9 - minimum} {43.3 15.9 13.1 - - average} {44.0 16.3 13.2 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 Liberty Hill, Connecticut {46.0 17.4 14.4 - minimum} {41.5 15.2 12.1 - - average} {44.4 16.5 13.3 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 Beaver Dam, Wisconsin {46.1 17.7 14.1 - minimum} {40.6 15.6 12.3 - - average} {43.0 15.6 13.0 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 Washtenaw Co., Michigan {45.4 16.5 13.4 - minimum} {39.7 14.7 11.6 - - average} {37.5 13.4 10.7 - maximum} [F] ad. 8 Adirondacks, New York {39.8 14.5 11.2 - minimum} {36.4 12.8 9.8 - - average} {36.5 13.4 10.5 - maximum} [F] ad. 5 Massachusetts {38.1 14.0 11.0 - minimum} {35.2 13.0 10.0 - - average} {37.3 13.5 10.8 - maximum} [F] ad. 6 Maryland {37.9 14.1 11.2 - minimum} {36.8 13.0 10.4 - - average} {37.2 13.4 10.6 - maximum} [F] ad. 5 Beaver Dam, Wisconsin {37.6 13.7 11.3 - minimum} {37.0 12.9 10.0 - - average} {36.5 13.1 10.5 - maximum} [F] ad. 9 Washtenaw Co., Michigan {37.5 13.7 11.0 - minimum} {35.9 12.8 9.8 - - Mustela frenata - A. N. S. P. 4137 [M] ad. Washington Co., Maine 45.8 16.5 13.3 - M. C. Z. 7267 [M] ad. Moose Head Lake, Maine 44.9 16.6 14.5 - M. C. Z. 5501 [M] ad. Bucksport, Maine 46.9 17.1 14.4 - M. C. Z. 9142 [M] ad. Bucksport, Maine 45.0 16.1 14.0 - av 45.7 16.6 14.1 - - M. C. Z. 9101 [F] sad. Bucksport, Maine 37.7 14.0 11.6 - M. C. Z. 9122 [F] sad. Bucksport, Maine 38.2 13.8 11.5 - - Mustela frenata - average} {44.8 16.8 13.5 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 Douglas Co., Kansas {46.0 17.8 14.1 - minimum} {43.8 16.2 12.9 - - average} {44.7 16.5 13.2 - maximum} [M] ad. and sad. 8 Boone Co., Arkansas {46.5 17.1 14.0 - minimum} {42.5 15.6 12.6 - - average} {38.9 14.4 11.3 - maximum} [F] ad. and sad. 11 Douglas Co., Kansas {40.7 15.3 12.0 - minimum} {37.6 13.8 10.8 - - average} {39.3 14.1 11.4 - maximum} [F] ad. and sad. 6 Arkansas {40.1 14.6 11.9 - minimum} {38.8 13.7 11.0 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - noveboracensis - 10.9 15.3 23.3 26.7 15.4 7.8 3.5 5.9 5.3 5.5 4.3 2.4 14.1 12.7 - 11.9 15.9 24.7 28.0 16.2 8.4 4.0 6.2 5.7 5.9 4.5 2.7 14.5 13.3 - 10.4 14.8 22.0 25.3 14.6 7.0 3.1 5.5 4.9 4.9 4.0 1.9 13.5 12.2 - - 11.3 15.7 23.2 26.5 15.4 7.7 3.4 5.9 5.2 5.5 4.4 2.4 14.1 12.7 - 12.0 16.7 25.6 28.2 16.4 8.2 3.7 6.3 5.5 5.9 4.7 3.0 14.7 13.0 - 10.5 14.8 21.8 25.1 14.3 7.3 3.1 5.6 5.0 5.2 4.0 2.0 13.5 12.0 - - 10.9 15.3 22.4 26.3 15.0 7.5 3.3 5.8 5.1 5.4 4.2 2.2 14.3 12.6 - 12.0 16.4 23.5 28.0 15.9 8.0 3.6 6.3 5.6 6.1 5.0 2.5 15.2 13.2 - 9.7 14.2 20.8 24.0 14.4 6.9 3.0 5.3 4.6 5.0 3.7 2.0 13.4 11.7 - - 10.6 15.6 23.0 26.3 15.2 8.0 5.8 5.3 5.5 4.3 2.4 13.9 12.6 - 11.3 16.4 23.8 27.4 16.2 8.2 6.1 5.7 5.8 4.6 2.7 14.5 13.2 - 9.8 13.7 22.1 23.9 14.2 7.7 5.6 4.7 5.1 3.9 2.1 13.0 11.8 - - 10.2 14.9 22.0 24.9 14.7 7.6 5.6 5.0 5.3 4.2 2.2 13.4 11.9 - 11.0 15.7 22.8 26.1 15.2 7.9 6.0 5.3 5.6 4.5 2.5 14.2 12.3 - 9.6 13.8 21.1 23.5 14.1 7.3 5.0 4.7 4.9 3.8 1.9 12.6 11.5 - - 8.7 12.9 18.7 20.9 13.5 6.5 2.8 4.8 4.3 4.6 3.5 1.7 11.4 10.2 - 9.3 13.4 19.3 22.1 14.3 7.0 2.9 5.2 4.7 5.0 3.7 1.9 12.1 10.8 - 7.9 12.1 17.5 20.0 12.6 5.9 2.5 4.5 4.0 4.2 3.2 1.7 10.3 9.4 - - 8.5 12.9 18.5 20.1 13.3 6.3 2.3 5.0 4.3 4.5 3.5 1.8 11.4 10.0 - 8.6 13.3 19.6 20.8 13.9 6.9 2.7 5.1 4.5 4.7 3.7 2.0 11.6 10.4 - 8.3 12.1 17.2 19.3 12.8 5.6 2.0 4.9 4.2 4.4 3.3 1.4 11.0 9.6 - - 8.6 13.0 18.8 21.0 13.1 6.6 4.9 4.4 4.7 3.6 1.9 11.9 10.9 - 8.9 13.5 19.6 21.7 13.5 6.8 5.2 4.6 4.9 4.1 2.3 12.6 11.4 - 8.5 12.8 18.2 20.1 13.0 6.4 4.7 4.2 4.5 3.1 1.4 11.6 10.3 - - 8.8 13.0 18.7 21.0 13.5 6.5 4.9 4.5 4.6 3.5 1.8 11.6 10.2 - 9.7 13.5 19.5 21.7 13.8 6.8 5.0 4.5 4.8 3.7 2.1 12.3 10.3 - 8.0 12.0 17.6 20.2 13.1 6.1 4.9 4.4 4.3 3.3 1.5 10.8 9.8 - - 8.4 12.6 18.5 20.5 13.2 6.3 4.8 4.3 4.5 3.5 1.8 11.8 10.3 - 8.8 13.1 19.1 21.3 13.8 6.7 5.0 4.5 4.7 3.7 2.0 12.2 10.7 - 7.8 12.0 18.1 19.5 12.9 6.0 4.6 4.1 4.3 3.3 1.5 11.3 10.0 - - occisor - 11.0 16.2 24.5 27.5 15.7 8.5 3.5 6.2 5.6 5.9 4.6 2.8 13.3 13.0 - 11.8 15.6 24.2 27.7 15.2 7.7 3.1 6.0 5.2 5.6 4.2 2.4 14.2 13.0 - 11.0 15.8 24.0 28.0 16.4 8.0 4.0 6.0 5.8 6.1 4.5 2.6 14.7 13.2 - 11.2 15.3 24.2 27.4 15.8 7.3 2.8 6.1 5.3 5.6 4.3 2.4 14.5 12.6 - 11.3 15.7 24.2 27.7 15.8 7.9 3.4 6.1 5.5 5.8 4.4 2.6 14.2 13.0 - - 9.1 13.0 19.0 21.7 14.1 6.3 2.6 5.2 4.6 4.6 3.8 2.1 12.5 10.5 - 9.2 13.6 19.5 21.8 13.6 6.5 2.5 4.6 4.3 4.5 3.5 1.7 12.3 10.3 - - primulina - 10.6 14.9 24.0 27.2 15.5 8.3 3.4 6.1 5.5 5.8 4.6 2.4 14.2 12.8 - 11.5 15.4 24.9 28.2 16.3 8.8 3.9 6.6 5.9 6.1 4.7 2.6 14.8 13.2 - 10.0 14.3 23.2 26.2 14.4 8.0 3.0 5.8 5.2 5.5 4.3 2.2 13.6 12.0 - - 10.5 15.0 24.1 26.9 15.5 8.1 3.6 6.0 5.5 5.6 4.3 2.2 14.2 12.3 - 11.8 16.3 24.8 27.7 16.4 8.8 4.2 6.5 6.0 6.2 4.9 2.5 14.6 13.0 - 9.7 14.1 22.8 26.1 14.9 7.5 3.1 5.8 5.2 5.2 4.0 2.0 13.9 11.7 - - 8.6 12.9 20.3 22.6 13.5 6.9 2.9 5.2 4.8 5.0 3.5 1.8 12.6 11.2 - 9.2 13.4 21.4 23.8 15.1 7.5 3.3 5.7 5.2 5.4 4.2 2.1 13.5 11.7 - 7.9 12.4 18.8 21.1 13.0 6.3 2.5 4.8 4.5 4.6 3.4 1.5 11.7 10.0 - - 8.7 13.1 20.3 23.1 14.0 6.9 2.9 5.2 4.8 5.0 3.8 1.9 12.5 10.7 - 8.8 13.7 21.0 23.8 14.5 7.2 3.0 5.5 5.0 5.3 4.2 2.0 13.0 11.8 - 8.5 12.6 19.8 22.5 13.5 6.5 2.8 5.0 4.5 4.7 3.5 1.7 12.3 10.3 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================ - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 246345 [M] ad. Convent, Louisiana 43.4 15.4 13.7 - M. V. Z. 37515 [M] sad. Remy, Louisiana 43.8 16.4 12.7 - M. V. Z. 38901 [M] sad. Springville, Louisiana *45.0 *16.5 - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 47165 [M] ad. Talbot Co., Georgia 50.1 18.3 15.0 - M. V. Z. 47144 [M] ad. Talbot Co., Georgia 49.2 18.3 13.8 - M. V. Z. 47166 [M] ad. Talbot Co., Georgia 48.5 17.6 14.6 - M. V. Z. 47167 [M] ad. Talbot Co., Georgia 45.8 17.3 14.2 - M. V. Z. 47147 [M] ad. Talbot Co., Georgia 48.1 18.0 14.0 - av. 5 48.3 17.9 14.3 - - M. V. Z. 41023 [M] ad. Thomas Co., Georgia 48.8 17.5 14.9 - M. V. Z. 41025 [M] ad. Grady Co., Georgia 44.8 16.9 13.2 - M. V. Z. 40934 [M] ad. Grady Co., Georgia 47.8 17.4 14.1 - M. V. Z. 40935 [M] ad. Grady Co., Georgia 47.4 18.0 13.6 - av. 4 47.2 17.5 14.0 - - U. S. N. M. 223880 [M] ad. Okefinokee Swamp 49.0 18.8 14.2 - Cornell 198 [M] ad. Okefinokee Swamp 47.3 18.0 14.0 - Cornell 652 [M] ad. Okefinokee Swamp 47.0 17.0 13.8 - U. S. N. M. 180802 [M] ad. Autaugaville, Alabama 46.5 17.3 13.4 - - M. V. Z. 51527 [F] ad. Talbot Co., Georgia 43.5 16.4 12.5 - M. V. Z. 41024 [F] ad. Thomas Co., Georgia 42.7 16.0 12.0 - M. V. Z. 41022 [F] ad. Thomas Co., Georgia 44.0 16.1 12.8 - - Mustela frenata - F. S. M. 49387 [M] ad. Apopka, Florida 49.8 18.6 15.1 - - A. N. S. P. 9379 [F] ad. Tarpon Springs, Florida 44.2 16.6 13.8 - A. N. S. P. 8515 [F] yg. Pasco Co., Florida 15.9 11.8 - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 53795 [M] ad. Elk River, Minnesota 49.2 19.1 15.9 - Walker A23 [M] ad. Elk River, Minnesota 49.0 18.7 15.9 - Walker A37 [M] sad. Elk River, Minnesota 48.7 18.9 15.2 - Dickey A865 [M] sad. Elk River, Minnesota 46.8 17.6 15.4 - Dickey A846 [M] sad. Elk River, Minnesota 46.1 18.0 14.2 - - Dickey 11548 [F] ad. Elk River, Minnesota 42.3 16.4 13.1 - Walker A174 [F] ad. Elk River, Minnesota 43.2 16.2 13.8 - Dickey 9688 [F] ad. Elk River, Minnesota 43.2 16.8 12.7 - U. S. N. M. 188410 [F] ad. Elk River, Minnesota 43.0 16.2 13.2 - av. 4 42.9 16.4 13.2 - - Mustela frenata - A. M. N. H. 15875 [M] ad. Red Deer, Alberta 46.5 18.6 15.1 - N. M. C. 8060 [M] ad. Sweet Grass Hills, Alberta 45.5 18.1 15.5 - F. M. N. H. 7021 [M] ad. Canadian Nat. Park, Alberta 46.8 17.8 13.8 - F. M. N. H. 8567 [M] ad. Calgary, Alberta 44.7 17.2 13.9 - U. S. N. M. 75725 [M] ad. St. Albert, Alberta 46.5 18.3 15.0 - av. 5 46.0 17.9 14.7 - - N. M. C. 6968 [F] ad. Daysland, Alberta 43.7 16.8 13.1 - U. S. N. M. 68731 [F] ad. S. Edmonton, Alberta 42.5 16.0 13.4 - A. M. N. H. 16044 [F] ad. Blindman River, Alberta 40.0 15.1 12.2 - M. V. Z. 53792 [F] ad. Grafton, North Dakota 42.8 16.5 13.6 - U. S. N. M. 75483 [F] ad. Wingard, Sask. 42.3 16.9 12.9 - av. 5 42.3 16.3 13.0 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - arthuri - 11.5 14.5 22.3 26.6 15.4 7.7 3.3 5.4 4.9 5.1 3.7 2.0 14.8 12.4 - 10.9 15.0 22.3 25.5 15.5 7.5 3.7 4.9 5.7 5.8 4.2 2.3 14.2 12.4 - 15.5 16.0 8.3 5.8 5.5 5.7 4.6 2.5 - - olivacea - 12.5 16.5 26.7 30.8 17.2 9.2 4.0 6.8 6.2 6.2 4.7 2.5 15.0 13.8 - 11.7 16.9 26.0 29.0 17.9 9.4 4.2 6.8 6.0 6.3 4.8 2.8 15.5 13.4 - 11.5 16.5 27.0 30.9 17.5 9.8 4.3 6.8 5.7 6.0 4.5 2.5 15.6 13.2 - 11.5 16.2 25.7 29.4 15.9 8.7 4.1 6.1 5.6 6.0 4.9 2.3 15.4 13.7 - 10.9 16.9 26.2 28.9 17.2 8.8 4.2 6.1 5.7 6.2 4.6 2.3 14.5 13.2 - 11.6 16.6 26.3 29.8 17.1 9.2 4.2 6.5 5.8 6.1 4.7 2.5 15.2 13.5 - - 11.9 16.0 27.3 31.2 17.9 8.7 4.2 6.4 5.9 6.3 4.9 2.5 17.0 13.4 - 10.9 15.5 24.7 28.3 16.8 8.8 3.9 6.2 5.7 5.8 4.3 2.4 15.0 13.3 - 12.1 15.5 25.1 29.1 17.9 8.8 4.5 6.6 6.0 6.0 4.7 2.6 15.0 14.2 - 11.7 16.2 24.1 29.1 15.8 8.5 4.5 6.4 5.7 6.0 4.6 2.2 15.0 13.5 - 11.7 15.8 25.3 29.4 17.1 8.7 4.3 6.4 5.8 6.0 4.6 2.4 15.5 13.6 - - 11.6 14.6 26.1 30.4 16.5 8.6 4.4 6.1 5.7 6.0 4.6 2.4 15.6 13.2 - 11.4 16.3 26.8 29.8 17.2 8.8 4.3 6.5 5.8 6.3 4.6 2.5 14.8 13.2 - 11.8 16.0 25.8 30.5 17.3 8.6 4.5 6.2 5.8 6.0 4.5 2.5 15.5 13.6 - 10.7 16.3 25.5 29.2 15.6 8.3 3.7 6.8 5.8 6.1 4.9 2.6 14.5 13.2 - - 9.8 14.5 22.4 25.7 15.5 7.8 3.8 5.8 5.6 5.8 4.2 2.2 13.5 12.3 - 9.6 14.7 22.8 26.0 15.8 8.0 3.9 5.8 5.0 5.4 4.1 2.1 14.4 12.2 - 10.6 15.3 23.4 25.8 15.3 8.2 3.6 6.1 5.7 5.8 4.4 2.1 13.2 12.0 - - peninsulae - 12.2 15.8 27.8 31.4 17.6 10.2 4.8 6.3 5.9 6.2 4.7 2.4 15.3 14.6 - - 11.0 15.8 23.7 27.1 16.4 8.4 4.3 6.3 5.7 5.7 4.1 1.9 13.3 12.9 - 9.6 14.2 6.4 5.7 5.9 4.6 2.0 12.3 - - spadix - 11.9 17.1 28.0 31.7 15.9 9.5 3.6 6.9 6.5 6.7 5.4 2.7 15.5 14.0 - 13.5 16.5 28.1 32.1 16.4 9.7 4.0 6.8 6.2 6.7 4.9 2.0 15.9 15.0 - 11.9 16.5 27.0 29.9 15.5 9.2 3.8 6.6 6.1 6.5 5.0 3.0 15.0 13.8 - 16.7 26.1 15.2 8.4 3.3 6.2 5.5 5.9 4.3 2.3 - 10.6 15.5 24.9 28.2 14.8 8.5 3.7 6.6 5.9 6.6 4.8 2.9 15.1 12.8 - - 10.7 15.0 22.9 27.0 13.8 7.7 3.1 6.6 5.6 5.6 4.4 2.1 13.0 12.3 - 10.8 15.3 24.5 26.8 14.5 8.6 3.7 5.8 5.3 5.5 4.5 2.1 13.9 13.2 - 10.5 15.0 23.3 25.6 15.2 7.6 3.2 5.9 5.4 5.7 4.1 2.0 14.0 12.2 - 10.7 14.9 23.3 26.0 14.7 8.1 3.3 5.7 5.3 5.6 4.3 2.4 13.8 12.8 - 10.7 15.1 23.4 26.4 14.6 8.0 3.3 6.0 5.4 5.6 4.3 2.2 13.7 12.6 - - longicauda - 12.1 15.3 25.3 30.8 15.2 8.9 3.4 6.9 6.3 6.5 4.9 2.6 15.0 14.6 - 12.2 15.5 31.0 6.9 6.3 6.6 5.0 2.5 13.8 - 11.4 16.0 25.7 30.4 15.7 8.7 3.9 6.3 5.7 5.9 4.4 1.9 15.5 13.4 - 11.3 14.8 24.8 29.7 15.5 8.7 3.6 6.0 5.4 5.6 4.3 2.4 15.0 13.4 - 12.4 15.6 25.0 29.4 15.2 8.3 3.4 6.6 6.2 6.4 4.6 2.0 16.0 13.6 - 11.9 15.4 25.2 30.3 15.4 8.6 3.6 6.5 6.0 6.2 4.6 2.3 15.4 13.8 - - 14.9 24.0 26.1 14.7 8.3 3.1 5.7 5.2 5.4 4.3 2.0 13.3 12.2 - 10.3 14.3 24.1 26.7 14.5 8.8 3.3 5.6 5.4 5.5 4.3 2.3 14.0 12.5 - 8.8 13.2 22.5 24.5 13.4 8.2 2.8 5.6 5.0 5.0 4.0 2.0 12.8 11.5 - 10.5 14.9 23.2 26.1 15.3 8.0 2.8 6.1 5.4 5.6 4.3 2.4 14.0 12.3 - 9.8 15.5 23.3 25.9 14.8 8.3 3.2 6.4 5.9 6.1 4.8 2.4 14.3 12.1 - 9.9 14.6 23.4 25.9 14.6 8.3 3.0 5.9 5.4 5.5 4.3 2.2 13.7 12.1 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 44568 [M] sad. Barkerville reg., B. C. 48.8 19.1 17.2 - M. V. Z. 43817 [M] sad. Isaacs Lake, British Columbia 48.8 19.5 15.8 - Cowan 443 [M] ad. Quesnel, British Columbia 46.6 17.7 14.5 - N. M. C. 2676 [M] ad. Lillooet, British Columbia 47.5 18.5 14.3 - N. M. C. 2695 [M] ad. Lillooet, British Columbia 45.0 17.5 15.9 - - M. C. Z. 9058 [F] ad. Source Kettle River, B. C. 41.7 16.4 12.8 - M. V. Z. 62791 [F] ad. Beaverfoot Range, B. C. 42.0 16.4 13.5 - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 186451 [M] ad. Custer, South Dakota 40.9 15.0 13.8 - - A. M. N. H. 7440/9136 [M] ad. Hill City, South Dakota 41.0 15.6 13.7 - - A. M. N. H. 7441 [F] ad. Black Hills, South Dakota 37.6 14.1 12.2 - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 55211 [M] ad. near Parks, Arizona 40.4 15.5 12.5 - M. V. Z. 65231 [M] ad. Alpine, Arizona 39.6 15.1 12.2 - U. S. N. M. 248993 [M] ad. Kaibab Plat., Arizona 40.4 15.6 12.9 - - A. M. N. H. 2490/1886 [F] ad. S. F. Forest, Arizona 35.5 13.8 10.8 - - Mustela frenata - average} {43.6 16.6 13.7 - maximum} [M] ad. 25 Sierra Nevada, California {46.1 17.6 14.9 - minimum} {40.6 15.2 12.5 - - average} {43.7 16.5 13.9 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 S and SW Colorado {44.6 17.3 14.8 - minimum} {41.6 16.0 12.8 - - average} {38.2 14.7 11.8 - maximum} [F] ad. 10 California {39.5 15.1 12.4 - minimum} {36.7 13.9 11.0 - - average} {38.5 14.8 12.2 - maximum} [F] ad. 14 Colorado {39.7 15.4 13.1 - minimum} {36.1 14.0 11.1 - - Mustela frenata - average} {40.5 15.2 12.3 - maximum} [M] ad. 6 NE Oregon {41.8 16.4 12.7 - minimum} {39.3 14.4 11.9 - U. S. N. M. 212423 [F] ad. Vale, Oregon 37.4 - - Mustela frenata - average} {43.7 16.7 13.7 - maximum} [M] ad. 22 Mt. Adams, Washington {47.7 18.0 15.4 - minimum} {40.0 15.6 12.5 - - average} {37.7 14.3 11.5 - maximum} [F] ad. 11 Mt. Adams, Washington {39.0 14.9 12.0 - minimum} {37.1 13.3 10.8 - - Mustela frenata - U. O. 3709 [M] ad. Mt. Ashland, Oregon 45.8 17.2 14.1 - U. S. N. M. 65930 [M] ad. Siskiyou, Oregon 42.6 15.9 14.0 - M. V. Z. 13778 [M] ad. Jackson Lake, California 45.5 18.0 13.2 - M. V. Z. 13779 [M] ad. Jackson Lake, California 43.8 16.9 12.7 - av. 4 44.4 17.0 13.5 - - M. V. Z. 52144 [F] ad. S. Fork Mt., California 38.2 14.7 10.8 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - oribasus - 13.0 17.7 28.5 32.2 17.4 9.8 3.2 6.8 6.2 6.4 5.3 2.8 15.5 14.6 - 12.0 17.3 28.4 31.7 15.9 9.7 4.0 6.9 6.3 6.4 5.3 2.9 15.5 13.7 - 10.1 15.9 26.4 30.7 15.8 9.2 3.9 6.2 5.8 6.1 4.6 2.5 15.0 13.1 - 10.3 15.9 25.5 30.1 15.2 9.1 3.8 6.4 5.9 6.3 4.6 2.5 15.0 13.1 - 11.8 15.9 25.6 31.0 15.2 8.9 3.0 6.2 5.6 6.1 4.7 2.9 15.0 13.4 - - 10.5 14.8 24.9 26.7 14.3 8.2 2.8 6.1 5.5 5.7 4.5 2.5 14.0 12.6 - 10.2 15.1 24.4 27.0 14.3 8.1 3.1 5.9 5.5 5.6 4.3 2.2 14.0 12.3 - - alleni - 11.0 14.1 22.0 27.7 13.7 7.9 3.0 5.7 4.9 5.3 3.9 2.5 14.3 12.3 - - 11.0 13.9 23.3 25.7 13.6 8.3 2.3 5.1 4.8 5.2 4.2 1.9 13.7 12.0 - - 9.1 13.2 22.3 23.1 13.8 7.3 3.1 5.5 4.9 5.0 3.6 1.8 12.2 10.5 - - arizonensis - 14.2 23.3 26.0 14.3 8.9 3.1 5.7 5.2 5.5 4.0 2.2 13.5 12.1 - 9.7 13.7 22.4 25.6 13.7 8.3 3.2 5.4 4.9 5.1 4.0 2.1 14.0 11.4 - 9.8 14.5 22.9 26.3 14.1 8.4 3.2 5.8 5.5 5.5 4.0 1.7 14.8 12.0 - - 8.6 12.9 19.9 21.7 13.3 7.7 2.9 4.8 4.6 4.7 3.6 1.6 12.3 10.3 - - nevadensis - 10.7 15.1 23.9 28.0 15.0 8.4 3.4 5.9 5.4 5.6 4.3 2.2 14.4 12.5 - 12.0 16.2 26.1 31.4 15.9 9.0 4.0 6.4 5.8 6.1 4.8 2.7 15.2 14.8 - 9.9 14.0 22.1 25.0 14.4 7.8 2.9 5.5 4.9 5.1 3.9 1.8 13.7 11.6 - - 10.6 15.0 24.2 27.9 15.1 8.6 3.5 6.1 5.5 5.7 4.5 2.1 14.5 12.6 - 11.1 16.4 25.3 29.3 15.8 9.2 4.0 6.8 5.9 6.0 4.8 2.6 15.6 13.0 - 9.9 13.8 23.1 26.5 14.4 8.2 3.0 5.7 5.2 5.3 4.0 1.9 13.9 12.1 - - 9.2 13.4 20.9 23.1 13.4 7.3 2.9 5.2 4.8 5.0 3.8 1.7 12.3 11.0 - 9.9 14.2 21.8 23.4 14.1 7.9 3.2 5.6 5.2 5.4 4.1 2.0 13.0 11.8 - 8.6 12.6 20.1 22.4 12.7 6.8 2.6 4.9 4.5 4.7 3.6 1.5 11.4 10.0 - - 9.3 13.4 20.6 23.1 13.4 7.6 2.8 5.4 4.9 5.1 3.9 1.9 12.9 11.1 - 10.2 14.4 22.1 24.6 13.9 8.1 3.2 5.6 5.3 5.4 4.1 2.3 13.8 11.8 - 8.5 12.5 19.8 22.0 12.9 7.0 2.5 5.1 4.3 4.6 3.4 1.7 12.0 10.6 - - effera - 9.6 13.7 22.1 25.6 14.1 7.8 3.3 5.5 5.0 5.3 3.9 2.0 13.5 11.8 - 10.0 14.4 23.3 27.3 15.0 8.4 3.5 5.9 5.3 5.8 4.1 2.6 14.3 12.2 - 9.2 13.1 20.5 25.0 12.3 7.2 3.2 5.0 4.7 5.0 3.6 1.6 12.6 11.4 - 9.2 19.5 22.0 13.1 6.9 3.0 5.4 4.9 5.0 3.7 1.8 12.3 - - washingtoni - 10.5 15.5 23.4 27.0 14.6 8.0 3.1 5.9 5.4 5.6 4.3 2.2 14.4 12.6 - 12.0 16.5 26.4 29.6 15.8 8.7 3.4 6.5 6.0 6.1 4.8 2.6 15.8 13.7 - 9.0 14.5 22.1 24.6 13.5 7.6 2.7 5.4 4.9 5.0 4.0 1.7 13.1 11.5 - - 8.8 12.8 20.2 22.5 12.9 7.2 2.8 5.1 4.7 4.8 3.9 1.9 12.2 10.4 - 9.3 13.2 21.1 24.5 13.6 7.7 3.0 5.6 4.9 5.0 4.2 2.1 13.0 11.0 - 8.2 12.1 19.4 21.3 12.3 6.8 2.3 4.7 4.4 4.2 3.4 1.7 11.2 9.8 - - saturata - 11.1 15.8 26.0 27.9 15.1 8.9 3.9 6.1 5.5 5.9 4.3 2.3 14.2 12.6 - 10.9 14.4 24.5 27.7 14.7 8.5 4.0 5.7 5.0 5.5 4.1 1.9 14.8 12.4 - 10.0 16.2 24.7 27.4 14.6 8.7 3.2 6.3 5.9 6.2 4.6 2.5 14.6 12.8 - 9.9 15.3 24.2 26.9 15.1 8.6 3.3 5.6 5.2 5.5 4.0 2.2 14.2 12.3 - 10.2 15.4 24.9 27.5 14.9 8.7 3.6 5.9 5.4 5.8 4.3 2.2 14.5 12.5 - - 8.1 13.5 19.8 21.8 12.4 7.2 2.7 5.0 4.6 4.9 3.7 1.8 12.2 10.4 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela frenata - average} {45.8 17.5 14.2 - maximum} [M] ad. 10 Tillamook Co., Oregon {48.0 18.9 15.0 - minimum} {42.4 16.1 13.2 - - Walker 392 [F] ad. Blaine, Oregon 39.7 15.1 12.8 - Walker 185 [F] ad. Blaine, Oregon 37.8 13.9 11.9 - Walker 89 [F] ad. Blaine, Oregon 38.3 14.3 11.3 - Walker 45 [F] ad. Tillamook, Oregon 37.8 14.1 11.0 - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 11747 [M] ad. Eureka, California 44.0 16.8 13.2 - C. A. C. 3907 [M] ad. Requa, California 41.8 16.0 13.5 - F. M. N. H. 9595 [M] ad. Gold Beach, Oregon 43.0 16.9 13.1 - U. S. N. M. 32019 [M] sad. Grants Pass, Oregon 42.9 16.3 13.7 - - M. V. Z. 34325 [F] ad. Carlotta, California 37.8 14.7 10.8 - U. O. 1413 [F] ad. 13 mi. S Grants Pass, Oregon 39.4 14.7 12.0 - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 19720 [M] ad. Point Arena, California 49.0 18.5 15.2 - M. V. Z. 19722 [M] ad. Point Arena, California 48.5 18.9 14.4 - M. V. Z. 19718 [M] ad. Gualala, California 45.7 17.2 13.7 - av. 3 47.7 18.2 14.4 - M. V. Z. 19714 [M] ad. 6 mi. W Inverness, California 48.2 18.4 13.9 - M. V. Z. 19715 [M] ad. 6 mi. W Inverness, California 48.2 18.9 14.5 - M. V. Z. 19716 [M] ad. 5 mi. W Inverness, California 46.5 17.5 13.8 - av. 3 47.6 18.3 14.1 - F. M. N. H. 9598 [M] ad. Nicasio, California 46.5 18.5 14.0 - M. C. Z. 8632 [M] ad. Nicasio, California 44.2 17.8 14.0 - M. C. Z. 5459 [M] ad. Point Reyes, California 39.7 15.5 13.3 - M. V. Z. 40302 [M] ad. 4 mi. N Vallejo, California 45.8 17.7 13.0 - av. 4 44.1 17.4 13.6 - - M. V. Z. 19723 [F] ad. Point Arena, California 42.3 16.0 12.3 - U. S. N. M. 135010 [F] ad. Point Reyes, California 38.7 15.3 11.0 - F. M. N. H. 9597 [F] ad. Point Reyes, California 39.5 15.2 11.1 - U. S. N. M. 91764 [F] ad. Point Reyes, California 38.7 15.4 12.0 - - Mustela frenata - Walker 1440 [M] ad. 5 mi. W Fresno, California 43.9 16.5 13.8 - A. N. S. P. 11863 [M] ad. Fresno, California 43.4 16.8 12.9 - Wisconsin U. 4232 [M] ad. Selma, California 43.7 16.2 13.3 - - Snyder 2626 [F] ad. Selma, California 39.4 15.0 12.0 - M. V. Z. 79640 [F] ad. Tegner School, California 43.4 16.5 12.6 - - Mustela frenata - Stanford U. 863 [M] ad. Palo Alto, California 48.1 18.7 15.0 - F. M. N. H. 6559 [M] ad. Palo Alto, California 48.0 18.7 13.9 - Stanford U. 1651 [M] ad. Menlo Park, California 47.1 17.8 13.3 - Stanford U. 487 [M] ad. Palo Alto, California 46.5 18.3 13.4 - F. M. N. H. 7031 [M] ad. Palo Alto, California 46.1 18.1 14.5 - Stanford U. 236 [M] ad. Menlo Park, California 46.1 17.8 13.5 - av. 6 47.0 18.2 13.9 - - M. V. Z. 5851 [F] ad. Hayward, California 40.7 15.3 11.8 - M. V. Z. 30327 [F] ad. Palo Alto, California 41.2 16.2 11.1 - U. S. N. M. 43574 [F] ad. Morro, California 42.2 16.1 12.2 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - altifrontalis - 11.2 15.9 25.1 29.2 15.6 8.5 3.5 6.1 5.5 5.7 4.5 2.5 15.4 13.6 - 12.0 16.8 26.0 31.6 16.5 9.0 3.6 6.5 6.0 6.0 4.9 2.8 16.2 14.0 - 10.0 14.8 23.9 26.0 15.0 7.7 3.2 5.6 5.0 5.2 4.0 2.1 14.5 12.4 - - 10.1 13.7 21.8 24.0 13.8 7.7 5.2 5.0 5.0 3.7 1.9 13.5 11.8 - 9.5 13.4 20.8 22.7 13.4 7.3 2.8 4.9 4.5 4.7 3.2 1.5 12.6 10.7 - 9.5 12.7 19.8 22.7 13.2 7.0 3.1 4.4 4.7 3.8 1.9 13.4 11.3 - 8.6 12.5 20.1 23.2 13.0 7.3 4.9 4.7 4.8 3.8 2.0 13.5 11.0 - - oregonensis - 10.7 15.3 24.3 28.0 14.6 8.3 3.4 6.0 5.4 5.8 4.3 2.2 13.6 12.7 - 10.9 14.0 22.9 26.6 14.2 7.6 3.1 5.8 5.3 5.4 4.0 2.2 13.4 12.3 - 10.5 15.5 23.4 26.2 15.1 8.2 3.3 5.8 5.2 5.5 4.4 2.0 14.7 12.5 - 10.5 15.7 23.2 26.5 15.2 8.8 4.0 5.5 4.8 5.2 4.3 2.1 14.0 12.5 - - 8.8 13.0 20.7 23.2 13.4 7.5 2.2 5.3 5.0 5.5 4.0 1.8 13.7 11.0 - 9.7 13.9 21.5 24.0 14.2 7.6 2.7 4.8 4.4 4.7 3.7 1.9 12.6 10.8 - - munda - 11.7 16.8 27.5 33.2 16.2 9.3 3.6 6.5 5.6 6.0 4.8 2.6 14.2 14.2 - 10.5 17.2 26.8 32.+ 16.0 8.5 3.8 6.5 5.6 6.2 5.0 2.9 14.7 13.8 - 10.5 15.5 26.4 31.7 15.5 8.5 3.1 6.5 5.7 5.8 4.9 2.3 13.4 14.2 - 10.9 16.5 26.9 32.7 15.9 8.8 3.5 6.5 5.7 6.0 4.9 2.6 14.1 14.1 - 11.3 17.2 26.2 30.5 15.7 8.5 3.5 6.5 5.6 6.0 4.8 2.6 14.2 14.2 - 11.4 16.6 26.5 30.0 16.3 8.7 3.5 6.3 5.6 6.2 5.0 2.9 14.7 13.8 - 11.0 15.9 25.2 30.3 15.4 7.9 3.5 6.1 5.7 5.8 4.9 2.3 13.4 14.2 - 11.2 16.6 26.0 30.3 15.8 8.4 3.5 6.3 5.7 6.0 4.9 2.6 14.1 14.1 - 10.5 15.4 25.2 30.5 15.0 8.8 3.5 6.9 5.9 6.3 5.2 2.7 15.2 13.0 - 11.4 16.9 24.4 27.6 15.7 8.2 3.7 6.4 5.7 5.9 5.0 2.6 12.6 13.7 - 9.0 13.4 23.1 26.5 13.7 7.7 3.2 6.1 5.1 5.5 4.4 2.5 13.6 12.1 - 10.7 15.9 24.4 26.9 15.1 8.0 2.8 6.3 5.7 6.2 4.8 2.3 14.5 13.0 - 10.4 15.4 24.3 27.9 14.9 8.2 3.3 6.4 5.6 6.0 4.9 2.5 14.0 13.0 - - 12.2 14.0 23.6 25.5 14.5 8.3 2.9 5.0 5.2 4.0 1.9 13.4 11.3 - 8.7 14.5 21.0 23.7 13.0 7.5 3.0 5.1 4.9 5.4 3.9 2.3 12.9 10.8 - 8.2 13.1 20.2 22.8 12.7 6.8 2.7 5.3 4.9 5.0 3.9 1.9 14.7 10.8 - 9.7 12.7 21.7 24.7 13.7 7.4 2.9 5.5 5.0 5.3 4.2 2.0 13.2 11.7 - - xanthogenys - 10.4 14.1 23.8 28.5 14.7 7.9 3.2 5.7 5.2 5.3 4.2 2.1 14.8 12.6 - 10.0 14.8 24.0 27.5 14.5 7.5 5.8 5.3 5.5 4.4 2.0 13.7 12.7 - 9.9 14.5 23.7 27.1 15.2 8.5 3.7 5.8 5.3 5.4 4.2 2.2 13.8 12.3 - - 8.9 13.2 21.3 24.3 13.7 7.2 5.3 4.0 13.0 11.4 - 9.3 15.1 22.8 24.9 15.0 7.5 3.0 5.6 5.5 5.9 4.5 2.0 13.3 12.2 - - nigriauris - 11.2 17.5 32.9 15.5 6.5 6.4 6.7 5.2 2.4 14.3 - 11.0 16.2 27.0 29.6 15.7 8.7 3.4 6.2 5.8 6.0 4.8 2.7 14.0 14.1 - 9.8 14.9 25.6 30.0 15.0 8.0 3.3 6.5 6.0 6.5 4.6 2.4 14.6 13.8 - 11.0 16.1 25.2 31.1 15.1 8.0 2.9 6.3 5.7 6.0 4.9 2.5 14.5 14.3 - 10.7 15.1 26.0 29.5 14.9 8.3 2.4 6.3 6.0 6.1 4.6 2.6 15.0 13.2 - 10.4 15.5 29.6 15.6 8.5 6.0 5.6 5.7 4.8 2.5 14.0 - 10.7 15.9 26.0 30.5 15.3 8.3 3.0 6.3 5.9 6.2 4.8 2.5 14.5 14.0 - - 8.8 13.9 21.8 24.9 14.2 7.9 3.0 5.2 4.9 4.9 4.1 1.8 12.4 11.0 - 8.6 14.3 21.7 24.8 13.4 7.8 3.0 5.3 5.0 5.4 4.1 2.1 12.6 11.0 - 8.9 14.2 22.7 24.3 15.1 8.1 2.9 5.5 5.4 5.6 4.2 2.0 13.2 11.4 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 3257 [M] ad. San Diego, California 44.4 17.8 13.4 - U. S. N. M. 52701 [M] ad. El Vido, California 43.7 16.9 12.7 - U. S. N. M. 52702 [M] ad. El Cajon, California 43.2 16.7 13.9 - M. V. Z. 3258 [M] ad. San Diego, California 42.5 16.6 14.1 - Stephens 20 [M] ad. San Jacinto Plain, California 41.9 16.9 13.1 - S. D. M. 7098 [M] ad. Jamacha, California 47.0 18.5 15.6 - av. 6 43.8 17.2 13.8 - - Stephens 22 [F] ad. Santa Ysabel, California 40.1 15.5 11.7 - Stephens 19 [F] ad. Ballena, California 40.0 15.0 12.3 - S. D. M. 6748 [F] ad. Santa Ysabel, California 42.0 16.1 12.9 - S. D. M. 7194 [F] ad. Jamacha, California 39.8 15.0 11.8 - av. 4 40.5 15.4 12.2 - - Mustela frenata - C. A. S. 335 [M] ad. Buttonwillow, California 48.6 18.8 15.2 - C. A. S. 337 [M] ad. Buttonwillow, California 48.6 18.8 15.0 - M. V. Z. 16668 [M] ad. Buttonwillow, California 48.1 18.8 14.8 - U. S. N. M. 137935 [M] ad. Buttonwillow, California 47.2 18.2 14.0 - C. A. S. 336 [M] ad. Buttonwillow, California 47.0 18.3 14.5 - C. A. S. 338 [M] ad. Buttonwillow, California 46.0 17.4 14.7 - av. 6 47.6 18.4 14.7 - - Mustela frenata - M. V. Z. 25907 [M] ad. 2 mi. N Independence, Calif. 44.7 17.3 13.3 - - Mustela frenata - A. M. N. H. 14821 [M] ad. Kerr Co., Texas 54.0 19.2 16.0 - M. C. Z. 15476 [M] yg. Kerr Co., Texas 53.3 18.9 16.3 - Baylor U. 2017 [M] sad. 5 mi. N Waco, Texas 52.0 18.3 16.5 - - Mustela frenata - Kansas U. 1485 [M] ad. Liberal, Kansas 50.5 17.9 15.4 - U. S. N. M. 131582 [M] ad. Berino, New Mexico 47.7 17.5 15.0 - - U. S. N. M. 36482 [F] ad. Tombstone, Arizona 45.5 16.5 12.8 - U. S. N. M. 230973 [F] ad. Willcox, Arizona 42.5 15.1 12.9 - U. S. N. M. 225629 [F] ad. Albuquerque, New Mexico 40.8 15.0 12.4 - - Mustela frenata - M. C. Z. 240 [M] ad. Brownsville, Texas 49.4 17.4 14.9 - A. N. S. P. 724 [M] ad. Brownsville, Texas 50.1 17.9 15.5 - U. S. N. M. 58684 [M] ad. Brownsville, Texas 48.2 17.3 14.2 - U. S. N. M. 63857 [M] ad. Brownsville, Texas 48.6 18.0 13.7 - U. S. N. M. 44976 [M] ad. Brownsville, Texas 50.9 18.0 - av. 5 49.4 17.7 14.6 - - A. M. N. H. 24405 [F] ad. Brownsville, Texas 47.3 16.2 12.5 - U. S. N. M. 58685 [F] sad. Brownsville, Texas 41.3 15.0 11.8 - - U. S. N. M. 36362/48732 [F] sad. Brownsville, Texas 42.5 15.4 12.5 - av. 3 43.7 15.5 12.3 - B. Z. M. 991 [F] ad. México 15.5 - B. Z. M. 992 [F] ad. México 13.9 10.7 - - M. C. Z. 20841 [M] ad. Miquihana, Nuevo León 50.2 18.0 15.3 - U. S. N. M. 50826 [M] ad. Tlalpam, D. F. 51.3 18.3 15.1 - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 125972 [M] ad. Los Reyes, Michoacán 51.2 17.5 15.0 - - U. S. N. M. 34914/47179 [M] ad. Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 18.7 14.3 - - A. M. N. H. 26153 [F] ad. Artenkiki, Jalisco 44.5 16.0 12.7 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - latirostra - 10.2 15.0 23.5 27.6 15.6 8.4 3.9 6.0 5.5 5.5 4.3 2.2 14.0 12.8 - 9.9 14.3 24.0 14.7 8.7 4.0 5.7 5.6 5.6 4.2 2.0 14.2 13.4 - 10.0 15.0 24.0 27.2 15.1 8.2 4.2 5.8 5.3 5.5 4.2 2.5 14.0 12.5 - 12.1 14.7 24.0 28.7 15.1 8.1 3.9 5.9 5.6 5.5 4.4 2.5 14.3 13.5 - 10.6 14.0 24.0 28.2 14.7 8.0 3.2 6.0 5.5 5.7 4.2 2.1 14.0 12.9 - 11.3 16.8 24.8 29.2 16.7 8.9 3.8 6.0 5.8 6.2 4.8 2.2 14.0 13.2 - 10.7 15.0 24.1 28.2 15.3 8.4 3.8 5.9 5.6 5.7 4.4 2.3 14.1 13.1 - - 9.3 13.1 21.9 24.5 14.2 8.0 3.0 5.3 4.8 5.1 4.1 2.0 14.0 11.3 - 9.3 13.5 21.6 23.5 13.7 8.1 3.2 5.1 4.9 5.0 4.0 2.1 12.0 11.2 - 9.4 14.2 22.0 24.5 14.0 7.8 3.0 5.8 5.3 5.7 4.5 2.0 13.4 11.5 - 9.1 13.7 20.2 23.7 13.7 7.0 2.9 5.2 4.8 4.9 3.9 1.9 12.6 11.5 - 9.3 13.6 21.4 24.1 13.9 7.7 3.0 5.4 5.0 5.2 4.1 2.0 13.0 11.4 - - pulchra - 11.6 17.2 27.4 31.4 16.7 9.1 3.6 6.6 5.9 6.4 5.1 2.7 16.2 13.7 - 11.8 17.2 27.1 32.7 16.6 9.0 3.5 6.6 6.3 6.3 5.0 2.4 16.5 14.3 - 12.0 17.1 27.7 31.2 16.4 9.2 3.6 6.4 5.7 5.9 5.1 2.8 15.2 14.0 - 10.3 16.0 26.1 29.5 15.6 8.5 3.3 6.0 5.6 5.9 4.1 2.0 15.0 12.9 - 11.5 16.5 27.0 29.5 15.5 9.1 3.2 6.3 5.6 5.9 5.0 2.3 15.0 13.0 - 11.3 16.1 26.3 32.6 15.9 8.9 3.7 6.1 5.7 5.8 4.6 2.2 15.0 13.3 - 11.4 16.7 26.9 31.1 16.1 9.0 3.5 6.3 5.8 6.0 4.8 2.4 15.5 13.5 - - inyoensis - 10.8 15.9 25.3 29.5 15.9 9.0 3.7 6.0 5.7 5.9 4.6 2.4 15.0 13.2 - - texensis - 12.6 17.2 28.6 35.1 17.5 8.0 3.5 6.9 6.5 6.7 5.0 2.5 16.7 15.1 - 12.8 18.3 28.2 34.8 18.0 8.3 4.0 6.4 6.3 6.5 4.8 2.4 16.0 15.0 - 13.5 16.7 29.2 18.0 9.1 6.6 6.3 6.4 4.9 2.6 16.3 15.6 - - neomexicana - 12.4 16.4 28.3 35.0 17.0 9.0 4.0 6.3 5.9 6.0 4.9 2.4 15.5 14.3 - 11.1 15.9 26.3 31.2 16.5 7.9 3.4 6.4 5.7 6.3 4.7 2.5 15.8 13.5 - - 9.7 15.5 22.3 26.6 15.2 7.5 3.3 5.9 5.6 5.9 4.5 2.2 13.8 12.0 - 9.9 14.0 22.6 26.5 14.5 7.0 3.1 5.5 5.3 5.6 4.1 1.8 14.0 12.0 - 9.4 13.3 21.6 24.5 14.5 7.5 3.0 5.2 4.7 5.0 3.9 1.8 13.0 11.0 - - frenata - 11.6 15.4 25.9 33.0 16.7 7.9 4.3 5.9 5.9 6.1 4.5 2.1 15.0 13.8 - 12.3 15.5 27.0 32.2 16.5 8.5 4.1 6.5 6.2 6.3 4.8 2.7 16.0 14.0 - 11.0 15.3 27.2 31.0 16.6 8.3 4.2 6.3 5.9 6.1 4.8 2.7 15.5 13.5 - 11.1 16.5 26.0 31.0 16.0 8.2 4.8 6.5 5.7 6.1 4.8 2.6 15.0 13.6 - 16.9 26.9 16.6 7.9 3.4 6.5 5.6 6.1 4.7 2.3 16.0 13.4 - 11.5 15.9 26.6 31.8 16.3 8.2 4.2 6.4 5.9 6.2 4.7 2.5 15.5 13.7 - - 10.0 14.6 5.9 5.4 5.4 4.1 2.1 12.2 - 9.5 12.8 22.7 27.0 14.0 6.9 3.3 5.5 5.2 5.4 4.1 2.0 14.0 11.7 - - 10.0 14.3 23.8 26.7 14.3 7.5 3.2 5.9 5.5 5.7 4.2 2.0 13.5 11.8 - 9.8 13.9 23.3 26.9 14.2 7.2 3.3 5.8 5.4 5.5 4.1 2.0 13.8 11.9 - 12.2 13.8 22.8 27.0 13.7 5.7 5.2 5.5 4.4 2.2 12.7 - 8.9 12.9 21.1 13.0 6.6 2.9 4.9 4.5 4.7 3.7 1.7 12.3 10.8 - - 12.1 16.3 28.0 32.0 16.9 8.8 3.3 4.6 2.2 15.0 - 12.1 17.5 27.7 33.5 16.3 8.4 3.5 6.7 5.9 6.4 4.7 2.7 15.3 14.6 - - leucoparia - 12.0 16.0 28.3 32.9 16.0 7.7 3.5 5.9 5.7 5.7 4.3 2.2 15.5 14.0 - - 16.8 6.8 6.5 6.8 5.0 2.6 14.3 - - 10.0 14.4 22.4 26.3 15.0 7.0 3.2 5.9 5.5 6.0 4.5 2.1 14.0 11.9 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 68197 [M] ad. Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca 49.2 17.3 13.9 - - U. S. N. M. 54278 [F] ad. Type specimen 43.5 15.5 12.3 - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 133253 [M] ad. 20 mi. SE Teopisca, Chiapas 50.4 18.0 15.0 - U. S. N. M. 133254 [M] ad. 20 mi. SE Teopisca, Chiapas 49.6 17.5 13.8 - U. S. N. M. 77519 [M] ad. Pinabete, Chiapas 50.7 18.3 - F. M. N. H. 15953 [M] ad. near Tecpám, Guatemala 50.0 17.0 13.5 - Dickey 12523 [M] ad. Los Esesmiles, Salv. 51.3 17.5 14.5 - av. 5 50.4 17.7 14.2 - - Mustela frenata - F. M. N. H. 14063 [M] ad. Achotal, Veracruz 54.1 19.2 15.6 - - U. S. N. M. 132528 [F] ad. Pérez, Veracruz 43.5 15.3 12.5 - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 54994 [M] ad. Jico, Veracruz 47.8 17.2 13.7 - - A. M. N. H. 12764/11058 [M] sad. Jalapa, Veracruz 45.5 16.8 13.7 - M. C. Z. 6514 [M] sad. Orizaba, Veracruz *46.0 16.4 13.2 - - U. S. N. M. 54993 [F] ad. Jico, Veracruz 36.0 13.0 11.0 - U. S. N. M. 1060 [F] ad. México 39.0 14.0 11.0 - M. C. Z. 2605 [F] yg. Jalpa, Veracruz 38.7 13.8 10.3 - F. M. N. H. 14050 [F] yg. Xuchil, Veracruz 39.0 14.2 11.6 - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 100041 [M] sad. Teapa, Tabasco 46.1 17.0 14.4 - U. S. N. M. 132997 [M] sad. San Vicente, Chiapas 45.3 16.7 13.9 - U. S. N. M. 132996 [M] sad. San Cristóbal, Chiapas 16.9 13.3 - av. 3 45.7 16.9 13.9 - - U. S. N. M. 218036 [F] sad. State of Chiapas 40.0 14.6 11.6 - U. S. N. M. 65422 [F] sad. Catemaco, Veracruz 40.4 14.5 11.5 - - Mustela frenata - A. M. N. H. 30754 [M] sad. Matagalpa, Nicaragua 44.8 17.2 12.8 - A. M. N. H. 28331 [M] ad. Matagalpa, Nicaragua 44.8 16.7 13.6 - A. M. N. H. 29280 [M] sad. San Rafel Del Norte 45.5 17.2 13.5 - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 11408 [M] ad. Costa Rica *49.0 18.3 15.2 - B. M. 3216 [M] ad. Vic. San José, Costa Rica 49.3 18.6 15.0 - - U. S. N. M. 13770/37149 [M] yg. San José, Costa Rica 48.2 18.0 14.0 - N. H. R. S. 1-138 [M] ad. Azahar Cartago, Costa Rica 47.8 17.4 14.9 - - B. Z. M. A 59.13 [F] sad. Irazú, 3000M., Costa Rica 38.8 14.4 12.5 - - Mustela frenata - M. C. Z. 10112 [M] ad. Boquete, Panamá 48.3 17.1 15.0 - A. M. N. H. 18848 [M] ad. Boquete, Panamá 44.5 16.3 14.0 - M. C. Z. 10113 [M] ad. Boquete, Panamá 42.8 15.8 14.0 - av. 3 45.2 16.4 14.3 - - U. S. N. M. 170970 [F] sad. near Gatún, Panamá 41.3 15.3 12.5 - A. N. S. P. 18434 [F] ad. Siola, Panamá 39.3 14.2 11.3 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - perotae - 11.7 15.9 25.0 29.2 15.5 6.8 2.5 6.1 5.3 5.8 4.1 2.1 15.5 13.3 - - 10.3 14.0 23.2 25.5 15.0 7.0 2.0 5.7 5.2 5.7 4.1 2.1 12.0 13.7 - - goldmani - 12.5 15.9 26.5 32.3 15.6 7.1 2.9 6.4 5.9 6.2 5.0 2.5 16.5 13.7 - 10.9 16.2 26.4 31.8 15.8 7.4 3.0 6.1 5.5 5.8 4.5 2.5 15.0 13.7 - 26.5 31.8 15.3 7.5 2.9 6.6 5.8 6.1 5.0 2.4 16.0 - 12.0 16.1 26.2 31.5 15.5 7.0 5.9 5.6 6.0 4.5 2.2 - 11.7 16.2 26.7 30.6 15.8 7.7 3.1 6.3 5.5 5.8 4.5 2.3 16.5 14.1 - 11.8 16.1 26.5 31.6 15.6 7.3 3.0 6.3 5.7 6.0 4.7 2.4 16.0 13.8 - - macrophonius - 12.9 17.8 28.5 33.6 16.8 7.6 2.9 7.1 6.4 6.8 5.2 2.9 16.8 15.3 - - 10.2 14.5 23.1 26.5 15.0 6.5 2.6 5.5 5.2 5.7 4.1 1.9 14.2 12.2 - - tropicalis - 10.7 15.8 24.5 28.2 15.5 6.3 2.9 6.2 5.6 5.9 4.5 2.2 15.5 13.7 - - 11.4 16.0 24.0 30.0 15.4 6.7 3.0 6.4 5.7 5.9 4.7 2.2 15.2 13.6 - 15.5 15.0 8.0 6.3 5.7 6.0 5.0 2.5 16.5 14.5 - - 9.2 12.1 19.8 22.6 12.4 6.1 2.5 5.0 4.5 4.7 4.0 1.7 12.5 11.6 - 9.6 21.0 22.5 4.9 4.6 4.9 3.9 1.9 11.5 - 8.3 12.6 19.4 12.7 5.8 4.9 4.5 4.6 3.5 1.5 13.7 10.9 - 9.3 13.0 20.5 23.5 13.5 6.1 5.3 4.9 5.3 4.4 2.0 15.3 11.5 - - perda - 11.1 15.3 24.4 28.5 14.9 6.6 2.2 6.4 5.5 6.0 4.6 2.5 16.4 13.8 - 12.0 15.5 24.0 27.4 14.5 6.7 2.8 5.5 5.1 5.4 4.2 2.2 15.8 13.0 - 10.6 16.0 6.4 5.5 6.0 4.5 2.5 13.0 - 11.2 15.6 24.2 28.0 14.7 6.7 2.5 6.1 5.4 5.8 4.4 2.4 16.1 13.3 - - 9.4 13.5 20.2 23.2 13.0 5.6 2.1 5.2 4.8 5.0 3.7 1.7 13.2 11.4 - 9.1 13.2 21.2 23.0 13.7 6.5 2.1 4.8 4.7 5.2 3.8 1.9 14.2 10.8 - - nicaraguae - 10.5 15.0 23.4 25.5 14.0 6.5 2.9 6.3 6.0 6.3 4.6 2.5 15.5 13.4 - 11.5 15.2 22.7 26.8 15.2 6.7 5.8 5.1 5.5 4.4 2.4 14.7 13.4 - 11.0 15.5 23.5 27.4 14.2 6.8 6.3 6.0 6.3 4.7 2.5 15.5 13.1 - - costaricensis - 9.4 *18.0 26.0 30.5 15.0 7.5 6.5 5.9 6.4 5.0 2.6 16.7 14.2 - 12.7 16.9 25.9 31.3 15.3 7.3 2.9 6.6 6.0 6.5 4.9 2.5 16.8 15.1 - - 11.7 16.0 24.8 29.0 15.0 7.2 2.7 7.0 6.0 6.5 4.8 2.9 16.5 14.0 - 11.7 15.5 24.3 *30.1 15.1 7.5 6.6 5.9 6.2 4.8 2.5 - - 10.1 14.2 20.0 23.6 12.8 6.3 2.9 4.9 4.7 5.0 3.7 1.8 13.7 11.5 - - panamensis - 12.5 15.7 25.1 28.3 14.1 7.0 2.7 6.3 5.7 5.9 4.5 2.5 16.7 14.0 - 12.0 15.0 22.5 29.1 14.4 6.1 2.7 6.2 5.7 6.0 4.5 2.3 16.0 13.5 - 12.0 15.5 27.1 13.6 5.5 6.1 5.4 5.7 4.3 2.2 15.8 13.5 - 12.2 15.4 23.8 28.2 14.0 6.2 2.7 6.2 5.6 5.9 4.4 2.3 16.3 13.7 - - 10.4 14.3 23.0 26.8 12.5 6.1 5.7 5.3 5.5 4.1 2.1 15.5 12.5 - 9.4 12.5 20.1 22.5 13.0 6.0 5.0 4.6 5.0 3.7 2.0 13.2 10.8 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela frenata - A. M. N. H. 33154 [M] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 44.3 16.7 14.2 - U. S. N. M. 137517 [M] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 43.4 16.0 14.1 - U. S. N. M. 172959 [M] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 44.0 16.5 14.1 - A. M. N. H. 24309 [M] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 44.2 16.1 13.7 - A. M. N. H. 33155 [M] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 42.3 16.7 13.8 - av. 5 43.6 16.4 14.0 - - U. S. N. M. 123341 [M] sad. Mérida, Venezuela 43.5 16.9 13.8 - U. S. N. M. 137516 [M] sad. Mérida, Venezuela 43.6 16.2 13.5 - U. S. N. M. 143667 [M] sad. Mérida, Venezuela 15.4 12.5 - - U. S. N. M. 143666 [F] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 38.2 14.1 11.9 - U. S. N. M. 143665 [F] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 36.4 13.4 11.5 - A. M. N. H. 24308 [F] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 36.3 13.4 11.4 - A. M. N. H. 24311 [F] ad. Mérida, Venezuela 37.7 13.9 11.4 - av. 4 37.2 13.7 11.6 - - A. M. N. H. 21343 [F] sad. Mérida, Venezuela 37.3 13.6 11.1 - A. M. N. H. 24310 [F] sad. Mérida, Venezuela 35.0 12.6 11.1 - - Mustela frenata - U. S. N. M. 241314 [M] ad. Choachí, Colombia *46.0 17.4 13.6 - U. S. N. M. 239946 [M] ad. Choachí, Colombia 16.1 12.7 - A. M. N. H. 35805 [M] ad. Quetame, Colombia 45.5 16.6 13.7 - av. 3 45.8 16.7 13.3 - - U. S. N. M. 241313 [M] yg. Bogotá, Columbia 44.7 16.7 13.9 - U. S. N. M. 241315 [M] yg. Choachí, Columbia 45.1 16.7 13.5 - - Mustela frenata - A. M. N. H. 34677 [M] yg. Gualea, Ecuador 45.6 17.6 14.0 - - Mustela frenata - F. M. N. H. 24133 [M] ad. Rio Chinchao 44.0 16.4 14.5 - F. M. N. H. 24132 [M] ad. Rio Chinchao 45.3 17.0 13.9 - - F. M. N. H. 24136 [F] ad. Huanuco, Perú 35.3 13.0 10.5 - F. M. N. H. 24135 [F] sad. Ambo, Perú 36.1 13.6 10.9 - F. M. N. H. 24134 [F] sad. Ambo, Perú 38.1 14.0 10.6 - - Mustela frenata - B. M. 8.1.10.1 [M] ad. Lima, Perú 42.5 16.0 13.4 - - F. M. N. H. 21147 [F] ad. Macate, Perú 35.2 12.7 10.0 - M. P. H. N. 565 [F] ad. Perú *36.0 12.6 10.7 - - Mustela frenata - M. P. H. N. 561 [M] ad. Junín, Perú 45.5 16.6 14.0 - M. P. H. N. 562 [M] ad. Junín, Perú 40.8 15.0 13.6 - B. M. 26.2.1.2 [M] ad. Yana Mayo, Perú 42.6 15.9 13.0 - U. S. N. M. 148528 [M] ad. Marcapata, Perú 16.0 - - M. P. H. N. 564 [F] ad. Cutervo, Perú *38.0 13.8 11.2 - - A. M. N. H. 60508 [M] ad. El Chiral, Ecuador 45.5 17.1 13.8 - A. M. N. H. 61406 [M] sad. Guainche, Ecuador 48.2 17.3 14.5 - N. H. R. S. 2 [M] ad. Panecillo, Ecuador 48.0 16.8 13.3 - N. H. R. S. 5 [M] ad. San Antonio, Ecuador 44.0 16.3 14.0 - N. H. R. S. 7 [M] ad. Carapungo, Ecuador 46.8 17.4 13.5 - N. H. R. S. 14 [M] ad. Nára Papallacta, Ecuador 45.4 17.3 14.1 - - N. H. R. S. 10 [F] ad. Guapulo, Ecuador 37.9 13.5 11.3 - - Mustela frenata - A. M. N. H. 72587 [M] ad. Nequejahuira, Bolivia 41.6 15.3 12.2 - B. Z. M. 602 [M] yg. Limbaní, Perú 42.4 15.5 - U. S. N. M. 137513 [M] yg. Limbaní, Perú 40.3 15.2 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - meridana - 12.0 15.0 23.9 28.5 13.0 6.6 3.0 6.2 5.4 5.6 4.4 2.5 15.0 13.4 - 11.8 15.2 23.5 27.4 13.8 6.5 2.4 6.0 5.5 5.7 4.1 2.3 15.6 13.3 - 11.6 15.4 23.6 28.0 13.9 7.0 6.2 5.6 5.7 4.7 2.4 15.7 12.9 - 11.5 15.4 23.6 27.3 14.2 6.4 2.3 5.9 5.2 5.6 4.5 2.3 15.3 13.0 - 11.5 15.5 23.0 27.6 13.5 6.5 2.6 5.8 5.4 5.6 4.3 2.1 15.5 13.7 - 11.7 15.3 23.5 27.8 13.7 6.6 6.0 5.4 5.6 4.4 2.3 16.0 13.3 - - 12.1 15.1 23.0 27.5 13.2 6.0 5.5 5.7 4.5 2.5 - 11.4 15.5 23.4 27.9 13.4 6.4 2.2 5.6 5.2 5.7 4.2 2.3 16.0 13.0 - 10.5 15.4 25.0 13.2 5.5 5.0 5.3 4.2 2.3 15.0 13.2 - - 9.7 13.2 20.3 23.0 12.4 5.9 1.8 - 9.9 13.0 20.1 23.4 12.1 5.9 2.0 - 9.7 11.8 18.8 22.0 11.7 5.5 2.0 4.9 4.5 4.6 3.5 1.6 10.5 - 9.8 13.8 19.5 12.1 5.9 1.8 4.9 4.7 4.9 3.7 1.8 13.0 11.2 - 9.8 13.0 19.7 22.8 12.1 5.8 1.9 - - 9.2 13.2 19.2 22.5 11.9 5.6 2.1 5.1 4.6 4.8 3.5 1.7 13.5 11.1 - 8.7 12.0 19.3 21.8 11.5 5.8 1.8 4.7 4.4 4.7 3.5 1.6 13.8 11.4 - - affinis - 11.8 15.6 29.5 6.1 5.9 6.1 4.4 2.3 13.9 - 10.8 14.3 27.7 6.0 5.3 5.7 4.5 2.1 13.0 - 11.0 15.3 6.4 5.8 5.5 5.7 4.4 2.0 13.3 - 11.2 15.1 28.6 6.0 5.6 5.8 4.4 2.1 13.4 - - 12.3 15.6 23.9 29.0 5.9 5.7 5.7 4.4 2.5 - 11.5 15.2 23.9 28.7 14.0 6.9 5.9 5.6 5.8 4.5 2.1 13.5 - - aureoventris - 11.8 15.4 23.8 28.3 15.1 6.8 2.7 6.7 6.0 6.4 5.0 3.0 17.0 14.3 - - helleri - 12.5 14.9 24.5 29.1 14.4 6.5 2.4 6.2 5.8 5.9 4.6 2.5 16.0 14.0 - 11.7 15.5 24.5 29.0 14.4 6.5 2.4 5.8 5.5 5.8 4.5 2.5 16.0 13.7 - - 8.9 12.1 17.9 20.8 11.8 4.7 2.0 4.7 4.4 4.6 3.5 1.6 11.8 10.0 - 9.0 12.4 18.8 22.4 11.8 5.0 1.9 4.7 4.4 4.6 3.6 1.7 12.6 10.5 - 9.1 12.6 19.8 22.2 12.0 5.4 2.0 4.7 4.6 4.6 3.5 1.5 13.9 11.0 - - agilis - 11.1 14.9 23.1 28.2 13.8 6.9 2.6 5.8 5.5 5.8 4.5 2.2 14.8 12.9 - - 8.4 12.0 18.0 20.6 12.4 5.0 1.7 4.4 4.1 4.4 3.2 1.5 13.0 10.3 - 9.2 12.5 18.1 21.5 13.0 5.8 2.2 4.8 4.1 4.5 3.5 1.9 12.0 11.7 - - macrura - 11.6 15.1 23.8 29.0 14.5 6.2 5.5 5.4 5.5 4.3 2.1 15.7 13.2 - 11.3 15.1 22.9 26.5 14.5 7.5 2.7 5.8 5.0 5.1 4.0 2.0 14.6 12.9 - 10.2 15.0 21.8 26.2 13.5 7.0 2.5 5.8 5.5 5.6 4.4 2.3 14.6 12.3 - 14.5 5.7 5.0 5.2 4.3 2.1 - - 9.5 13.0 18.1 *23.0 4.9 4.6 4.9 3.6 1.9 11.7 - - 11.5 14.5 24.2 23.2 15.0 7.0 2.3 5.9 5.6 6.0 4.8 2.6 16.4 13.8 - 12.3 15.7 25.6 30.3 15.6 7.2 3.0 6.1 5.2 5.4 4.5 2.3 15.7 13.9 - 14.8 14.5 7.0 6.0 5.4 5.7 4.3 2.2 - 11.9 14.8 23.5 28.0 14.2 7.0 2.9 5.8 5.1 5.4 4.3 2.1 16.8 14.1 - 11.1 14.9 23.7 29.0 14.6 7.0 2.9 6.2 5.8 6.2 4.5 2.3 16.0 14.2 - 12.6 15.8 24.5 29.9 14.3 7.1 2.6 6.1 5.4 5.6 4.3 2.5 17.5 9.5 - - 9.5 12.7 19.7 22.5 12.4 5.9 2.0 5.1 4.5 4.7 3.7 1.7 12.9 11.3 - - boliviensis - 10.0 14.7 22.2 25.0 13.4 7.4 2.2 5.3 5.0 5.2 4.4 2.2 14.8 12.4 - 5.5 5.0 5.4 4.2 2.2 - 5.1 4.8 5.1 3.9 1.9 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela africana - A. M. N. H. 374.75 [M] sad. Pará, Brazil 47.8 17.2 14.3 - B. M. 5.1.25.1. [M]? sad. Pará, Brazil 44.9 16.4 13.0 - B. M. 26.1.8.10. [M]? ad. Pará, Brazil 44.6 16.4 13.3 - - Mustela africana - B. M. 24.12.12.24. [F] ad. Moyobamba, Perú 45.8 16.9 13.5 - M. P. H. N. 563 [F] ad. Yurimaguas, Perú 17.5± - A. M. N. H. 61813 [F] yg. Val. d. Perené, Perú 44.6 16.0 13.0 - - Mustela erminea - M. C. Z. 10012 [M] ad. Pt. Barrow 43.3 15.9 15.2 - F. M. N. H. 35894 [M] ad. Pt. Barrow 41.8 15.6 15.3 - A. N. S. P. 6909 [M] ad. Pt. Barrow 42.3 15.1 14.8 - A. N. S. P. 6910 [M] ad. Pt. Barrow 16.2 16.0 - N. M. C. 2445 [M] ad. Salirochet River 42.8 15.7 15.4 - av. 5 42.5 15.7 15.3 - - F. M. N. H. 35895 [F] ad. Pt. Barrow 35.4 13.1 12.7 - M. V. Z. 43286 [F] ad. Pt. Barrow 35.4 12.9 12.0 - U. S. N. M. 243489 [F] sad. Alatna River 37.0 13.4 11.9 - U. S. N. M. 243493 [F] sad. 16 mi. below Bettles 36.2 13.0 12.0 - U. S. N. M. 180459 [F] ad. N. Fk. Kuskokim 35.3 12.9 11.2 - U. S. N. M. 242205 [F] ad. Fairbanks 34.5 12.4 11.5 - U. S. N. M. 157306 [F] sad. Bear Creek 36.9 13.5 12.6 - U. S. N. M. 157305 [F] sad. Bear Creek 35.2 12.5 11.4 - av. 8 35.8 12.9 11.8 - - Mustela erminea - M. C. Z. 29831 [M] ad. Ymer Is. 41.6 15.6 15.3 - C. Z. M. 1245 [M] ad. Danmarks Havn. 40.7 15.0 14.7 - C. Z. M. 1246 [M] ad. Danmarks Havn. 39.0 14.1 13.8 - C. Z. M. 1247 [M] ad. Danmarks Havn. 41.0 15.2 14.5 - C. Z. M. 1248 [M] ad. Danmarks Havn. 42.3 15.5 15.5 - C. Z. M. 1249 [M] ad. Danmarks Havn. 42.2 15.8 15.0 - C. Z. M. 1871 [M] ad. Scoresby Sd. 42.4 15.3 15.3 - av. 7 41.3 15.2 14.9 - - C. Z. M. 1060 [F] ad. Turner Sd. 35.9 13.0 12.5 - B. Z. M. 43965 [F] ad. Kap Hoegh 37.8 13.4 12.7 - - Mustela erminea - C. M. 6688 [M] ad. Prairie Point *39.9 14.5 13.5 - - average} {37.5 13.8 13.1 - maximum} [M] 1 ad. and Southampton Isl. {39.9 14.5 13.5 - minimum} 10 sad. {35.7 13.1 12.6 - - C. M. 8474 [F] ad. Minnimunnek Pt. 32.6 11.9 11.3 - - average} {34.2 12.4 11.7 - maximum} [F] 1 ad. and Southampton Isl. {35.1 13.0 12.7 - minimum} 4 sad. {32.6 11.9 11.3 - - Mustela erminea - U. S. N. M. 107496 [M] ad. Kadiak 43.2 15.4 14.9 - F. M. N. H. 7290 [M] ad. Kadiak Id. 42.1 14.9 14.0 - - U. S. N. M. 98042 [F] ad. Kadiak 33.0 12.0 10.2 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - africana - 12.9 15.4 26.4 32.2 16.9 8.2 2.8 6.6 5.8 6.2 4.7 2.4 17.8 14.9 - 10.2 14.2 23.3 26.8 14.4 7.0 2.7 5.9 5.4 5.5 4.5 1.8 16.4 13.7 - 10.9 14.4 24.4 29.4 14.4 6.7 2.5 6.0 5.6 5.7 4.5 1.8 15.5 13.6 - - stolzmanni - 12.0 14.6 23.5 28.8 14.5 6.2 2.6 5.9 5.4 4.9 4.3 1.8 16.5 13.9 - 6.0 5.8 5.6 4.4 2.3 - 11.0 15.4 24.1 28.9 15.7 7.0 2.8 6.2 5.6 5.9 4.5 2.2 16.8 13.4 - - arctica - 12.0 16.2 23.5 27.6 15.5 8.4 5.6 5.1 5.1 3.9 2.0 13.3 13.2 - 13.3 16.0 23.2 27.6 15.1 8.5 6.0 5.2 5.3 4.0 2.2 14.1 13.5 - 11.6 15.3 22.9 26.2 15.2 8.4 5.9 5.1 5.3 4.1 2.4 14.5 12.5 - 12.7 16.7 5.7 5.4 5.7 4.3 2.1 - 13.0 16.0 23.5 28.5 15.2 8.0 5.6 5.0 5.2 4.0 2.0 14.3 13.3 - 12.5 16.0 23.3 27.5 15.3 8.3 5.8 5.2 5.3 4.1 2.1 14.1 13.1 - - 10.3 13.3 19.3 23.0 12.7 7.2 5.0 4.5 4.8 3.5 1.7 12.0 10.5 - 10.0 13.2 18.8 21.8 12.6 6.7 4.6 4.2 4.3 3.2 1.8 11.4 10.3 - 9.4 13.5 19.4 22.0 13.2 7.2 4.7 4.3 4.5 3.3 1.7 11.9 10.6 - 9.4 13.0 19.1 21.8 12.9 7.2 5.0 4.2 4.5 3.3 1.8 11.9 10.3 - 8.8 12.8 18.9 20.7 12.7 7.0 4.7 4.3 4.5 3.3 1.8 10.5 9.7 - 9.3 13.0 18.0 12.7 6.8 4.8 4.3 4.5 3.3 1.7 11.8 10.2 - 9.5 13.6 18.7 20.9 13.0 6.9 4.8 4.4 4.5 3.3 1.8 11.4 10.2 - 9.6 12.8 17.8 20.5 12.6 6.3 4.8 4.2 4.4 3.3 1.6 11.2 10.1 - 9.3 13.1 18.7 21.2 12.9 6.9 4.8 4.3 4.5 3.3 1.7 11.5 10.2 - - polaris - 12.0 13.0 22.3 26.1 14.8 8.0 5.8 5.2 5.7 4.1 2.2 13.7 12.3 - 11.9 14.9 22.3 25.5 14.6 7.8 5.9 5.1 5.6 3.9 2.0 13.4 12.2 - 10.9 14.2 21.3 24.7 14.5 7.3 5.3 4.8 5.0 3.7 1.9 12.0 11.2 - 11.5 14.4 22.3 26.7 14.4 7.6 5.7 5.1 5.5 4.1 2.0 13.1 12.1 - 12.0 15.3 23.2 27.9 15.1 8.1 5.8 5.5 5.8 4.0 2.3 13.8 12.8 - 12.2 15.1 23.2 28.0 15.2 8.1 5.9 5.2 5.7 4.2 2.3 13.7 12.4 - 12.3 15.6 15.4 8.3 5.7 5.1 5.3 3.9 2.0 14.4 12.8 - 11.8 14.9 22.4 26.5 14.9 7.9 5.7 5.2 5.5 4.0 2.1 13.4 12.3 - - 10.1 12.9 19.6 22.6 13.6 7.1 5.0 4.5 4.7 3.6 1.7 12.3 10.3 - 10.4 13.2 19.3 22.4 13.9 7.0 4.8 4.2 4.5 3.7 1.8 12.1 10.9 - - semplei - 11.5 14.6 21.5 24.8 14.1 7.9 5.0 4.6 4.7 3.6 2.0 14.0 11.6 - - 10.6 13.8 20.2 23.6 13.6 7.2 5.1 4.7 4.9 3.6 2.0 13.4 11.0 - 11.5 14.8 21.5 24.8 15.0 7.9 5.3 4.9 5.0 3.7 2.3 14.0 11.6 - 9.7 12.7 19.2 22.2 12.9 6.4 4.8 4.4 4.5 3.4 1.8 12.3 10.5 - - 9.2 12.2 18.5 21.2 12.2 6.6 4.4 3.9 4.2 3.0 1.5 11.9 9.8 - - 9.5 12.6 18.8 20.9 12.8 6.7 4.5 4.1 4.3 3.1 1.6 12.1 10.1 - 9.9 13.1 19.4 21.5 13.4 7.0 4.3 4.3 4.5 3.3 1.7 12.4 10.4 - 9.2 12.2 18.1 20.1 12.2 6.6 4.6 3.9 4.2 3.0 1.5 11.9 9.6 - - kadiacensis - 11.1 14.9 22.1 26.0 15.1 7.6 5.5 5.1 5.1 3.8 2.0 14.0 12.2 - 10.9 14.4 21.6 26.0 14.1 7.1 5.7 5.2 5.2 3.8 1.7 13.5 11.5 - - 8.0 11.3 16.9 19.4 11.5 6.0 4.4 4.0 4.0 2.8 1.4 11.5 8.9 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela erminea - average} {40.9 14.3 12.5 - maximum} [M] ad. 6 3 mi. S Big Isl. {43.7 15.0 13.2 - minimum} {39.6 13.8 11.7 - - average} {40.2 14.1 12.2 - maximum} [M] sad. 7 3 mi. S Big Isl. {41.5 14.7 12.6 - minimum} {38.4 13.6 12.0 - - U. S. N. M. 136112 [F] ad. Willow River 33.0 11.5 8.8 - M. C. Z. 242866 [F] sad. 3 mi. S Big Isl. 32.3 11.0 9.0 - U. S. N. M. 129703 [F] ad. Ft. Resolution 34.2 12.0 10.4 - U. S. N. M. 110682 [F] sad. 15 mi. above Smith Landing 33.8 11.3 9.8 - U. S. N. M. 235959 [F] ad. Athabasca Delta 33.1 11.7 9.3 - M. C. Z. 18776 [F] ad. Athabasca Delta 31.5 10.8 8.9 - av. 6 33.0 11.4 9.4 - - Mustela erminea - M. V. Z. 53789 [M] ad. Ogdensburg, N. Y. 36.6 12.9 11.5 - U. S. N. M. 32240/44066 [M] sad. Amsterdam, N. Y. 36.7 12.9 11.5 - - A. M. N. H. 67869 [M] ad. Berlin, N. Y. 36.2 12.5 10.2 - A. M. N. H. 67868 [M] ad. Berlin, N. Y. 34.8 12.1 9.8 - A. M. N. H. 15841 [M] ad. Schoharie, N. Y. 33.8 11.7 9.7 - Cornell 494 [M] sad. Cascadilla Creek, N. Y. 34.8 12.2 10.4 - C. M. 7461 [M] sad. Pymatuning Swamp 34.2 12.0 9.6 - C. M. 10264 [M] sad. 3-1/2 mi. W Linesville 37.6 13.2 11.0 - M. V. Z. 53788 [M] sad. Lopez, Penn. 36.5 12.6 10.7 - av. 9 35.7 12.5 10.5 - - U. S. N. M. 135570 [F] ad. Lake George 33.3 11.8 9.3 - B. S. N. 994 [F] sad. Cattaraugus 31.4 10.8 9.2 - C. M. 7460 [F] sad. Pymatuning Swamp 32.0 10.9 9.2 - C. M. 10252 [F] sad. 3 mi. NW Linesville 32.7 11.2 9.5 - av. 4 32.4 11.2 9.4 - - Mustela erminea - F. M. N. H. 18134 [M] ad. Aitkin, Minn. 40.3 14.1 12.7 - F. M. N. H. 18135 [M] ad. Aitkin, Minn. 14.1 12.5 - F. M. N. H. 18130 [M] ad. Aitkin, Minn. 40.7 15.0 12.2 - F. M. N. H. 18133 [M] ad. Aitkin, Minn. 39.3 13.9 11.2 - F. M. N. H. 18131 [M] ad. Aitkin, Minn. 38.5 13.4 11.2 - F. M. N. H. 7222 [M] ad. Aitkin, Minn. 13.6 12.4 - F. M. N. H. 18127 [M] sad. Aitkin, Minn. 38.4 13.1 11.1 - F. M. N. H. 18129 [M] sad. Aitkin, Minn. 39.4 13.7 11.1 - F. M. N. H. 18132 [M] sad. Aitkin, Minn. 39.3 14.3 11.5 - F. M. N. H. 18441 [M] sad. Aitkin, Minn. 40.2 14.0 12.0 - F. M. N. H. 18440 [M] sad. Aitkin, Minn. 38.8 13.8 11.3 - F. M. N. H. 7219 [M] sad. Aitkin, Minn. 13.9 11.9 - av. 12 39.4 13.9 11.8 - - average} {37.9 13.2 11.4 - maximum} [M] ad. 5 and Elk River {39.5 13.9 12.6 - minimum} sad. 5 {34.8 12.0 10.5 - - Walker 377 [F] ad. Deer 31.8 11.0 9.0 - Walker 11 [F] ad. Grand Maris 32.7 10.8 - Wisc. U. 8681 [F] ad. T. 61N, R. 26W 32.9 10.8 9.2 - Wisc. U. 8679 [F] ad. T. 61N, R. 26W 33.6 11.6 9.8 - Walker A 58 [F] ad. Elk River 32.8 11.5 9.9 - av. 5 32.8 11.1 9.5 - - Wisc. U. 8691 [F] ad. Fisher Lake 31.5 10.6 9.5 - Wisc. U. 8674 [F] ad. Gordon 32.8 11.5 9.8 - Snyder 2637 [F] ad. Beaver Dam 32.9 11.0 9.8 - Snyder 993 [F] ad. Beaver Dam 34.1 11.3 9.4 - Snyder 2999 [F] ad. Beaver Dam 31.9 10.8 9.2 - av. 5 32.6 11.0 9.5 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - richardsonii - 10.2 13.5 21.2 24.2 14.9 7.9 5.3 4.7 4.8 3.8 2.1 13.0 11.9 - 11.1 14.0 22.2 25.5 15.5 8.3 6.0 5.0 5.2 4.2 2.3 14.2 11.4 - 9.4 12.9 20.0 22.9 14.2 7.2 4.9 4.5 4.6 3.7 2.0 12.5 12.3 - - 9.8 14.0 20.6 23.3 14.6 7.7 5.2 4.7 4.9 3.7 2.1 13.6 11.8 - 10.4 14.2 21.5 24.4 15.1 8.2 5.5 4.9 5.0 3.8 2.5 14.5 12.2 - 9.5 13.7 20.0 22.0 13.7 7.0 5.0 4.5 4.7 3.5 2.0 12.8 11.4 - - 7.6 11.4 15.9 18.0 12.5 5.7 4.0 3.8 3.9 2.7 1.5 11.6 8.9 - 7.2 11.7 16.6 17.7 12.3 6.5 4.0 3.7 3.9 3.0 1.5 10.0 8.8 - 8.2 11.5 17.2 19.7 12.3 6.5 4.2 4.0 4.2 3.2 1.7 12.0 9.6 - 7.4 11.0 16.5 18.3 12.1 6.0 4.2 3.8 3.9 2.9 1.5 11.2 9.3 - 7.3 11.0 15.7 18.1 11.6 5.6 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.0 1.6 10.5 8.6 - 7.6 11.2 16.3 18.3 11.6 6.3 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.1 1.6 11.0 8.7 - 7.6 11.3 16.4 18.3 12.1 6.3 4.0 3.8 3.9 3.0 1.6 11.1 9.0 - - cicognanii - 9.1 13.2 18.5 21.7 13.3 7.0 4.7 4.4 4.5 3.4 1.8 12.3 10.4 - 9.4 13.3 19.1 21.5 13.7 6.9 4.6 4.4 4.5 3.4 2.0 13.2 10.8 - - 8.9 12.7 18.8 20.6 12.9 6.7 4.3 3.8 4.0 3.3 1.9 11.5 10.0 - 8.2 12.7 17.4 19.8 12.3 6.3 4.5 3.9 4.1 2.9 1.7 11.5 9.7 - 7.7 11.9 17.3 20.0 11.8 6.4 4.2 3.8 4.0 2.9 1.5 11.8 9.5 - 8.3 12.5 17.9 19.3 12.4 6.6 4.4 4.1 4.2 3.0 1.6 12.2 10.3 - 8.1 12.8 17.3 19.0 11.9 6.4 4.3 3.9 4.2 3.0 1.9 11.5 9.2 - 8.9 12.7 18.8 20.6 12.9 7.2 4.9 4.3 4.5 3.5 2.0 12.6 10.6 - 8.6 12.6 18.6 20.3 13.1 6.8 4.5 4.1 4.3 3.2 1.6 10.9 9.9 - 8.6 12.7 18.2 20.3 12.7 6.7 4.5 4.1 4.3 3.2 1.8 11.9 10.0 - - 7.8 11.4 11.8 5.8 4.4 3.8 4.0 3.0 1.8 9.1 - 7.2 10.0 15.3 10.7 5.7 3.8 3.7 3.6 2.7 1.5 10.3 8.2 - 7.5 11.0 15.9 17.5 11.1 5.9 3.7 3.4 3.6 2.8 1.5 10.3 8.2 - 7.6 11.3 16.0 18.0 11.8 6.2 3.9 3.6 3.7 3.1 1.7 10.9 8.8 - 7.5 10.9 15.7 17.8 11.4 5.9 3.9 3.6 3.7 2.9 1.6 10.5 8.6 - - bangsi - 10.6 14.6 20.6 23.5 14.3 7.7 4.9 4.6 4.9 3.6 1.9 13.3 11.8 - 10.4 14.4 24.3 5.3 4.5 4.6 3.7 2.1 12.2 - 9.7 14.6 20.2 22.8 14.6 7.5 5.2 5.0 5.1 3.8 2.6 13.5 12.0 - 9.0 13.0 19.5 22.0 14.3 7.2 5.1 4.5 4.6 3.5 2.0 13.0 11.2 - 9.0 12.6 18.8 21.0 13.7 7.3 4.8 4.4 4.5 3.4 1.8 12.0 10.5 - 9.5 13.3 14.4 7.9 4.8 4.4 4.4 3.5 1.8 11.2 - 9.0 13.0 19.5 22.0 14.3 6.9 4.6 4.5 4.5 3.5 1.9 13.4 11.0 - 9.1 13.3 19.0 21.6 13.6 7.2 4.7 4.3 4.5 3.4 2.0 12.8 11.1 - 9.5 13.2 20.2 22.8 14.3 7.2 4.9 4.7 4.7 3.5 2.1 12.5 11.2 - 9.9 14.6 19.6 22.6 15.0 7.1 5.2 4.7 4.8 3.7 2.0 13.3 11.5 - 9.3 13.2 19.7 22.0 13.8 7.6 5.1 4.5 4.7 3.7 2.0 13.0 11.1 - 10.0 13.5 24.7 14.6 7.3 5.3 4.6 4.8 4.0 2.1 11.8 - 9.6 13.6 19.7 22.7 14.3 7.4 5.0 4.6 4.7 3.6 2.0 13.0 11.4 - - 9.1 13.1 19.3 21.6 14.4 7.2 4.7 4.3 4.4 3.4 1.9 12.7 10.8 - 9.8 14.2 20.5 22.8 15.3 8.0 5.1 4.4 4.6 3.6 2.0 14.0 11.7 - 8.5 12.2 18.0 20.8 12.4 6.3 4.3 4.1 4.1 3.1 1.7 12.0 10.0 - - 7.5 10.9 16.6 18.4 11.7 5.9 4.2 3.7 3.8 2.8 1.6 11.2 9.3 - 11.0 15.9 17.3 12.2 5.6 3.9 3.8 3.8 2.9 1.6 10.7 8.5 - 7.4 11.3 15.8 16.8 12.3 6.2 3.8 3.6 3.6 2.8 1.4 10.0 8.3 - 7.6 12.2 15.7 17.1 11.9 5.7 4.0 3.6 3.7 3.0 1.6 9.6 8.9 - 8.1 11.3 16.8 18.3 11.8 6.4 4.0 3.8 4.0 2.9 1.7 10.5 9.2 - 7.7 11.3 16.2 17.6 12.0 6.0 4.0 3.7 3.9 2.9 1.6 10.4 8.8 - - 7.7 10.8 15.8 17.4 11.2 5.6 3.8 3.5 3.7 2.6 1.4 10.4 8.5 - 7.2 11.4 15.7 16.7 11.6 5.7 4.2 3.8 3.8 2.8 1.6 9.6 8.9 - 7.8 11.7 16.9 18.9 12.2 6.4 4.1 3.8 3.8 3.2 1.5 11.3 9.7 - 7.5 11.8 16.7 18.0 12.8 6.1 4.4 3.8 3.8 3.0 1.7 10.8 9.0 - 7.4 11.2 15.9 17.5 12.4 5.8 4.0 3.6 3.8 3.0 1.6 11.4 9.2 - 7.5 11.4 16.2 17.7 12.0 5.9 4.1 3.7 3.8 2.9 1.6 10.7 9.1 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela erminea - average} {37.0 12.8 11.4 - maximum} [M] ad. 5 Idaho Co {39.8 14.1 13.0 - minimum} {35.8 12.2 10.6 - - M. V. Z. 90763 [F] ad. Pilot Creek, Idaho 31.6 10.8 9.2 - - average} {32.2 10.6 9.0 - maximum} [F] ad. 1 and Idaho Co {32.8 11.2 9.2 - minimum} sad. 4 {31.6 10.8 8.5 - - Mustela erminea - average} {37.5 13.1 11.5 - maximum} [M] ad. 8 Windham {38.9 13.7 12.3 - minimum} {36.5 12.3 11.0 - - U. S. N. M. 74422 [F] ad. Juneau 33.2 11.4 10.5 - M. V. Z. 995 [F] ad. Juneau 33.1 11.3 9.4 - M. V. Z. 473 [F] ad. Helm Bay 32.9 11.2 9.5 - U. S. N. M. 74773 [F] ad. Wrangel 32.2 11.3 9.2 - M. V. Z. 78243 [F] sad. Windham 31.9 11.1 10.1 - av. 5 32.7 11.3 9.7 - - Mustela erminea - average} {37.8 13.0 11.9 - maximum} [M] ad. to sad. 12 Mole Harbor {39.5 13.7 13.0 - minimum} {36.4 12.5 10.7 - - average} {33.0 11.3 9.9 - maximum} [F] ad. 2 and Mole Harbor {33.6 11.9 10.2 - minimum} sad. 4 {32.0 10.9 9.5 - - Mustela erminea - M. V. Z. 289 [M] ad. Saook Bay 40.5 13.9 12.8 - M. V. Z. 286 [M] ad. Saook Bay 39.6 13.5 13.1 - - Mustela erminea - average} {39.5 14.0 13.6 - maximum} [M] ad. 5 Prince of Wales Id {40.7 14.4 14.5 - minimum} {38.9 13.9 13.1 - - average} {38.7 13.6 13.2 - maximum} [M] ad. 5 and Prince of Wales Id {40.9 14.4 14.5 - minimum} sad. 15 {36.7 13.0 11.8 - - M. V. Z. 31223 [F] sad. Prince of Wales Id 12.2 11.5 - - Mustela erminea - M. V. Z. 31232 [M] ad. Suemez Id 34.3 12.6 12.6 - - Mustela erminea - U. S. N. M. 94430 [M] ad. Massett 36.7 13.4 12.7 - - average} {36.7 13.4 12.7 - maximum} [M] ad. 7 Graham Id {37.5 13.6 12.9 - minimum} {35.6 13.0 12.2 - - M. V. Z. 31209 [F] ad. Massett 34.2 12.5 11.3 - U. S. N. M. 100624 [F] ad. Cumsheva Inlet 34.2 12.3 11.5 - - Mustela erminea - average} {34.0 11.7 10.8 - maximum} [M] 13 ad. Vancouver Id {35.6 12.2 11.3 - minimum} {32.5 11.0 10.1 - - average} {31.5 10.9 9.8 - maximum} [F] 5 ad. Vancouver Id {31.8 11.1 10.0 - minimum} {30.9 10.5 9.6 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - invicta - 9.1 13.1 19.0 21.3 13.6 7.0 4.5 4.1 4.2 3.2 1.7 11.7 10.5 - 10.0 14.2 19.7 22.6 14.2 7.1 4.9 4.3 4.5 3.5 1.9 12.3 11.3 - 8.6 12.0 18.2 20.5 13.3 6.8 4.2 4.0 4.0 3.1 1.4 10.9 9.7 - - 7.0 10.5 15.6 16.5 10.9 5.6 4.0 3.6 3.7 2.9 1.4 9.0 8.2 - - 7.1 11.1 16.3 17.2 12.0 5.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 2.8 1.4 9.5 8.3 - 7.2 12.2 17.0 17.8 12.7 6.5 4.3 3.9 3.9 2.9 1.5 10.0 8.7 - 7.0 10.5 15.6 16.5 10.9 5.6 3.5 3.6 3.6 2.7 1.3 9.0 8.0 - - alascensis - 9.4 13.2 19.4 21.9 13.2 6.9 4.8 4.2 4.4 3.5 1.9 12.5 10.7 - 10.1 14.3 20.5 23.7 13.7 7.4 5.0 4.4 4.7 3.9 2.2 13.8 11.6 - 8.6 12.0 18.5 20.4 12.9 6.6 4.5 4.1 4.2 3.3 1.8 11.8 10.4 - - 8.3 10.5 16.2 18.3 11.5 5.7 3.9 3.5 3.7 2.9 1.6 10.0 8.7 - 7.8 11.3 16.3 17.8 12.0 5.8 3.9 3.7 3.8 2.9 1.7 8.7 - 8.5 11.6 16.3 17.6 11.9 6.0 4.0 3.7 3.9 2.6 1.4 10.5 9.3 - 7.5 16.0 17.6 11.9 5.8 4.0 3.8 4.0 3.2 1.7 11.5 8.7 - 7.7 11.5 16.8 18.0 11.5 5.7 4.0 3.6 3.8 3.1 1.7 10.6 8.8 - 8.0 11.2 16.3 17.9 11.8 5.8 4.0 3.7 3.8 2.9 1.6 10.6 8.8 - - salva - 9.6 13.3 19.2 22.0 12.8 6.8 4.6 4.3 4.4 3.5 1.8 11.7 10.7 - 10.8 14.2 20.0 23.2 13.8 7.2 5.0 4.6 4.8 3.9 2.0 13.1 11.4 - 8.4 12.4 18.0 20.4 12.0 6.2 4.4 4.0 4.0 3.1 1.7 11.2 10.0 - - 8.1 11.6 16.5 18.2 11.5 5.8 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.0 1.5 10.1 9.1 - 8.7 12.3 17.1 18.7 12.0 6.2 4.2 3.9 3.9 3.2 1.6 10.9 9.4 - 7.5 11.1 15.4 17.1 11.0 5.3 3.8 3.6 3.6 2.9 1.5 8.9 8.4 - - initis - 10.6 14.4 22.1 24.5 14.8 7.6 5.2 4.7 5.0 4.1 1.9 12.8 11.0 - 11.4 15.0 21.0 24.3 13.6 7.6 5.0 4.7 4.9 3.6 2.1 12.3 12.0 - - celenda - 11.5 14.7 20.9 24.2 13.6 7.5 5.1 4.7 4.8 3.7 1.9 12.9 11.6 - 12.1 15.6 21.7 25.8 14.2 7.9 5.1 4.9 4.9 3.9 2.2 13.6 12.5 - 10.9 13.8 19.9 23.2 13.2 7.0 5.0 4.6 4.6 3.6 1.7 12.3 10.8 - - 11.2 14.4 20.3 23.3 13.2 7.3 5.0 4.6 4.7 3.6 1.8 12.9 11.4 - 12.1 15.6 21.7 25.8 14.2 7.9 5.3 5.0 4.9 3.9 2.2 13.6 12.5 - 10.2 13.4 19.0 21.3 12.3 6.8 4.6 4.3 4.2 3.3 1.6 12.1 10.8 - - 9.8 12.6 4.5 4.2 4.2 3.2 1.5 10.0 - - seclusa - 10.6 13.9 20.2 22.7 12.7 6.9 5.1 4.7 5.0 3.8 1.8 12.3 11.5 - - haidarum - 10.5 13.9 19.3 22.6 12.4 6.4 5.0 4.3 4.5 3.3 1.9 12.4 11.4 - - 10.9 14.3 18.9 21.8 12.6 6.8 5.0 4.3 4.6 3.4 1.7 12.6 11.3 - 11.2 14.8 19.6 22.4 13.0 7.1 4.8 4.4 4.7 3.4 1.9 13.1 11.7 - 10.5 14.0 18.0 21.1 12.3 6.4 5.1 4.2 4.4 3.3 1.6 12.1 10.8 - - 9.8 13.3 17.3 19.8 11.5 6.1 4.7 4.1 4.2 3.0 1.5 11.5 10.2 - 9.8 13.1 17.0 19.8 11.8 6.1 4.6 4.0 4.3 3.2 1.7 11.2 10.0 - - anguinae - 9.0 12.0 17.1 19.3 11.9 6.1 4.3 3.8 4.0 3.1 1.7 11.6 10.0 - 9.6 12.5 17.9 20.6 12.5 6.7 4.6 4.0 4.1 3.3 1.9 12.5 10.5 - 8.5 11.3 16.5 18.8 11.2 5.7 4.0 3.6 3.7 2.9 1.6 10.7 9.8 - - 8.2 11.5 15.8 17.5 10.8 5.5 4.0 3.6 3.8 2.9 1.6 10.5 9.3 - 8.8 12.4 16.1 17.8 11.1 5.7 4.2 3.8 4.0 3.0 1.6 11.5 10.0 - 7.9 10.6 15.6 17.3 10.4 5.4 3.8 3.5 3.6 2.8 1.5 10.0 8.9 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Continued_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela erminea - average} {35.7 12.6 11.1 - maximum} [M] ad. 7 Topotypes {38.2 13.1 11.6 - minimum} {34.3 12.0 10.5 - - N. M. C. 7284 [F] ad. Topotype 29.4 10.1 9.1 - N. M. C. 7516 [F] ad. Topotype 31.1 10.1 9.6 - M. C. Z. 6852 [F] ad. Sumas 31.3 10.3 9.2 - M. C. Z. 3645 [F] ad. Sumas 29.4 10.2 8.6 - M. C. Z. 10728 [F] ad. Sumas 31.7 10.2 9.1 - - Mustela erminea - U. S. N. M. 90738 [M] ad. Type 31.9 11.6 10.0 - U. S. N. M. 241941 [M] ad. N. Fk. Quinault River 32.5 11.7 10.2 - U. S. N. M. 231829 [M] ad. Duckabush 30.6 10.9 9.2 - U. S. N. M. 231830 [M] ad. Duckabush 32.1 11.1 10.0 - M. Z. 53700 [M] ad. Lake Cushman 32.0 11.4 9.8 - av. 5 31.8 11.3 9.8 - - C. R. C. M. 96 [F] ad. Elwha River 27.5 9.4 8.3 - C. R. C. M. 1164 [F] ad. 12 mi. S Port Angeles 26.7 9.0 8.1 - U. S. N. M. 242133 [F] ad. Hayes Creek 27.2 9.2 8.4 - av. 3 27.1 9.2 8.3 - - Mustela erminea - average} {33.2 11.7 10.5 - maximum} [M] ad. 12 Tillamook Co {33.8 12.1 11.1 - minimum} {32.5 11.3 10.0 - - average} {28.5 9.9 8.9 - maximum} [F] ad. 7 Tillamook Co {29.5 10.2 9.2 - minimum} {27.6 9.6 8.7 - - Mustela erminea - U. S. N. M. 82177 [M] ad. Trout Lake 32.0 11.3 10.1 - U. S. N. M. 64768 [M] ad. Trout Lake 33.3 12.0 9.9 - - average} {32.3 11.5 10.0 - maximum} [M] ad. 2, sad. 13 Trout Lake {33.4 12.0 10.7 - minimum} {30.9 10.8 9.0 - - U. S. N. M. 232741 [F] ad. Reflection Lakes 28.4 9.6 8.7 - U. S. N. M. 90727 [F] ad. Mt. St. Helens 28.0 9.7 8.1 - U. S. N. M. 81919 [F] ad. Trout Lake 28.1 9.7 8.8 - U. S. N. M. 87039 [F] ad. Trout Lake 28.4 9.8 8.7 - U. S. N. M. 77370 [F] ad. Trout Lake 27.8 9.6 8.6 - av. 5 28.1 9.7 8.6 - - Mustela erminea - U. S. N. M. 231397 [M] ad. Donovan, Mont *31.2 10.5 9.5 - U. S. N. M. 206991 [M] ad. Mill Creek, Oreg *30.9 10.8 9.0 - M. V. Z. 34746 [M] ad. Black Butte, Calif 30.8 11.1 9.4 - M. V. Z. 41501 [M] ad. Wheeler Peak, Nev 29.8 10.4 9.3 - E. R. W. 3050 [M] ad. Crested Butte, Colo. *30.4 11.1 9.8 - av. 5 30.6 10.8 9.4 - - M. Z. 62111 [F] ad. Teton Co., Wyoming 28.0 9.7 8.3 - M. Z. 62112 [F] ad. Teton Co., Wyoming 27.3 9.7 8.1 - M. V. Z. 13776 [F] ad. Rush Creek, California 28.1 9.5 8.8 - M. V. Z. 13777 [F] ad. Castle Lake, California 29.4 9.9 8.8 - M. V. Z. 41502 [F] ad. Wheeler Peak, Nev 27.3 9.3 8.0 - F. M. N. H. 11440 [F] ad. Camp Albion, Colo 27.8 9.4 8.4 - av. 6 28.0 9.6 8.4 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - fallenda - 9.2 12.5 18.3 20.8 13.1 6.8 **4.7 **4.2 **4.4 **3.4 **1.9 11.7 10.5 - 9.9 13.0 19.6 22.8 14.1 7.6 5.1 4.6 4.7 3.6 2.1 12.4 11.0 - 8.3 12.0 17.0 19.4 12.2 6.2 4.3 3.9 3.9 3.2 1.7 11.0 10.0 - - 7.1 10.5 15.4 17.4 11.1 5.5 3.7 3.5 3.6 2.8 1.5 10.5 8.6 - 8.0 11.0 16.0 18.5 11.5 5.6 4.1 3.7 3.8 2.9 1.5 10.0 9.0 - 7.3 10.1 15.8 17.2 11.0 5.3 3.8 3.5 3.7 2.7 1.5 11.0 8.7 - 7.3 10.7 14.7 15.4 10.5 5.2 3.8 3.5 3.8 2.7 1.5 9.5 8.3 - 7.1 10.7 15.7 17.4 11.5 5.5 3.8 3.4 3.7 2.6 1.2 9.3 8.2 - - olympica - 7.9 11.9 15.3 17.9 11.6 5.3 4.0 3.6 3.9 2.9 2.1 9.9 8.9 - 8.2 12.0 16.3 18.2 11.7 5.6 4.2 3.6 3.7 2.9 1.8 10.0 9.2 - 7.4 10.3 15.0 17.2 10.7 5.2 4.2 3.5 3.7 2.7 1.7 10.0 8.6 - 8.2 12.3 16.6 18.6 11.2 5.9 4.0 3.7 3.9 3.0 1.7 10.2 9.3 - 8.0 11.0 16.9 18.8 11.4 6.3 4.3 3.8 3.9 3.1 1.7 10.3 9.2 - 7.9 11.5 16.0 18.1 11.3 5.7 4.2 3.7 3.9 2.9 1.8 10.1 9.0 - - 6.9 9.3 13.2 15.3 10.2 4.6 3.4 3.0 3.3 2.5 1.3 8.5 7.2 - 6.7 9.0 13.1 14.4 9.7 4.8 3.4 3.1 3.4 2.3 1.3 9.0 7.3 - 7.2 9.2 13.7 15.4 9.5 4.8 3.3 3.0 3.1 2.1 1.2 8.3 7.2 - 6.9 9.2 13.3 15.0 9.8 4.7 3.4 3.1 3.3 2.3 1.2 8.6 7.2 - - streatori - 8.5 11.7 17.0 19.2 11.8 6.4 4.3 3.8 3.9 3.1 1.8 10.8 9.8 - 9.1 12.5 18.0 19.8 12.6 6.9 4.4 4.0 4.1 3.5 2.1 11.4 10.3 - 8.2 11.1 16.1 18.5 11.1 6.0 4.1 3.6 3.8 2.9 1.6 10.3 9.5 - - 7.3 10.1 14.3 15.9 10.6 5.2 3.6 3.2 3.5 2.6 1.6 9.4 8.1 - 7.6 10.2 14.8 16.3 11.2 5.4 3.7 3.3 3.6 2.7 1.7 10.0 8.4 - 7.0 9.8 14.1 15.5 10.0 5.0 3.5 3.1 3.3 2.5 1.5 9.2 7.9 - - gulosa - 8.5 11.2 16.3 18.3 11.3 5.9 4.2 3.8 4.1 2.9 1.6 10.5 9.4 - 8.3 12.2 16.9 18.5 11.8 5.9 4.2 3.7 3.7 2.8 1.8 10.6 9.4 - - 8.3 11.5 16.4 18.4 11.5 5.9 4.2 3.7 3.9 2.9 1.7 10.3 9.2 - 8.8 12.4 17.2 19.3 12.1 6.3 4.5 3.8 4.1 3.2 2.0 11.2 9.7 - 7.4 10.8 15.6 17.8 10.8 5.5 3.9 3.5 3.6 2.7 1.6 9.6 8.5 - - 7.4 9.3 14.1 15.8 10.9 5.4 3.7 3.2 3.5 2.7 1.6 8.4 7.4 - 6.9 9.5 13.6 15.6 10.0 4.8 3.6 3.3 3.5 2.5 1.6 9.0 7.6 - 7.0 10.0 13.8 15.4 10.1 4.9 3.6 3.2 3.3 2.3 1.4 8.1 7.3 - 7.1 *10.8 14.5 15.6 10.0 5.0 3.5 3.2 3.4 2.5 1.4 8.6 7.5 - 6.6 *9.3 13.6 15.2 9.7 4.7 3.8 3.4 3.5 2.7 1.5 8.1 7.2 - 7.0 9.8 13.9 15.5 10.1 5.0 3.6 3.3 3.4 2.5 1.5 8.4 7.4 - - muricus - 8.0 11.3 *16.0 17.5 5.7 4.0 3.6 3.7 2.8 1.6 11.2 8.8 - 7.2 11.0 17.4 11.3 5.6 4.3 3.7 4.0 3.0 1.6 8.7 - 7.7 11.1 15.9 17.5 10.8 5.6 4.2 3.5 3.6 2.8 1.8 9.6 8.4 - 7.2 10.6 15.1 17.1 10.7 5.4 4.0 3.5 3.5 2.7 1.5 9.8 8.0 - 7.7 11.2 16.2 18.3 10.8 5.7 4.3 3.6 3.9 2.9 1.6 8.5 - 7.6 11.0 15.8 17.6 10.9 5.6 4.2 3.6 3.7 2.8 1.6 10.2 8.5 - - 6.7 10.0 14.9 16.0 10.9 5.3 3.6 3.2 3.3 2.7 1.7 8.8 7.2 - 6.5 9.2 14.0 15.6 10.1 5.0 3.5 3.2 3.3 2.5 1.4 8.3 7.2 - 7.4 9.7 14.3 16.5 10.2 4.7 3.6 3.2 3.4 2.7 1.5 9.1 7.8 - 7.3 10.8 15.2 17.1 10.0 5.3 3.6 3.1 3.4 2.6 1.5 8.2 - 6.3 9.5 13.9 15.8 10.0 5.0 3.4 2.9 3.1 2.4 1.3 8.8 7.2 - 6.9 9.5 14.1 15.5 10.5 5.1 3.6 3.2 3.3 2.6 1.4 8.9 7.5 - 6.9 9.8 14.4 16.1 10.3 5.1 3.6 3.1 3.3 2.6 1.5 8.8 7.5 - - - TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS--_Concluded_ - ================================================================================= - - Key: - - A Basilar length (of Hensel) - B Length of tooth rows - C Breadth of rostrum - - Catalog Sex and - Collection Number age Locality A B C - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Mustela erminea - A. M. N. H. 12432 [F] ad. Conard Fissure, Ark 35.1 12.7 10.4 - A. M. N. H. 12433 [F] ad. Conard Fissure, Ark 12.6 9.9 - A. M. N. H. 12435 [F] ad. Conard Fissure, Ark *32.5 12.4 10.0 - A. M. N. H. 11766 [F] ad. Conard Fissure, Ark 34.5 12.3 10.7 - av 34.0 12.5 10.3 - - A. M. N. H. 12437 [M] sad. Conard Fissure, Ark 39.2 14.5 11.7 - A. M. N. H. 12441 [M] ad. Conard Fissure, Ark 38.5 13.9 11.3 - A. M. N. H. 12436 [M] ad. Conard Fissure, Ark 13.5 11.7 - A. M. N. H. 12444 [M] ad. Conard Fissure, Ark 14.3 11.6 - A. M. N. H. 11769 [M] sad. Conard Fissure, Ark - A. M. N. H. 12438 [M] yg. Conard Fissure, Ark 36.6 13.5 12.2 - av 38.1 13.9 11.7 - - Mustela rixosa - average} {29.5 10.1 9.1 - maximum} [M] ad. 6 Point Barrow {30.1 10.6 9.9 - minimum} {27.6 9.3 8.6 - - average} {27.8 9.3 8.3 - maximum} [F] ad. and sad. 4 Point Barrow {28.5 9.5 8.5 - minimum} {27.0 9.0 7.9 - - Mustela rixosa - average} {29.5 10.1 8.2 - maximum} [M] ad. 2, and Shaunavon {30.4 10.5 9.0 - minimum} sad. 4 {28.4 9.6 7.4 - - average} {26.1 8.9 7.2 - maximum} [F] ad. 3, and Regina and Shaunavon {27.0 9.2 7.5 - minimum} sad. 1 {24.7 8.5 6.9 - - Mustela rixosa - Swenk, Mr. 5 [M] ad. 1 mi. E Inland 11.6 8.8 - Swenk, Mr. 8 [M] ad. Inland 30.7 10.5 8.2 - - Swenk, Mr. 10 [F] ad. Inland 28.0 9.8 7.6 - U. S. N. M. 171490 [F] ad. Type 28.8 7.7 - - Mustela rixosa - U. S. N. M. 249285 [M] sad. Finleyville, Pa 29.7 10.2 - U. S. N. M. 203173 [M] sad. Waynesburg, Pa 28.6 9.5 7.7 - U. S. N. M. 206340 [M] ad. Huttonsville, W. Va 28.5 9.9 8.5 - - C. M. 7543 [F] ad. Pymatuning Swamp 28.0 9.2 8.1 - A. N. S. P. 11279 [F] ad. Beallville, Pa 28.0 9.5 7.5 - U. S. N. M. 245843 [F] ad. near Marshall, N. C 27.5 9.4 7.3 - - ================================================================================= - - D Interorbital breadth - E Orbitonasal length - F Mastoid breadth - G Zygomatic breadth - H Length } - J Breadth }Tympanic Bulla - K Depth } - L Length m1 - M Lateral } - N Medial }P4 - P Breadth }M1 - Q Length } - R Depth of Skull at Ant. margin of basioccipital - S Depth of Skull at posterior borders of Msl - - |-Tympanic Bulla-| |----P4---| |----M1---| - D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - angustidens - 8.1 12.1 18.7 12.1 6.2 4.5 4.4 3.3 1.65 11.0 9.6 - 8.3 11.4 4.2 4.5 3.4 1.5 9.9 - *7.5 12.2 17.1 *19.0 11.4 5.8 3.8 4.0 2.9 1.4 8.6 - 8.4 11.8 18.2 12.5 6.6 4.1 4.3 3.2 1.5 10.0 9.5 - 8.1 11.9 18.0 12.0 6.2 4.2 4.3 3.2 1.5 10.5 9.4 - - 9.6 13.6 20.4 13.0 6.7 4.6 4.9 3.8 2.1 13.2 11.0 - 9.1 13.0 20.0 13.5 6.9 4.7 4.9 3.6 1.5 12.1 10.7 - 8.9 13.5 4.0 4.3 3.2 1.6 10.4 - 9.2 13.8 4.7 4.6 3.2 1.8 10.8 - 4.5 4.9 3.9 1.9 - 9.3 12.8 13.0 6.6 4.4 4.6 3.5 1.7 13.7 10.9 - 9.2 13.3 20.2 13.2 6.7 4.5 4.7 3.5 1.8 13.0 10.8 - - eskimo - 7.4 10.1 15.6 17.8 11.3 5.4 3.8 3.6 3.6 2.7 1.4 9.5 8.4 - 7.8 10.6 16.3 18.0 11.9 5.8 4.2 3.9 3.9 2.9 1.6 10.0 8.7 - 7.1 9.3 14.5 17.0 10.1 5.0 3.5 3.2 3.3 2.5 1.1 8.5 7.7 - - 6.9 9.6 14.1 15.7 10.5 5.1 3.4 3.2 3.2 2.5 1.2 9.5 7.7 - 7.2 9.7 15.0 16.5 11.1 5.6 3.7 3.3 3.4 2.6 1.3 10.0 8.0 - 7.0 9.5 13.6 15.0 10.2 4.8 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.3 1.1 9.2 7.4 - - rixosa - 6.6 9.9 15.1 16.4 11.0 5.2 3.7 3.3 3.6 2.6 1.4 10.0 8.4 - 6.9 10.5 16.1 17.1 11.5 5.5 3.9 3.5 3.8 2.7 1.5 10.4 8.8 - 6.3 9.2 14.0 15.2 10.7 5.0 3.5 3.1 3.3 2.4 1.3 9.4 8.0 - - 5.5 8.9 13.1 14.1 9.7 4.9 3.3 3.0 3.2 2.3 1.2 8.6 7.1 - 5.9 9.5 13.6 14.6 10.0 5.0 3.5 3.1 3.3 2.4 1.3 9.0 7.2 - 5.2 8.3 12.3 13.7 9.5 4.7 3.1 2.8 2.9 2.3 1.1 8.2 7.0 - - campestris - 7.6 11.1 16.1 18.0 4.1 3.6 3.8 2.7 1.6 11.5 9.7 - 7.0 10.5 15.9 17.9 10.9 5.7 3.8 3.4 3.5 2.6 1.5 8.6 - - 5.8 9.4 14.2 10.3 5.4 1.7 3.5 3.1 3.3 2.5 1.5 9.3 7.8 - 6.1 9.1 14.1 15.0 10.2 5.1 1.6 3.8 3.2 3.4 2.5 1.5 9.3 7.7 - - allegheniensis - 10.1 15.0 16.5 10.5 5.2 4.1 3.4 3.7 2.7 1.5 9.6 8.1 - 6.7 9.5 14.7 16.1 10.5 5.4 3.4 3.5 3.2 2.5 1.3 10.2 8.0 - 7.1 10.3 15.1 16.7 10.2 5.1 3.3 3.0 3.2 2.4 1.3 10.5 8.4 - - 9.5 13.6 10.0 5.2 3.4 3.0 3.1 2.4 1.3 - 6.2 9.7 13.5 14.6 10.0 5.1 3.7 3.3 3.5 2.6 1.4 8.7 7.8 - 6.4 9.4 15.0 9.3 5.0 3.6 3.2 3.4 2.5 1.3 7.7 - - ================================================================================= - - (Abbreviations used for names of collections in the table of - measurements of Mustela) - - A. M. N. H. American Museum of Natural History - A. N. S. P. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia - Baylor U. Baylor University - B. M. British Museum of Natural History - B. S. N. Boston Society of Natural History - B. Z. M. Berlin Zoological Museum - C. A. C. California Academy of Sciences - C. M. Carnegie Museum - C. R. C. M. Charles R. Conner Museum, Washington State College - C. Z. M. University Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark - Cornell Cornell University - Cowan Ian McTaggart-Cowan, private collection - Dickey Donald R. Dickey (deceased), private collection - E. R. W. Edward R. Warren, private collection - F. M. N. H. Field Museum of Natural History - F. S. M. Florida State Museum - Kans. U. University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History - M. C. Z. Museum of Comparative Zoölogy - M. P. H. N. Musée Polonais d'Histoire Naturelle (Warsaw, Poland) - M. V. Z. Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy, University of California - M. Z. Museum of Zoölogy, University of Michigan - N. H. R. S. Naturhistoriska Riksmuseum - N. M. C. National Museum of Canada - S. D. M. San Diego Society of Natural History - Snyder W. E. Snyder, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin - Stan. U. Leland Stanford Junior University - Stephens Frank Stephens, private collection - Swenk, Mr. Myron H. Swenk, private collection - U. O. University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon - U. S. N. M. United States National Museum - Walker Alex Walker, private collection - Wisc. U. University of Wisconsin - * Approximate - ** Average of 14 - - - - -LITERATURE CITED - - -ABBOT, C. C. - - 1884. A naturalist's rambles about home. D. Appleton and Co., New - York, 485 pp. - -ADDY, E. - - 1939. A weasel trails a rabbit. Jour. Mamm., 20:372-373, August 14, - 1939. - -ALDOUS, S. E., and MANWEILER, J. - - 1942. The winter food habits of the short-tailed weasel in northern - Minnesota. Jour. Mamm., 23:250-255, August 13, 1942. - -ALLEN, D. L. - - 1938. Notes on the killing technique of the New York weasel. Jour. - Mamm., 19:225-229, May 14, 1938. - - 1940. Two recent mammal records from Allegan County, Michigan. - Jour. Mamm., 21:459-460, November 14, 1940. - -ALLEN, G. M. - - 1933. The least weasel a circumboreal species. Jour. Mamm., - 14:316-319, November 13, 1933. - -ALLEN, J. A. - - 1889. Notes on a collection of mammals from southern México, with - descriptions of new species of the Genera Sciurus, Tamias, - and Sigmodon. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 2:165-181, October - 21, 1889. - - 1891. On a collection of mammals from southern Texas and - northeastern México. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:219-228, - April 17, 1891. - - 1894. On the mammals of Aransas County, Texas, with descriptions of - new forms of Lepus and Oryzomys. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 6:165-198, 1 map, May 31, 1894. - - 1896. On mammals collected in Bexar County and vicinity, Texas, by - Mr. H. P. Attwater, with field notes by the collector. Bull. - Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 8:47-80, April 22, 1896. - - 1904. Mammals from southern México and Central and South America. - Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:29-80, text figs. 1-18, - February 29, 1904. - - 1906. Mammals from the states of Sinaloa and Jalisco, México, - collected by J. H. Batty during 1904 and 1905. Bull. Amer. - Mus. Nat. Hist., 22:191-262, pls. 22-33, 3 figs. in text, - July 25, 1906. - - 1908. Mammals from Nicaragua. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 24:647-670, 12 figs. in text, October 13, 1908. - - 1911. Mammals from Venezuela collected by Mr. M. A. Carriker, Jr., - 1909-1911. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 30:239-273, December - 2, 1911. - - 1912. Mammals from western Colombia. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 31:71-95, April 19, 1912. - - 1916. The neotropical weasels. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - 35:89-111, April 28, 1916. - - 1916A. List of mammals collected in Colombia by the American Museum - of Natural History Expeditions, 1910-1915. Bull. Amer. Mus. - Nat. Hist., 35:191-238, 1 map, May 31, 1916. - -ALSTON, A. R. - - 1879-1882. Biologia Centrali-Americana. Mammalia, xx + 220 pp., - pls. 1-22. - -AMEGHINO, F. - - 1889. Contribución al conocimiento de los mamiferos fosiles de la - República Argentina. Imprenta de Pablo E. Coni É Hijos, - Especial para obras, xxxii + 1027 pp., pls. 1-94, numerous - figures in text. - -ANDERSON, R. M. - - 1945. Three mammals of the weasel family (Mustelidae) added to the - Quebec list with descriptions of two new forms. Ann. Rept. - Provancher Soc., 25th Anniversary, pp. 56-61, November 2, - 1945. - -ARTHUR, S. C. - - 1928. The fur animals of Louisiana. State of Louisiana, Dept. - Conservation Bull., 18:1-433, illustrated, November, 1928. - -AUDUBON, J. J., and BACHMAN, J. - - 1845-1853. The viviparous quadrupeds of North America: pls. in 3 - vols., elephant folios, each of 50 pls., vol. 1, 1845; vol. - 2, 1846; vol. 3, 1848. Text in 3 vols.: vol. 1, xiv + 389; - vol. 2, 1-334; vol. 3, iv + 257. - - 1851. The quadrupeds of North America, vol. 2, pp. 1-334, pls. - 51-100. Publ. by V. G. Audubon, New York. - - 1856. The quadrupeds of North America, vol. 2, pp. xiii-xiv + - i-viii + 2-383, pls. 1-50. Publ. by V. G. Audubon, New York. - -BACHMAN, J. - - 1839. Observations on the changes of colour in birds and - quadrupeds. Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., 6:197-239. - -BAILEY, B. - - 1929. The mammals of Sherburne County, Minnesota. Jour. Mamm., - 10:153-164, May 9, 1929. - -BAILEY, H. H. - - 1930. Correcting inaccurate ranges of certain Florida mammals and - others of Virginia and the Carolinas. The Bailey Mus. and - Library of Nat. Hist., Bull. no. 3; 4 pages (Miami, Florida), - December 1, 1930. - -BAILEY, V. - - 1905. Biological survey of Texas. N. Amer. Fauna, 25:1-222, 16 - pls., 24 figs. in text, October 24, 1905. - - 1928. Animal life of the Carlsbad Cavern. Monograph, Amer. Soc. - Mammalogists, no. 3, pp. xiii + 195 pp., 67 figs. Williams - and Wilkins Co., Baltimore [Md.]. - - 1932. Mammals of New Mexico. N. Amer. Fauna, 53:1-412, 22 pls., 58 - figs. in text, March 1, 1932. - -BAIRD, S. F. - - 1858. General report upon the zoölogy of the several Pacific - Railroad Routes. Part I, Mammals, xlvii + 757 pp., 60 pls., - July 14, 1858. - -BANGS, O. - - 1896. A review of the weasels of eastern North America. Proc. Biol. - Soc. Washington, 10:1-24, 3 pls., February 25, 1896. - - 1899. Three new weasels from North America. Proc. New England Zoöl. - Club, 1:53-57, June 9, 1899. - - 1899B. Description of a new weasel from the Rocky Mountains of - British Columbia. Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:81-82, - December 27, 1899. - - 1902. Chiriquí Mammalia. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., 39:17-51, 27 figs. - in text, April, 1902. - -BARBER, C. M., and COCKERELL, T. D. A. - - 1898. A new weasel from New Mexico. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. - Philadelphia, 1898:188-189. - -BARRETT-HAMILTON, G. E. H. - - 1903. 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Mus., - Tanana, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea semplei_, [M] sad., 6499, Carnegie Mus., - Southhampton Island. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_, [M] ad., 107496, U. S. N. M., - Kodiak Island, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, [M] ad., 133847, U. S. N. M., Ft. - Franklin, MacK. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea cicognanii_, [M] ad., 53788, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Lopez, Pennsylvania. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea bangsi_, [M] ad., 18130, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Aitkin, Minn. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea invicta_, [M] ad., 90759, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Pilot - Creek, Idaho. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea alascensis_, [M] ad., 74665, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Windham, Alaska. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea salva_, [M] ad., 74641, M. V. Z., Mole Harbor, - Admiralty Id., Alaska.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 3. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in ventral -view of nine subspecies of _Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea arctica_, [M] ad., 178405, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Tanana, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea semplei_, [M] sad., 6499, Carnegie Mus., - Southampton Island. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_, [M] ad., 107496, U. S. N. M., - Kodiak Island, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, [M] ad., 133847, U. S. N. M., Ft. - Franklin, MacK. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea cicognanii_, [M] ad., 53788, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Lopez, Pennsylvania. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea bangsi_, [M] ad., 18130, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Aitkin, Minn. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea invicta_, [M] ad., 90759, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Pilot - Creek, Idaho. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea alascensis_, [M] ad., 74665, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Windham, Alaska. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea salva_, [M] ad., 74641, M. V. Z., Mole Harbor, - Admiralty Id., Alaska.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 4. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in lateral -view of ten subspecies _Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea arctica_, [M] ad., 178405, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Tanana, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea semplei_, [M] sad., 6499, Carnegie Mus., - Southampton Island. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_, [M] ad., 107496, U. S. N. M., - Kodiak Island, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, [M] ad., 133847, U. S. N. M., Ft. - Franklin, MacK. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea cicognanii_, [M] ad., 53788, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Lopez, Pennsylvania. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea bangsi_, [M] ad., 18130, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Aitkin, Minn. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea invicta_, [M] ad., 90759, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Pilot - Creek, Idaho. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea alascensis_, [M] ad., 74665, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Windham, Alaska. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea salva_, [M] ad., 74641, M. V. Z., Mole Harbor, - Admiralty Id., Alaska. - - _j._ _Mustela erminea initis_, [M] ad., 289, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Saook - Bay, Alaska.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 5. Photos, retouched, of skulls of 9 subspecies of -_Mustela erminea_, × 1. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea initis_, [M] ad., 289, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Saook - Bay, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea celenda_, [M] ad., 1053, Los Angeles Mus., Craig, - Alaska. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea seclusa_, [M] ad., 31232, M. V. Z., Port Santa - Cruz, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea haidarum_, [M] ad., 230777, U. S. N. M., Graham - Island, B. C. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea anguinae_, [M] ad., 13508, Nat. Mus. Canada, Cape - Scott, V. I., B. C. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea fallenda_, [M] ad., 7096, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Huntingdon, B. C. - - _g._ _Mustela e. olympica_, [M] ad., 90738, U. S. N. M., near head of - Soleduc Riv., Wash. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea streatori_, [M] ad., 133, Coll. of Alex Walker, - Blaine, Oregon. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea gulosa_, [M] ad., 82177, U. S. Nat. Mus., Trout - Lake, Wash.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 6. Photos, retouched, of skulls of 9 subspecies of -_Mustela erminea_, × 1. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea initis_, [M] ad., 289, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Saook - Bay, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea celenda_, [M] ad., 1053, Los Angeles Mus., Craig, - Alaska. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea seclusa_, [M] ad., 31232, M. V. Z., Port Santa - Cruz, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea haidarum_, [M] ad., 230777, U. S. N. M., Graham - Island, B. C. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea anguinae_, [M] ad., 13508, Nat. Mus. Canada, Cape - Scott, V. I., B. C. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea fallenda_, [M] ad., 7096, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Huntingdon, B. C. - - _g._ _Mustela e. olympica_, [M] ad., 90738, U. S. N. M., near head of - Soleduc Riv., Wash. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea streatori_, [M] ad., 133, Coll. of Alex Walker, - Blaine, Oregon. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea gulosa_, [M] ad., 82177, U. S. Nat. Mus., Trout - Lake, Wash.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 7. Photos, retouched, of skulls, of subspecies of -_Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea celenda_, [M] ad., 1053, Los Angeles Mus., Craig, - Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea seclusa_, [M] ad., 31232, M. V. Z., Port Santa - Cruz, Alaska. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea haidarum_, [M] ad., 230777, U. S. N. M., Graham - Island, B. C. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea anguinae_, [M] ad., 13508, Nat. Mus. Canada, Cape - Scott, V. I., B. C. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea fallenda_, [M] ad., 7096, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Huntingdon, B. C. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea olympica_, [M] ad., 90738, U. S. N. M., near head - of Soleduc Riv., Wash. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea streatori_, [M] ad., 133, Coll. of Alex Walker, - Blaine, Oregon. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea gulosa_, [M] ad., 82177, U. S. Nat. Mus., Trout - Lake, Wash. - - _i_, _j_, _k_. _Mustela erminea muricus_, [M] ad., 41501, M. V. Z., - Baker Creek, 8675 ft., Nev. - - _l_, _m_. _Mustela erminea angustidens_, [M]?, sad., 12437, A. M. N. - H., Conard Fissure, Ark. - - _n._ _Mustela erminea angustidens_, [M]?, ad., 12441, A. M. N. H., - Conard Fissure, Ark.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 8. Photos, retouched, of _Mustela erminea -angustidens_. All in Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., from Conard Fissure, -Arkansas. Pleistocene in age, × 1. - - _a._ Adult, probably male, 12441. - - _b._ Subadult, probably male, 12437. - - _c._ Adult, probably male, 12444. - - _d._ Adult, probably male, 12441. - - _e._ Subadult, probably male, 12437. - - _f._ Young, probably male, 12438. - - _g_, _h_. Adult, type, probably female, 12432. - - _i._ Adult, probably female, 12433.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 9. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in dorsal -view of 9 subspecies of _Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea arctica_, [F] ad., 35895, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Point Barrow, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea semplei_, [F] ad., 6600, Carnegie Mus., - Southhampton Island. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_, [F] ad., 98042, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Kadiak, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, [F] ad., 129703, U. S. N. M., Fort - Resolution, MacK. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea cicognanii_, [F] ad., 7460, Carnegie Mus., - Pymatuning Swamp, Pa. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea bangsi_, [F] ad., 8679, Univ. Wisconsin, T. 61N, - R. 26W, Minn. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea invicta_, [F] ad., 90820, M. V. Z., 1-1/2 mi. W - Iron Mtn., Idaho. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea alascensis_, [F] ad., 74422, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Juneau, Alaska. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea salva_, [F] ad., 74655, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Mole - Harbor, Alaska.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 10. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in dorsal -view of 9 subspecies of _Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea arctica_, [F] ad., 35895, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Point Barrow, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea semplei_, [F] ad., 6600, Carnegie Mus., - Southhampton Island. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_, [F] ad., 98042, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Kadiak, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, [F] ad., 129703, U. S. N. M., Fort - Resolution, MacK. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea cicognanii_, [F] ad., 7460, Carnegie Mus., - Pymatuning Swamp, Pa. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea bangsi_, [F] ad., 8679, Univ. Wisconsin, T. 61N, - R. 26W, Minn. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea invicta_, [F] ad., 90820, M. V. Z., 1-1/2 mi. W - Iron Mtn., Idaho. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea alascensis_, [F] ad., 74422, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Juneau, Alaska. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea salva_, [F] ad., 74655, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Mole - Harbor, Alaska.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 11. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in lateral -view of twelve subspecies of _Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea arctica_, [F] ad., 35895, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Point Barrow, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea semplei_, [F] ad., 6600, Carnegie Mus., - Southhampton Island. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea kadiacensis_, [F] ad., 98042, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Kadiak, Alaska. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea richardsonii_, [F] ad., 129703, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Fort Resolution, MacK. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea cicognanii_, [F] ad., 7460, Carnegie Mus., - Pymatuning Swamp, Pa. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea bangsi_, [F] ad., 8679, Univ. Wisconsin, T. 61N, - R. 26W, Minn. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea invicta_, [F] ad., 90820, M. V. Z., 1-1/2 mi. W - Iron Mtn., Idaho. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea alascensis_, [F] ad., 74422, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Juneau, Alaska. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea salva_, [F] ad., 74655, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Mole - Harbor, Alaska. - - _j._ _Mustela erminea haidarum_, [F] ad., 100624, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Moresby Island, B. C. - - _k._ _Mustela erminea anguinae_, [F] ad., 13673, Nat. Mus. Canada, Cape - Scott, V. I., B. C. - - _l._ _Mustela erminea fallenda_, [F] ad., 7284, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Huntingdon, B. C.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 12. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in dorsal -view of eight subspecies of _Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea haidarum_, [F] ad., 100624, U. S. N. M., Moresby - Island, B. C. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea anguinae_, [F] ad., 13673, N. M. Canada, Cape - Scott, V. I., B. C. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea fallenda_, [F] ad., 7284, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Huntingdon, B. C. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea olympica_, [F] ad., 242133, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Hayes Creek, Wash. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea streatori_, [F] ad., 9040, D. R. Dickey Coll., - Blaine, Oregon. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea gulosa_, [F] ad., 77370, U. S. Nat. Mus., Trout - Lake, Wash. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea muricus_, [F] ad., 41502, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Baker - Creek, Nevada. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea angustidens_, [F]?, ad., 12435, A. M. N. H., - Conard Fissure, Ark. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea angustidens_, [F]?, ad., 11766, A. M. N. H., - Conard Fissure, Ark.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 13. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in ventral -view of eight subspecies of _Mustela erminea_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea haidarum_, [F] ad., 100624, U. S. N. M., Moresby - Island, B. C. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea anguinae_, [F] ad., 13673, Nat. Mus. Canada, Cape - Scott, B. C. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea fallenda_, [F] ad., 7284, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Huntingdon, B. C. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea olympica_, [F] ad., 242133, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Hayes Creek, Wash. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea streatori_, [F] ad., 9040, D. R. Dickey Coll., - Blaine, Oregon. - - _f._ _Mustela erminea gulosa_, [F] ad., 77370, U. S. Nat. Mus., Trout - Lake, Wash. - - _g._ _Mustela erminea muricus_, [F] ad., 41502, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Baker - Creek, Nevada. - - _h._ _Mustela erminea angustidens_, [F]?, ad., 12435, A. M. N. H., - Conard Fissure, Ark. - - _i._ _Mustela erminea angustidens_, [F]?, ad., 11766, A. M. N. H., - Conard Fissure, Ark.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 14. Photographs, retouched, of _M. erminea_ and -_M. minuta_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela erminea olympica_, [F] ad., 242133, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Hayes Creek, Wash. - - _b._ _Mustela erminea streatori_, [F] ad., 9040, D. R. Dickey Coll., - Blaine, Oregon. - - _c._ _Mustela erminea gulosa_, [F] ad., 77370, U. S. Nat. Mus., Trout - Lake, Wash. - - _d._ _Mustela erminea muricus_, [F] ad., 41502, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Baker - Creek, Nevada. - - _e._ _Mustela erminea angustidens_, adult, probably female, type, - 12432, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., with lower jaw, Conard Fissure, Ark. - - _f._ _M. e. angustidens_, [F]?, ad., 12435, A. M. N. H., Conard - Fissure, Ark. - - _g._ _Mustela rixosa eskimo_, [M] sad., 43288, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Barrow, Alaska. - - _h._ _Mustela rixosa eskimo_, [F] sad., 40059, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Barrow, Alaska. - - _i._ _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, [M] ad., 11743, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Shaunavon, Sask. - - _j._ _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, [F] ad., 12679, Nat. Mus. Canada, south - of Shaunavon, Sask. - - _k._ _Mustela r. allegheniensis_, [M] ad., 35381, Field M. N. H., - Portage Twp., Ohio. - - _l._ _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_, [F] ad., 33021, Field M. N. H., - Stryker, Ohio.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 15. Photographs, retouched, of _Mustela rixosa_. -Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela rixosa eskimo_, [M] sad., 43288, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Barrow, Alaska. - - _b._ _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, [M] ad., 11743, Nat. Mus. Canada, - Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. - - _c._ _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_, [M] ad., 33581, Field Mus. Nat. - Hist., Portage Township, Wood County, Ohio. - - _d._ _Mustela rixosa campestris_, [M] ad., 261830, U. S. Nat. Mus., - shore of Sand Lake, South Dakota. - - _e._ _Mustela rixosa eskimo_, [M] sad., same specimen shown in _a_. - - _f._ _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, [M] same specimen shown in _b_. - - _g._ _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_, [M] ad., same specimen shown in - _c_. _c_. - - _h._ _Mustela rixosa campestris_, [M] ad., same specimen shown in _d_. - - _i._ _Mustela rixosa eskimo_, [F] sad., 40059, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Barrow, Alaska. - - _j._ _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, [F] ad., 12679, Nat. Mus. Canada, south - of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. - - _k._ _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_, [F] ad., 33021, Field Mus. Nat. - Hist., Stryker, Ohio. - - _l._ _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_, [F] ad., same specimen shown in - _k_. - - _m._ _Mustela rixosa eskimo_, [F] sad., same specimen shown in _i_. - - _n._ _Mustela rixosa rixosa_, [F] ad., same specimen shown in _j_. - - _o._ _Mustela rixosa campestris_, [M] ad., same specimen shown in _d_ - and _h_.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 16. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in dorsal -view of nine subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, [M] ad., 77112, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Wilmington, Massachusetts. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata occisor_, [M] ad., 7267, Mus. Comp. Zool., - Moosehead Lake, Maine. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata primulina_, [M] ad., 3325, Mus. Nat. Hist., Univ. - Kansas, Clinton, Kansas. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata arthuri_, [M] sad., 37515, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - type, Remy, Louisiana. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata olivacea_, [M] ad., 180802, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, Biological Surveys Collection, Autaugaville, Alabama. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata peninsulae_, [M] ad., 49387, Florida State Mus., - Apopka, Florida. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata spadix_, [M] ad., 53745, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Elk - River, Minnesota. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata longicauda_, [M] ad., 15875, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Red Deer, Alberta. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata oribasa_, [M] ad., 43817, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Isaacs Lake, British Columbia.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 17. Photos, retouched, of skulls of males, in -ventral view, of 9 subspecies of _Mustela frenata_, × 1. Data for _a_ -to _i_ are given on Plate 18. - - _a._ _M. f noveboracensis_ - - _b._ _M. f. occisor_ - - _c._ _M. f. primulina_ - - _d._ _M. f. arthuri_ - - _e._ _M. f. olivacea_ - - _f._ _M. f. peninsulae_ - - _g._ _M. f. spadix_ - - _h._ _M. f. longicauda_ - - _i._ _M. f. oribasus_] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 18. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in lateral -view of ten subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, [M] ad., 77112, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Wilmington, Mass. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata occisor_, [M] ad., 7267, M. C. Z., Moosehead - Lake, Maine. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata primulina_, [M] ad., 3325, Mus. Nat. Hist., Univ. - Kansas, Clinton, Kans. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata arthuri_, [M] ad., 37515, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., type, - Remy, Louisiana. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata olivacea_, [M] ad., 180802, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, Biological Surveys Collection, Autaugaville, Alabama. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata peninsulae_, [M] ad., 49387, Florida State Mus., - Apopka, Florida. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata spadix_, [M] ad., 53795, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Elk - River, Minnesota. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata longicauda_, [M] ad., 15875, Amer. Mus. N. H., - Red Deer, Alberta. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata oribasus_, [M] ad., 43817, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Isaacs Lake, B. C. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata alleni_, [M] ad., 7440/9136, A. M. N. H., Hill - City, S. D.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 19. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in dorsal -view of nine subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata alleni_, [M] ad., 7440/9136, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Hill City, South Dakota. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata arizonensis_, [M] ad., 55211, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Government Prairie, Arizona. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata nevadensis_, [M] ad., 22116, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Chinquapin, California. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata effera_, [M] ad., 33637, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - Ironside, Oregon. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata washingtoni_, [M] ad., 226758, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Gotchen Creek, Washington. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata saturata_, [M] ad., 65930, U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - Siskiyou, Oregon. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata altifrontalis_, [M] ad., 391, Coll. Alex Walker, - Blaine, Oregon. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata oregonensis_, [M] sad., 43828/32019, U. S. Nat. - Mus., Grants Pass, Oregon. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [M] ad., 5459, Mus. Comp. Zool., type, - Point Reyes, California.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 20. Photos, retouched, of skulls of males in -ventral view of 9 subspecies of _Mustela frenata_, × 1. Data for a to i -on Plates 18 and 21. - - _a._ _M. f. alleni_ - - _b._ _M. f. arizonensis_ - - _c._ _M. f. nevadensis_ - - _d._ _M. f. effera_ - - _e._ _M. f. washingtoni_ - - _f._ _M. f. saturata_ - - _g._ _M. f. altifrontalis_ - - _h._ _M. f. oregonensis_ - - _i._ _M. f. munda_, 5459.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 21. Photographs, retouched, of skulls, in lateral -view, of nine subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata arizonensis_, [M] ad., 55211, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Government Prairie, Ariz. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata nevadensis_, [M] ad., 22116, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Chinquapin, California. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata effera_, [M] ad., 33637, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - Ironside, Oregon. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata washingtoni_, [M] ad., 226758, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Gotchen Creek, Wash. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata saturata_, [M] ad., 65930, U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - Siskiyou, Oregon. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata altifrontalis_, [M] ad., 391, Coll. Alex Walker, - Blaine, Oregon. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata oregonensis_, [M] sad., 43828/32019, U. S. N. M., - Grants Pass, Ore. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [M] ad., 5459, M. C. Z., type, Point - Reyes, Calif. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [M] ad., 19722, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Point - Arena, Calif. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, [M] ad., 1440, Coll. Alex Walker, 5 - mi. W Fresno, Calif.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 22. Photographs, retouched, of skulls, in dorsal -view, of nine subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [M] ad., 19722, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Point - Arena, California. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, [M] ad., 1440, col. Alex Walker, 5 - mi. W Fresno, California. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata nigriauris_, [M] ad., 487, Stanford Univ., Palo - Alto, California. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata latirostra_, [M] ad., 52702, U. S. Nat. Mus., El - Cajon, California. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata pulchra_, [M] ad., 16668, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., type, - Buttonwillow, California. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata inyoensis_, [M] ad., 25907, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., 2 - mi. N Independence, California. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata neomexicana_, [M] ad., 1485, Mus. Nat. Hist., - Univ., Kansas, Liberal, Kansas. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata texensis_, [M] ad., 14821, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - Kerr County, Texas. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [M] ad., 50826, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Tlalpam, México, D. F.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 23. Ventral views of same skulls shown in Plate -22. - - _a._ _munda_; - - _b._ _xanthogenys_; - - _c._ _nigriauris_; - - _d._ _latirostra_; - - _e._ _pulchra_; - - _f._ _inyoensis_; - - _g._ _neomexicanus_; - - _h._ _texensis_; - - _i._ _frenata_.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 24. Photographs, retouched, of skulls, in lateral -view, of ten subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata nigriauris_, [M] ad., 487, Stanford Univ., Palo - Alto, California. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata latirostra_, [M] ad., 52702, U. S. Nat. Mus., El - Cajon, California. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata pulchra_, [M] ad., 16668, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., type, - Buttonwillow, Calif. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata inyoensis_, [M] ad., 25907, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - type, 2 mi. N Independence, California. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata neomexicana_, [M] ad., 1485, M. N. H., Univ. - Kansas, Liberal, Kansas. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata texensis_, [M] ad., 14821, A. M. N. H., Kerr - County, Texas. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [M] ad., 50826, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Tlalpam, México, D. F. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, [M] ad., 125972, U. S. N. M., Los - Reyes, Michoacán. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata macrophonius_, [M] ad., [14063,] Field Mus. N. - H., type, Achotal, Veracruz. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata goldmani_, [M] ad., 77519, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Pinabete, Veracruz.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 25. Photographs, retouched, of skulls, in dorsal -view of nine subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural Size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, [M] ad., 125972, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Los Reyes, Michoacán. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata macrophonius_, [M] ad., 14063, Field Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Achotal, Veracruz. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata goldmani_, [M] ad., 133253, U. S. Nat. Mus., 20 - mi. SE Teopisca, Chiapas. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata tropicalis_, [M] ad., 54994, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, Jico, Veracruz. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata perda_, [M] sad., 100041, U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - Teapa, Tabasco. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata nicaraguae_, [M] sad., 30754, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Matagalpa, Nicaragua. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata costaricensis_, [M] ad., 3.2.1.6., British Mus. - Nat. Hist., San José, Costa Rica. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata panamensis_, [M] ad., 18848, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Boquete, Panamá. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata meridana_, [M] ad., 123341, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, Mérida, Venezuela.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 26. Ventral views of same skulls shown in Plate -25. - - _a._ _leucoparia_; - - _b._ _macrophonius_; - - _c._ _goldmani_; - - _d._ _tropicalis_; - - _e._ _perda_; - - _f._ _nicaraguae_; - - _g._ _costaricensis_; - - _h._ _panamensis_; - - _i._ _meridana_.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 27. Photographs, retouched, of skulls, in lateral -view of ten subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata tropicalis_, [M] ad., 54994, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, Jico, Veracruz. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata perda_, [M] sad., 100041; U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - Teapa, Tabasco. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata nicaraguae_, [M] sad., 30754, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Matagalpa, Nicaragua. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata costaricensis_, [M] ad., 3.2.1.6., British Mus. - Nat. Hist., San José, Costa Rica. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata panamensis_, [M] ad., 18848, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Boquete, Panamá. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata meridana_, [M] ad., 24309, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., - Mérida, Venezuela. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata aureoventris_, [M] yg., 34677, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Gualea, Ecuador. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata helleri_, [M] ad., 24133, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - type, Rio Chinchao, Perú. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata macrura_, [M] ad., 561, Mus. Polonais d' Hist., - Nat., type, Junín, Perú. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata agilis_, [M] ad., 8.1.10.1., British Mus. Nat. - Hist., Lima, Perú.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 28. Photographs, retouched (except _f_), of -skulls, in dorsal view of nine kinds (species and subspecies) of -_Mustela_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata aureoventris_, [M] yg., 34677, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Gualea, Ecuador. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata helleri_, [M] ad., 24133, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - type, Rio Chinchao, Perú. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata macrura_, [M] ad., 561, Mus. Polonais d' Hist. - Nat., type, Junín, Perú. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata agilis_, [M] ad., 8.1.10.1., British Mus. Nat. - Hist., Lima, Perú. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata boliviensis_, [M] ad., 72587, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Nequejahuira, Bolivia. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, [M] ad., 43.6.4.55., British Mus., - Nat. Hist., type, California. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata costaricensis_, [M] yg., 37149, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, San José, Costa Rica. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata panamensis_, [M] yg., 178970, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Mt. Pirre, Panamá. - - _i._ _Mustela africana africana_, [M] yg., 37475, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Pará, Brazil.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 29. Photographs, retouched, of skulls, in ventral -view, of nine kinds (species and subspecies) of _Mustela_. Natural -size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata aureoventris_, [M] yg., 34677, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Gualea, Ecuador. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata helleri_, [M] ad., 24133, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - type, Rio Chinchao, Perú. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata macrura_, [M] ad., 561, Mus. Polonais d' Hist. - Nat., type, Junín, Perú. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata agilis_, [M] ad., 8.1.10.1., British Mus. Nat. - Hist., Lima, Perú. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata boliviensis_, [M] ad., 72587, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Nequejahuira, Bolivia. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, [M] ad., 47179/34914, U. S. Nat. - Mus., type, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata costaricensis_, [M] yg., 37149, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, San José, Costa Rica. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata panamensis_, [M] yg., 178970, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Mt. Pirre, Panamá. - - _i._ _Mustela africana africana_, [M] yg., 37475, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Pará, Brazil.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 30. Photographs, retouched (except _e_ and _q_) -of skulls and lower jaws of _Mustela_. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata boliviensis_, [M] ad., 72587, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Nequejahuira, Bolivia. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, [M] ad., 43.4.6.55, British Mus. - Nat. Hist., type, California. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata costaricensis_, [M] yg., 37149, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, San José, Costa Rica. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata panamensis_, [M] yg., 178970, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Mt. Pirre, Panamá. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata affinis_, [M] ad., 54.6.3.4, British Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, New Granada [=Colombia]. - - _f._ _Mustela africana africana_, [M] yg., 37475, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Pará, Brazil. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata saturata_, [M] ad., 65930, U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - Siskiyou, Oregon. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata oregonensis_, [M] ad., 43828/32019, U. S. Nat. - Mus., type, Grants Pass, Oregon. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [M] ad., 5459, Mus. Comp. Zool., type, - Point Reyes, California. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, [M] ad., 47179/34914, U. S. Nat. - Mus., type, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. - - _k._ _Mustela frenata macrophonius_, [M] ad., 14963, Field Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Achotal, Veracruz. - - _l._ _Mustela frenata goldmani_, [M] ad., 77519, U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - Pinabete, Chiapas. - - _m._ _Mustela frenata tropicalis_, [M] ad., 54994, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, Jico, Veracruz. - - _n._ _Mustela frenata perda_, [M] sad., 100041, U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - Teapa, Tabasco. - - _o._ _Mustela frenata nicaraguae_, [M] sad., 30754, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Matagalpa, Nicaragua. - - _p._ _Mustela frenata costaricensis_, [M] yg., 37149, U. S. Nat. Mus., - type, San José, Costa Rica. - - _q._ _Mustela frenata affinis_, [M] ad., 54.6.3.4, British Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, New Granada [=Colombia]. - - _r._ _Mustela frenata macrura_, [M] ad., 561., Mus. Polonais d' Hist. - Nat., type, Junín, Perú.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 31. Photos, retouched, of skulls of 9 subspecies -of _M. frenata_, x 1. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, [F] ad., 64687, U. S. N. M., - Wilmington, Mass. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata occisor_, [F] ad., 9101, Mus. Comp. Zool., - Bucksport, Maine. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata primulina_, [F] ad., 3638, U. K. M. N. H., 7 mi. - SW Lawrence, Kans. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata olivacea_, [F] ad., 41024, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Sinkola Plantation, Ga. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata spadix_, [F] ad., 188410, U. S. Nat. Mus., Elk - River, Minn. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata longicauda_, [F] ad., 75483, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Wingard, Sask. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata oribasus_, [F] ad., 9058, M. C. Z., type, source - of Kettle River, B. C. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata alleni_, [F]?, ad., 7441, A. M. N. H., Black - Hills, S. D. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata arizonensis_, [F] ad., 1886, A. M. N. H., type, - S. F. Forest, Ariz.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 32. Photos, retouched, of skulls of 9 subspecies -of _M. frenata_, × 1. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, [F] ad., 64687, U. S. N. M., - Wilmington, Mass. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata occisor_, [F] ad., 9101, Mus. Comp. Zool., - Bucksport, Maine. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata primulina_, [F] ad., 3638, U. K. M. N. H., 7 mi. - SW Lawrence, Kans. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata olivacea_, [F] ad., 41024, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Sinkola Plantation, Ga. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata spadix_, [F] ad., 188410, U. S. Nat. Mus., Elk - River, Minn. - - _f._ _Mustela f. longicauda_, [F] ad., 75483, U. S. Nat. Mus., Wingard, - Sask. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata oribasus_, [F] ad., 9058, M. C. Z., type, source - of Kettle Riv., B. C. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata alleni_, [F]?, ad., 7441, A. M. N. H., Black - Hills, S. D. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata arizonensis_, [F] ad., 1886, A. M. N. H., type, - S. F. Forest, Ariz.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 33. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in lateral -view of ten subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, [F] ad., 64687, U. S. N. M., - Wilmington, Mass. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata occisor_, [F] ad., 9101, Mus. Comp. Zool., - Bucksport, Maine. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata primulina_, [F] ad., 3638, Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. - Hist., 7 mi. SW Lawrence, Kansas. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata olivacea_, [F] ad., 41024, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., - Sinkola Plantation, Ga. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata spadix_, [F] ad., 188410 (2196), U. S. Nat. Mus., - Elk River, Minn. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata longicauda_, [F] ad., 75483, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Wingard, Sask. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata oribasus_, [F] ad., 9058, Mus. Comp. Zool., type, - source of Kettle River, British Columbia. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata alleni_, [F]?, ad., 7441, Amer. Mus. N. H., Black - Hills, S. D. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata arizonensis_, [F] ad., 1886, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, San Francisco, Forest, Arizona. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata nevadensis_, [F] ad., 41503, M. V. Z., type, 3 - mi. E Baker, Nev.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 34. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in dorsal -view, of eight subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata nevadensis_, [F] ad., 41503, M. V. Z., type, 3 - mi. E Baker, Nevada. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata washingtoni_, [F] sad., 81953, U. S. N. M., Trout - Lake, Wash. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata altifrontalis_, [F] ad., 392, coll. of Alex - Walker, Blaine, Oregon. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata oregonensis_, [F] ad., 244520, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Medford, Oregon. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [F] ad., 91764, U. S. Nat. Mus., Point - Reyes, California. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [F] ad., 19723, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Point - Arena, California. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, [F] ad., 2626, coll. of W. E. - Snyder, Selma, California. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata nigriauris_, [F] ad., 3761, M. V. Z., San - Francisco, California. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata neomexicana_, [F] ad., 36482, U. S. N. M., - Tombstone, Arizona.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 35. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in ventral -view, of eight subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata nevadensis_, [F] ad., 41503, M. V. Z., type, 3 - mi. E Baker, Nevada. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata washingtoni_, [F] sad., 81953, U. S. N. M., Trout - Lake, Wash. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata altifrontalis_, [F] ad., 392, coll. of Alex - Walker, Blaine, Oregon. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata oregonensis_, [F] ad., 244520, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Medford, Oregon. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [F] ad., 91764, U. S. N. M., Point Reyes, - California. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [F] ad., 19723, M. V. Z., Point Arena, - California. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, [F] ad., 2626, coll. of W. E. - Snyder, Selma, Calif. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata nigriauris_, [F] ad., 3761, M. V. Z., San - Francisco, California. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata neomexicana_, [F] ad., 36482, U. S. N. M., - Tombstone, Arizona.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 36. Photographs, retouched, of skulls in lateral -view, of eight subspecies of _Mustela frenata_. Natural size. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata washingtoni_, [F] sad., 81953, U. S. N. M., Trout - Lake, Wash. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata altifrontalis_, [F] ad., 392, coll. of Alex - Walker, Blaine, Oregon. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata oregonensis_, [F] ad., 244520, U. S. N. M., - Medford, Oregon. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [F] ad., 91764, U. S. N. M., Point Reyes, - California. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [F] ad., 19723, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Point - Arena, Calif. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata xanthogenys_, [F] ad., 2626, coll. of W. E. - Snyder, Selma, Calif. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata nigriauris_, [F] ad., 3761, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., San - Francisco, Calif. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata neomexicana_, [F] ad., 36482, U. S. N. M., - Tombstone, Ariz. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [F] ad., 58685, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Brownsville, Texas. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [F] ad., 991, Berlin Zool. Mus., type, - México City, D. F. - - _k._ _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, [F] ad., 26153, Amer. Mus. N. H., - Artenkiki, Jalisco. - - _l._ _Mustela frenata perotae_, [F] ad., 54278, U. S. Nat. Mus., type, - 12500 ft., Cofre de Perote, Veracruz.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 37. Photos, retouched, of skulls of 8 subspecies -of _Mustela frenata_, × 1. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [F] ad., 58685, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Brownsville, Texas. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [F] ad., 991, Berlin Zool. Mus., type, - México City, D. F. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, [F] ad., 26153, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Artenkiki, Jalisco. - - _d._ _Mustela f. perotae_, [F] ad., 54278, U. S. N. M., type, Cofre de - Perote, Veracruz. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata macrophonius_, [F] ad., 132528, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Pérez, Veracruz. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata tropicalis_, [F] ad., 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Jico, Veracruz. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata perda_, [F] sad., 65422, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Catemaco, Veracruz. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata meridana_, [F] ad., 143665, U. S. N. M., Mérida, - Venezuela. - - _i._ _Mustela f. macrura_, [F] ad., 564, M. P. H. N., type of Mustela - jelskii, Cutervo, Perú.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 38. Photos, retouched, skulls in ventral view, 8 -subspecies of _M. frenata_, × 1. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [F] ad., 58685, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Brownsville, Texas. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [F] ad., 991, Berlin Zool. Mus., type, - México City, D. F. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata leucoparia_, [F] ad., 26153, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., Artenkiki, Jalisco. - - _d._ _Mustela f. perotae_, [F] ad., 54278, U. S. N. M., type, Cofre de - Perote, Veracruz. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata macrophonius_, [F] ad., 132528, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Pérez, Veracruz. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata tropicalis_, [F] ad., 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Jico, Veracruz. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata perda_, [F] sad., 65422, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Catemaco, Veracruz. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata meridana_, [F] ad., 143665, U. S. N. M., Mérida, - Venezuela. - - _i._ _Mustela f. macrura_, [F] ad., 564, M. P. H. N., type of _Mustela - jelskii_, Cutervo, Perú.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 39. FIGS. _a_-_h_. Photos, retouched, of 10 kinds -_Mustela_, × 1. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata macrophonius_, [F] ad., 132528, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Pérez, Veracruz. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata tropicalis_, [F] ad., 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Jico, Veracruz. - - _c._ _Mustela frenata perda_, [F] sad., 65422, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Catemaco, Veracruz. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata meridana_, [F] ad., 143665, U. S. Nat. Mus., - Mérida, Venezuela. - - _e._ _Mustela f. macrura_, [F] ad., 564, M. P. H. N., type of _Mustela - jelskii_, Cutervo, Perú. - - _f._ _Mustela frenata agilis_, [F] sad., 21147, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Macate, Perú. - - _g._ _Mustela frenata gracilis_, [F]?, ad., 12431, Amer. Mus. Nat. - Hist., type, Conard Fissure, Arkansas, Pleistocene. - - _h._ _Mustela a. stolzmanni_, [F] sad., 24.12.12.24, Brit. M. N. H., - Myobamba, Perú. - - FIGS. _i_-_l_. _Mustela frenata nevadensis_, all males, from Colorado, - showing seasonal change in color, × approximately 1/9. Note the sharply - marked molt line in the pelage of spring and the absence of any - definite molt line in autumn. - - _i._ No. 151415 U. S. Nat. Mus., Coventry, December 27, 1907. - - _j._ No. 202741 U. S. Nat. Mus., Pierce Place, April 18, 1913. - - _k._ No. 201681 U. S. Nat. Mus., Jefferson, June 23, 1913. - - _l._ No. 41997 Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Navajo River, October 29, 1913.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 40. Photos, retouched, of skulls and lower jaws of -_Mustela_, × 1. - - _a._ _Mustela frenata agilis_, [F] sad., 21147, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Macate, Perú. - - _b._ _Mustela frenata gracilis_, [F]?, ad., type, 12431, A. M. N. H., - Conard Fiss., Ark. - - _c._ _Mustela africana stolzmanni_, [F] sad., 24.12.12.24, Brit. M. N. - H., Myobamba, Perú. - - _d._ _Mustela frenata agilis_, [F] sad., 21147, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., - Macate, Perú. - - _e._ _Mustela frenata gracilis_, [F]?, ad., type, 12431, A. M. N. H., - Conard Fiss., Ark. - - _f._ _Mustela africana stolzmanni_, [F] sad., 24.12.12.24, Brit. M. N. - H., Myobamba, Perú. - - _g._ _Mustela africana stolzmanni_, [F] ad., 563, Mus. Polonais d' - Hist. Nat., type, Yurimaguas, Perú. The palate is broken longitudinally - and the two maxillae are slightly out of normal position. - - _h._ _Mustela frenata oribasus_, [F] ad., 9058, M. C. Z., type, source - of Kettle Riv., B. C. - - _i._ _Mustela frenata munda_, [F] ad., 91764, U. S. Nat. Mus., Point - Reyes, Calif. - - _j._ _Mustela frenata frenata_, [F] ad., 991, Berlin Z. M., type, - México City, D. F. - - _k._ _Mustela f. macrura_, [F] ad., 564, Mus. Polonais d' Hist. Nat., - type of _Mustela jelskii_. - - _l._ _Mustela africana stolzmanni_, [F] ad., 563, Mus. Polonais d' - Hist. Nat., type, Yurimaguas, Perú. Right half of lower jaw reversed.] - - -[Illustration: PLATE 41. Photographs, approximately 1/2, of stuffed -study-skins of the four species of American weasels. For each pair the -male is at the left and the female at the right. Photo. by W. C. -Matthews. - - _Mustela erminea arctica_, both in U. S. B. S., from Mts. near Eagle, - Alaska, [M] 131256 and [F] 131245. - - _Mustela erminea invicta_, both in U. S. B. S., from Tungsten Mine, - Washington, [M] 235236 and [F] 235235. - - _Mustela erminea muricus_, both in M. V. Z., from Baker Creek, 8675 - ft., Nevada, [M] 41501 and [F] 41502. - - _Mustela frenata nigriauris_, both in M. V. Z., from California, [M] - 51666 from Concord and [F] 73109 from Berkeley. - - _Mustela africana africana_, [M] 37475 A. M. N. H., from Pará, Brazil. - - _Mustela rixosa allegheniensis_, both in M. Z. U. M., from Michigan, - [M] 83260 Swan Creek Farm and [F] 88079 from Unadilla.] - - - - -INDEX TO VOLUME 4 - -Principal references are in boldface type - - - aequatorialis, - Mustela, 75 - Putorius, 75, 341, 387 - - aestuarina, Mustela, 82 - - affinis, - Mustela, 75, 375, 379, =384=, 398, =409= - Putorius, 372, 375, 379, 384 - - africana, Mustela, 73, 406, =409= - - agilis, - Mustela, 74, =393= - Putorius, 74, 222 - - alascensis, - Mustela, 75, =131= - Putorius, 75, 131 - - albigula, Neotoma, 208 - - allegheniensis, - Mustela, 77, =187= - Putorius, 77, 187 - - alleni, - Mustela, 76, =274= - Putorius, 76, 274 - - altifrontalis, Mustela, 79, =300= - - americana, 74, 75 - - americanus, Lepus, 93, 201, 210, 212, 216 - - anguinae, Mustela, 79, =145= - - angustidens, - Mustela, 78, =165= - Putorius, 78, 165 - - Annelida, 93 - - arctica, Mustela, 76, 96 - - arcticus, Putorius, 76 - - arizonensis, - Mustela, 75, =276=, 280, 291, 323 - Putorius, 75, 276, 280 - - armatus, Citellus, 200 - - arthuri, Mustela, 78, =241= - - audax, - Mustela, 77 - Putorius, 77 - - aureoventris, Mustela, 74, =387=, 398 - - Aves, 93 - - - bachmani, Sylvilagus, 213 - - bangsi, Mustela, 80, =124= - - barn owl, 173 - - Belding ground squirrel, 205 - - beldingi, Citellus, 205 - - big jumping mouse, 210 - - birds, - small, 216 - wild, 93, 213 - - Blarina, 91, 205, 209, 210 - brevicauda, 205 - - bobwhite, 213 - - boccamela, Mustela, 170 - - boliviensis, Mustela, 79, =402= - - bottae, Thomomys, 207 - - boylii, Lampropeltis, 213 - - brasiliensis, - Mustela, 73, 341, 372, 375 - Putorius, 280, 300, 315, 319, 323, 384, 387, 398, 409 - - brevicauda, Blarina, 91, 205 - - brush rabbit, 213 - - bull snake, 213 - - Bunaelurus, 11 - - - campestris, Mustela, 78, 190 - - cat, domestic, 174 - - celenda, Mustela, 80, =139= - - chicken, 93, 213, 216 - - chipmunk, 92, 196, 201, 206, 210, 216 - - cicognanii, - Mustela, 73, 110, =118=, 124, 222 - Putorius, 118, 124, 128, 145, 155, 161 - - cinereus, Sorex, 205 - - Citellus, 216 - armatus, 200 - beldingi, 205 - franklini, 205 - lateralis, 206 - richardsonii, 205 - townsendii, 205 - tridecemlineatus, 205 - - Clethrionomys, 92 - gapperi, 175, 181 - - Colaptes, 213 - - comadreja, 7 - - Condylura, 210 - - costaricensis, Mustela, 78, =372=, 379, 387 - - cotton rat, 208 - - cottontail, 202, 203, 205, 212 - Mearns, 208 - - coyote, 200 - - Cratogeomys, 65, 207 - - culbertsoni, - Mustela, 75 - Putorius, 75 - - - deer mouse, 208, 209, 216 - - domestic cat, 174 - - donnola, 7 - - drummondi, Microtus, 175 - - - earthworm, 93 - - effera, Mustela, 79, 291 - - energumenos, Mustela, 82 - - ermine, 87 - - erminea, - Mustela, 71 - Putorius, 222 - - eskimo, - Mustela, 77, 181 - Putorius, 77, 181 - - evagor, Mustela, 82 - - evergladensis, Mustela, 82 - - Evotomys, 175 - - - fallenda, Mustela, 80, 148 - - Felis, 9 - - ferrets, 43 - - fish, 91, 93 - - flickers, 213 - - floridana, Neotoma, 208 - - flying squirrel, 206, 216 - - Franklin ground squirrel, 205 - - franklini, Citellus, 205 - - frenata, Mustela, 73, 232, 252, 280, 309, 338, 341 - - frenatus, Putorius, 280, 300, 315, 319, 323, 341, 351, 363, 366, 372, - 384, 398 - - frog, leopard, 93 - - fulvus, Vulpes, 200 - - furo, Mustela, 43 - - fusca, Mustela, 222 - - fuscipes, Neotoma, 208 - - fuscus, Putorius, 74, 222 - - - Gallus, 93, 213 - - gapperi, Clethrionomys, 175, 181 - - Geomyidae, 216 - - getulus, Lampropeltis, 213 - - Glaucomys, 206, 216 - - golden-mantled ground squirrel, 206 - - goldmani, - Mustela, 76, 355 - Putorius, 76, 355 - - gracilis, - Mustela, 78, 404 - Putorius, 78, 404 - - Grammogale, 407 - - grasshopper, 208 - - grasshopper mouse, 207, 216 - - great-horned owl, 173 - - ground squirrel, 210, 216 - Belding, 205 - Franklin, 205 - golden-mantled, 206 - Richardson, 205 - thirteen-lined, 205 - Townsend, 205 - - gulosa, Mustela, 80, 159 - - - haidarum, - Mustela, 76, 142 - Putorius, 76, 142 - - hare, varying, 210, 216 - - harvest mouse, 208, 216 - - helleri, Mustela, 79, 391 - - hispidus, Sigmodon, 208 - - horned lark, 209 - - house mouse, 216 - - hyemalis, Junco, 213 - - - imperii, Putorius, 77, 110 - - ingens, Mustela, 82 - - initis, Mustela, 80, 136 - - insects, 176, 209, 216 - - intergrades, 45 - - invicta, Mustela, 80, 128 - - inyoensis, Mustela, 79, 331 - - - javonica, Mustela, 72 - - jelskii, Mustela, 75, 398 - - jumping mouse, 216 - big, 210 - - Junco hyemalis, 213 - - - kadiacensis, - Mustela, 76, 108 - Putorius, 76, 108 - - king-snake, 213 - - - labiata, Mustela, 79 - - lacustris, Mustela, 82 - - Lampropeltis, - boylii, 213 - getulus, 213 - - lark, horned, 209 - - lateralis, Citellus, 205 - - latimanus, Scapanus, 205 - - latirostra, Mustela, 79, 323 - - least weasel, 168, 209 - - lemming, 92 - - Lemmus, 92 - - Leopard frog, 93 - - lepida, Neotoma, 208 - - lepta, Mustela, 161 - - leptus, - Mustela, 161 - Putorius, 78, 161 - - Lepus americanus, 93, 201, 210, 211, 212, 216 - - letifera, Mustela, 82 - - leucoparia, - Mustela, 76, 347 - Putorius, 76, 347 - - lizards, 216 - - longicauda, - Mustela, 73, 232, 252, 262 - Putorius, 280 - - long-tailed weasel, 193 - - lutensis, Mustela, 82 - - Lutra minor, 170 - - Lutreola, 84 - - lutreola, Mustela, 170 - - Lyncodon, 407 - - - macrodon, Mustela, 82 - - macrophonius, - Mustela, 78, 360 - Putorius, 78, 360 - - macrura, Mustela, 75, 387, 393, 398, 402 - - macrurus, Putorius, 379 - - maniculatus, Peromyscus, 175 - - Martinogale, 11 - - meadow mice, 92, 208, 209, 216 - - Mearns cottontail, 208 - - melampelus, Mustela, 82 - - melodia, Melospiza, 213 - - Melospiza melodia, 213 - - meridana, Mustela, 78, 379 - - Mexican pocket gopher, 207 - - mexicanus, Putorius, 341 - - mice, meadow, 92, 208, 209, 216 - - microtis, - Mustela, 110 - Putorius, 77, 110 - - Microtus, 65, 91, 92, 174, 179, 181, 208, 209, 210, 216, 220 - drummondi, 175 - minor, 175 - montanus, 209 - ochrogaster, 179 - pennsylvanicus, 175 - - minimus, Tamias, 206 - - mink, Mustela, 82 - - minor, - Lutra, 170 - Mustela, 169 - - minor, Zapus, 210 - - minuta, - Mustela, 169 - Palaeogale, 169 - - minutus, Putorius, 169 - - Miomustela, 11 - - mole, 210 - - moles, 216 - - montanus, Microtus, 209 - - mortigena, Mustela, 110 - - mouse, - deer, 208, 209, 216 - grasshopper, 207, 216 - harvest, 208, 216 - house, 208, 216 - jumping, 210 - meadow, 208, 209, 216 - red-backed, 92 - - munda, Mustela, 77, 304, 309 - - mundus, Putorius, 77, 309 - - murica, Mustela, 161 - - muricus, - Mustela, 77, 161 - Putorius, 77, 161 - - Mus, 216 - - muskrat, 216 - - Mustela, 83 - aequatorialis, 75 - aestuarina, 82 - affinis, 75, 375, 379, 384, 398, 409 - africana, 73, 406, 409 - agilis, 74, 393 - alascensis, 75, 131 - allegheniensis, 77, 187 - alleni, 76, 274 - altifrontalis, 79, 300 - americana, 74, 75 - anguinae, 79, 145 - angustidens, 78, 165 - arctica, 76, 96 - arizonensis, 75, 276, 280, 291, 323 - arthuri, 78, 241 - audax, 77 - aureoventris, 74, 387, 398 - bangsi, 80, 124 - boccamela, 170 - boliviensis, 79, 402 - brasiliensis, 73, 341, 372, 375 - campestris, 78, 190 - celenda, 80, 139 - cicognanii, 73, 118, 222 - cigognanii, 118 - costaricensis, 78, 372, 379, 387 - culbertsoni, 75 - digna, 100 - effera, 79, 291 - energumenos, 82 - erminea, 72, 87, 103 - eskimo, 77, 181 - evagor, 82 - evergladensis, 82 - fallenda, 80, 148 - furo, 43 - frenata, 73, 193, 232, 252, 280, 309, 338, 341 - fusca, 224 - goldmani, 76, 355 - gracilis, 78, 404 - gulosa, 80, 159 - haidarum, 76, 142 - helleri, 79, 391 - ingens, 82 - initis, 80, 136 - invicta, 80, 128 - inyoensis, 79, 331 - javonica, 72 - jelskii, 75, 398 - kadiacensis, 76, 108 - kaneii, 99 - labiata, 79, 105 - lacustris, 82 - latirostra, 79, 323 - lepta, 161 - leptus, 161 - letifera, 82 - leucoparia, 76, 347 - longicauda, 73, 232, 252, 262 - lutensis, 82 - lutreola, 170 - macrodon, 82 - macrophonius, 78, 360 - macrura, 75, 387, 393, =398=, 402 - melampelus, 82 - meridana, 78, =379= - microtus, 77, 110 - mink, 82 - minor, 169 - minuta, 169 - munda, 77, 304, =309= - murica, 161 - muricus, 77, =161= - neomexicana, 76, 333 - neomexicanus, 333 - nesolestes, 82 - nevadensis, 79, =280= - nicaraguae, 78, =370= - nigriauris, 79, 319 - nigripes, 74 - nivalis, 72 - notius, 77 - noveboracensis, 74, =222=, 252 - numidica, 170 - occisor, 77, =230= - olivacea, 78, =244= - olympica, 80, =153= - oregonensis, 76, =304= - oribasa, 270 - oribasus, 77, =270= - orientalis, 100 - panamensis, 78, =375= - paraensis, 76, 409 - peninsulae, 75, =250= - perda, 77, =366= - perotae, 79, 351 - polaris, 77, 103 - primulina, 78, =232= - pulchra, 79, =328= - pusilla, 74, 118 - putorius, 43 - richardsonii, 73, =110= - rixosa, 76, 153, 155, 161, 168, =184= - salva, 80, =135= - saturata, 76, 297 - seclusa, 80, =141= - semplei, 78, =105= - spadix, 76, =252= - stolzmanni, 75, 409, =413= - streatori, 76, =155= - texensis, 79, 338 - tropicalis, 76, =363=, 367 - vison, =82= - vulgivaga, 82 - washingtoni, 76, =294= - xanthogenys, 74, =315=, 331 - - - neomexicana, Mustela, 76, =333= - - neomexicanus, - Mustela, =333= - Putorius, 76, 333 - - Neotamias, 206 - - Neotoma, 208, 216 - albigula, =208= - floridana, =208= - fuscipes, 208 - lepida, 208 - - nesolestes, Mustela, 82 - - nevadensis, Mustela, 79, =280= - - nicaraguae, Mustela, 78, =370= - - nigriauris, Mustela, 79, 319 - - nigripes, - Mustela, 74 - Putorius, 74 - - nivalis, Mustela, 72, 169 - - northern pocket gopher, 206 - - notius, Putorius, 77, 222 - - noveboracensis, - Mustela, 74, =222=, 252 - Putorius, 74, 222 - - numidica, Mustela, 170 - - numidicus, Putorius, 170 - - - occisor, - Mustela, 77, =230= - Putorius, 77 - - Ochotona, 92 - - ochrogaster, Microtus, 179 - - olivacea, Mustela, 78, =244= - - olympica, Mustela, 80, =153= - - Ondatra, 210, 216 - - Onychomys, 207, 216 - - oregonensis, - Mustela, =304= - Putorius, 304 - - oribasa, Mustela, 270 - - oribasus, - Mustela, 77, =270= - Putorius, 77 - - Orthogeomys, 65 - - owl, - barn, 173 - great-horned, 173 - snowy, 90 - - - Palaeogale, 11 - minuta, 169 - - panamensis, Mustela, 78, =375= - - paraensis, - Mustela, 76, 409 - Putorius, 76, 409 - - peninsulae, - Mustela, 75, =250= - Putorius, 75, 250 - - pennsylvanicus, Microtus, 175 - - perda, Mustela, 77, 366 - - perdus, Putorius, 77, 366 - - Peromyscus, 91, 92, 173, 196, 208, 209, 210, 216 - maniculatus, 175 - - perotae, Mustela, 79, =351= - - pheasant, 209 - ring-necked, 202 - - pigmy weasel, 216 - - pika, 92 - - pikas, 201 - - pipiens, Rana, 93 - - Pisces, 93 - - Pituophis sayi sayi, 213 - - Pliogale, 11 - - pocket gopher, 209, 216 - Mexican, 207 - northern, 206 - Shaw, 208 - - polaris, - Mustela, 77, 103 - Putorius, 77 - - polecats, 43 - - porcupine, quills of, 200 - - primulina, Mustela, 78, 233 - - pulchra, Mustela, 79, 323 - - pusilla, Mustela, 74, 118 - - pusillus, Putorius, 118, 155, 184, 190 - - Putorius, 76, 294, 300 - aequatorialis, 75, 341, 387 - affinis, 372, 375, 379, 384 - agilis, 74, 222 - alascensis, 75, 96, 131 - allegheniensis, 77, 187 - alleni, 76, 274 - angustidens, 76, 165 - arcticus, 76, 96 - arizonensis, 75, 276, 280 - audax, 77, 96 - brasiliensis, 280, 300, 315, 319, 323, 384, 387, 398, 409 - cicognanii, 96, 110, 118, 124, 128, 145, 155, 161 - culbertsoni, 75 - erminea, 96, 110, 222 - eskimo, 77, 181 - frenatus, 280, 300, 315, 319, 323, 341, 347, 351, 363, 366, 372, - 384, 398 - fuscus, 74, 222 - goldmani, 76, 355 - gracilis, 78, 404 - haidarum, 76, 142 - imperii, 110 - kadiacensis, 76, 96, 108 - kaneii, 100 - leptus, 78, 161 - leucoparia, 76, 347 - longicauda, 262, 270, 280 - macrophonius, 78, 360 - macrotis, 77 - macrurus, 370 - mexicanus, 341 - microtus, 100 - minutus, 169 - mundus, 77, 309 - muricus, 77, 161 - neomexicanus, 76, 333 - nigripes, 74 - notius, 77, 222 - noveboracensis, 74, 222, 232 - numidicus, 170 - occisor, 77, 230 - oregonensis, 304 - oribasus, 77, 270 - paraensis, 76, 409 - peninsulae, 75, 250 - perdus, 77, 366 - polaris, 77, 103 - pusillus, 118, 155, 184, 190 - richardsonii, 96, 110 - rixosus, 76, 181, 184 - saturatus, 76, 294, 300 - spadix, 76, 252 - stolzmanni, 145, 148, 155, 159 - streatori, 76 - tropicalis, 76, 363, 370 - vulgaris, 118, 155, 181, 184 - washingtoni, 76, 294 - xanthogenys, 315, 319, 323, 331 - - putorius, Mustela, 43 - - - quail, 209, 213 - - - rabbit, - brush, 213 - snowshoe, 93, 201 - - racer, red, 213 - - Rana pipiens, 93 - - rat, - brown, 202 - cotton, 208, 216 - wood, 208 - - Rattus, 91, 92, 210, 216 - - rattlesnake, 200 - - red-backed mouse, 92 - - red - racer, 213 - squirrel, 206 - - Reithrodontomys, 175, 216 - - reptiles, 213 - - Richardson ground squirrel, 205 - - richardsonii, - Citellus, 205 - Mustela, 73, 110 - Putorius, 222 - - ring-necked pheasant, 202 - - rixosa, Mustela, 76, 153, 155, 161, 168, 184 - - rixosus, Putorius, 76, 181, 184 - - Rodentia, 216 - - russet-backed thrush, 204 - - - salva, Mustela, 80, 135 - - saturata, Mustela, 76, 297 - - sayi, Pituophis, 213 - - Scalopus, 209 - - Scapanus latimanus, 205 - - Schönthierlein, 7 - - Sciurus, 210 - - seclusa, Mustela, 80, 141 - - semplei, Mustela, 78, 105 - - short-tailed shrew, 208, 209 - - short-tailed weasel, 87 - - shrews, 216 - - Sigmodon, 216 - - Sigmodon hispidus, 208 - - slate-colored junco, 213 - - snake, - bull, 213 - king, 213 - - snakes, 216 - - snowshoe rabbit, 93, 210 - - snowy owl, 90 - - song sparrow, 201, 213 - - Sorex, 91, 209 - cinereus, 205 - - Soricidae, 216 - - spadix, - Mustela, 76, 252 - Putorius, 76, 252 - - sparrow, - song, 201, 213 - tree, 208, 209 - - spermophile, Uinta, 200 - - squirrel, - flying, 206 - red, 206 - tree, 216 - - stolzmanni, Mustela, 75, 409, 413 - - streatori, - Mustela, 76, 155 - Putorius, 76, 145, 148, 155, 159 - - striatus, Tamias, 206 - - Sylvilagus, 91, 93, 209, 210, 216 - bachmani, 213 - - - Talpidae, 216 - - talpoides, Thomomys, 207 - - Tamias, 91, 92, 206, 210, 216 - minimus, 206 - striatus, 206 - - Tamiasciurus, 206, 216 - - texensis, Mustela, 79, 338 - - thirteen-lined ground squirrel, 205 - - Thomomys, 206, 219 - bottae, 207 - talpoides, 207 - - thrush, russet-backed, 204 - - towhee, 201 - - Townsend ground squirrel, 205 - - townsendii, Citellus, 205 - - tree sparrow, 208, 209 - - tridecemlineatus, Citellus, 205 - - tropical weasel, 406 - - tropicalis, - Mustela, 76, 363, 367 - Putorius, 76, 363, 370 - - - Uinta spermophile, 200 - - - varying hare, 210, 216 - - vison, - Mustela, 82 - Lutreola, 84 - - vulgaris, - Mustela, 73 - Putorius, 118, 155, 181, 184 - - vulgivaga, Mustela, 82 - - Vulpes fulvus, 200 - - - washingtoni, - Mustela, 76, 294 - Putorius, 76, 294 - - weasel, - least, 168, 209 - long-tailed, 193 - Pigmy, 216 - short-tailed, 87 - tropical, 406 - - wild birds, 93, 213 - - wood rat, 208, 210, 216, 219 - - - xanthogenys, - Mustela, 74, 315, 331 - Putorius, 315, 319, 323, 331 - - - Zapus, 216 - minor, 210 - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia - -[2] American Mus. Nat. History - -[3] Baylor University - -[4] Berlin Zoological Museum - -[5] Boston Society of Natural History - -[6] Brigham Young University - -[7] British Museum of Natural History - -[8] California Academy of Sciences - -[9] Carnegie Museum - -[10] Charles R. Conner Museum - -[11] Charleston Museum - -[12] Coe College - -[13] Collection of A. H. Miller - -[14] Collection of Alex Walker - -[15] Collection of Arthur Peake - -[16] Collection of D. D. Stone - -[17] Collection of Donald V. Hemphill - -[18] Collection of E. J. Koestner - -[19] Collection of Edward R. Warren - -[20] Collection of Frank Stephens - -[21] Collection of Ian McTaggart-Cowan - -[22] Collection of J. A. Munro - -[23] Collection of J. Arnold - -[24] Collection of J. E. Law - -[25] Collection of J. M. Edson - -[26] Collection of Jack C vonBloeker - -[27] Collection of Joe and Dean Thiriot - -[28] Collection of John Cushing - -[29] Collection of John Fitzgerald, Jr. - -[30] Collection of John Tyler - -[31] Collection of Kenneth Racey - -[32] Collection of L. M. Huey - -[33] Collection of Lloye H. Miller - -[34] Collection of Mr. Green - -[35] Collection of Myron H. Swenk - -[36] Collection of O. J. Murie - -[37] Collection of O. P. Silliman - -[38] Collection of R. D. Moore - -[39] Collection of R. H. Coleman - -[40] Collection of R. W. Jackson - -[41] Collection of Ralph Ellis - -[42] Collection of Robert T. Orr - -[43] Collection of Rollin H. Baker - -[44] Collection of Ross Hardy - -[45] Collection of Stanley C. Arthur - -[46] Collection of Stanley G. Jewett - -[47] Collection of Stuart Criddle - -[48] Collection of T. C. Stephens - -[49] Collection of Victor B. Scheffer - -[50] Collection of W. E. Snyder - -[51] Collection of Walter W. Dalquest - -[52] Collection of William B. Davis - -[53] Collection of William B. Richardson - -[54] Collection of William Bebb - -[55] Collection of William T. Shaw - -[56] Collection Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever Lab. - -[57] Colorado Museum of Natural History - -[58] Cornell University - -[59] Donald R. Dickey Collection - -[60] Field Museum of Natural History - -[61] Florida State Museum - -[62] Fresno State Junior College - -[63] Humboldt State Teachers College - -[64] Illinois Natural History Survey - -[65] Iowa State College - -[66] Iowa Wesleyan College - -[67] Kansas State Agric. College - -[68] Leland Stanford Junior University - -[70] Los Angeles Mus. Hist. Art and Sci. - -[71] Louisiana State University - -[72] Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park Collection - -[73] Mus. Polonais d'Hist. Nat., Warsaw - -[74] Mus. Vert. Zoöl., Univ. California - -[75] Museum of Comparative Zoölogy - -[76] Museum of Zoölogy, Univ. Michigan - -[77] National Museum of Canada - -[78] Naturhistoriska Ricksmuseum, Sweden - -[80] New York State Museum - -[81] Ohio State Museum - -[82] Oklahoma Agric. and Mech. College - -[83] Ottawa University, Kansas - -[84] Paris Museum - -[85] Provincial Museum of British Columbia - -[86] Royal Ontario Museum of Zoölogy - -[87] San Diego Society of Natural History - -[88] State Hist. and Nat. Hist. Soc. Colo. - -[89] State Normal School, Cheney, Wash. - -[90] Texas Cooperative Research Collection - -[91] United States National Museum - -[92] Univ. California Mus. Palaeo. - -[93] Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. History - -[94] Univ. Washington Museum of Zoölogy - -[95] Univ. Zool. Mus., Copenhagen - -[96] University of Arkansas - -[97] University of Idaho - -[98] University of Minnesota - -[99] University of Notre Dame - -[100] University of Oklahoma - -[101] University of Oregon - -[102] University of South Dakota - -[103] University of Utah - -[104] University of Wisconsin - - * * * * * - - Transcribers Notes: - - Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant - preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. - - Simple typographical and spelling errors were corrected. - - P. 162 changed Tahoma Creek, [72] to Tahoma Creek, 1[72]. - - P. 418 moved last two columns of "TABLE OF CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS" - part a to the begining of part b. - - Plate 24 added [14063,] for missing specimen number. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of American Weasels, by E. 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