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.