The length of the hind foot averages less than the basal length in both males and females. The tail averages 52 per cent as long as the head and body in males and 51 per cent in females. Average differences in measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 49; length of tail, 19; length of hind foot, 5. An adult male, no. 41023, and an adult female, no. 41024, each taken in February, 1929, on the Sinkola Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia, weighed 15 ounces (425 grams) and 7 ounces (198 grams) respectively according to Charles O. Handley.

Externals.—As described in Mustela frenata noveboracensis, except that hairiness of foot-soles slightly less than shown in figure 19.

Color.—Upper parts, in summer, near tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. In winter lighter, between tones 3 and 4 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301. Dark spot at each angle of mouth present or absent. Underparts ranging from Massicot Yellow to Cream Buff except on chin and upper lips which are white. Tip of tail black. Upper parts of uniform color. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over antipalmar faces of toes and on medial sides of hind limbs to ankles. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of five males from Talbot Co., Georgia, 29 (extremes 24-34) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series, averaging 65 (extremes 60-70) mm. long, thus longer than hind foot and averaging 43 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

The spot at the angle of the mouth is absent in one-third of the specimens examined. The upper lips are white in specimens from the southern part of the range of olivacea but in the northern part of the range of the subspecies the upper lips are dark colored as in noveboracensis.

Skull and teeth.—Male (based on 5 adults from Talbot Co., Georgia): See measurements and plates 16-18; weight, 5.3 (5.0-6.4) grams; basilar length, 48.3 (45.8-50.1); zygomatic breadth more or less (usually less) than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less (usually more) than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth more or less than (averaging about equal to) postpalatal length; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and more or less than (about equal to) width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than (about equal to) distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than greatest length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla not less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum (one exception); anterior margin of masseteric fossa below posterior half of m2.

Female (based on 2 adults from Thomas Co., Ga., and one from Talbot Co., Ga.): See measurements and plates 31-33; weight, 3.8 (3.5-4.0) grams; basilar length, 43.4 (42.7-44.0); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and more or less (usually more) than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate less than greatest length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla not less (usually more) than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer than rostrum.

The skull of the female averages 28 per cent lighter than that of the male.

Compared with the skull of M. f. peninsulae, of which only one good skull, and that a female, is available, that of M. f. olivacea averages smaller and has relatively and actually smaller and less inflated bullae. As compared with the skull of M. f. noveboracensis, that of olivacea in the case of males is larger in every part measured and relative to the basilar length is broader across the zygomatic arches and mastoids. However, the rostrum and interorbital region are relatively narrower. The orbitonasal length is relatively less. The tympanic bullae are broader and more inflated. The same differences hold as between females of noveboracensis and olivacea. Indeed, the females of these two races differ more than do the males. Additional, selected differential cranial characters in the females are, in olivacea, as follows: Weight averaging 3.8 grams rather than 1.7 grams; braincase with, rather than without, sagittal crest; anterior border of tympanic bulla separated from foramen ovale by breadth of less than, rather than breadth of more than, 4 upper incisors (including I3); height of tympanic bulla not less than, rather than less than, distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; squamosal bone, between anterior margin of tympanic bulla and foramen ovale, ventrally concave rather than ventrally convex. Comparisons of the skulls with those of M. f. arthuri and M. f. primulina are made in the accounts of those subspecies.

Remarks.—Excepting two young specimens from South Carolina in the Charleston Museum, no specimens of this race of large weasel seem to have been preserved until Arthur H. Howell, in the course of his study of the mammals of Alabama, procured specimens on which his name, olivacea, was based. Later, Francis Harper obtained three instructive specimens from Okefinokee Swamp. Really adequate material, for the localities represented, owes its preservation to the alertness of Charles O. Handley, when he resided at Thomasville, Georgia, and to Hallie E. Fuller of Geneva, Talbot Co., Georgia.

The distinctness of M. f. olivacea from M. f. peninsulae is not satisfactorily established due to inadequate material of peninsulae. Differences shown by the specimens seen indicate that, as compared with olivacea, peninsulae is larger, has transversely wider light-colored underparts which possess more yellow, and a larger skull with more inflated tympanic bullae. In each of these characters, olivacea is intermediate between noveboracensis on the north and peninsulae on the south. The question arises, therefore, whether the animals here recognized under the name olivacea really constitute a recognizable subspecies or instead are only representatives of a subspecies which reaches its extreme development in Florida. In the latter event, the name peninsulae would apply to all. Examination of more material from Florida, especially from the southern half of Florida, will be necessary to answer this question.

This large weasel of the southeastern United States is remarkably different from noveboracensis. Indeed, were it not for actual intergrades such as the two from Fort Payne, Alabama, and York, South Carolina, which are described in the account of M. f. noveboracensis, and the six specimens from northwestern Alabama, which are referred to olivacea, the systematist, I believe, would have little or no hesitancy in designating the two as distinct species, especially on the basis of differences to be seen in the skull.

Not only are the two forms structurally more different than usually is the case but between two geographically, adjacent subspecies of the same species of mammal, but the belt where intergradation occurs appears to be narrow. Nevertheless, when material of the two races is laid out in geographic order, and examined in mass, certain features are seen to undergo gradual change as a person's eye travels from specimens from, say, the center of the range of noveboracensis to specimens from southern localities adjoining the territory occupied by olivacea. One of these features subject to gradual change is the color of the underparts. Beginning at the Adirondacks of New York where a large number of the specimens have white underparts, the underparts become more intensely yellowish southward through the range of noveboracensis into that of olivacea. Indeed, this progressive trend seems to continue right on southward through the range of olivacea into that of peninsulae. Turning in the opposite direction we find that the least width of the underparts decreases gradually northward toward the range of noveboracensis. There is, likewise, a decrease to the northward in length of the skull and relative, as well as actual, narrowing of the braincase and tympanic bullae. However, in least width of color of underparts and the mentioned cranial features, the trend stops relatively abruptly at the southern boundary of the geographic range of noveboracensis and does not continue on, northward, into the range of noveboracensis as is the case with the change in intensity of yellowness of the underparts.

Two males, in the United States National Museum, Biological Surveys Collection, from near Leighton, Alabama, no. 178386 from the Tennessee River nine miles north [of Leighton?] and no. 180240 from La Grange Mountain, although clearly referable to olivacea on the basis of cranial characters, show some approach to noveboracensis in lesser size of the skull and agree with noveboracensis in the narrowness of the color of the underparts. Also, these specimens, like others from the northern part of the range of olivacea, for instance, no 31.227, Charleston Museum, from Mayesville, South Carolina, have the color of the underparts extended only part way out on the hind limb toward the foot. In specimens of olivacea from the southern part of its range the color of the underparts is extended onto the hind feet and this trend reaches its extreme in peninsulae, specimens of which have the feet and larger parts of the limbs marked with the light color of the underparts.

An adult female, no. 32.32, Charleston Museum, although typical of olivacea in most respects, is nevertheless an intergrade. The teeth are as small as in some specimens of noveboracensis. The size of the skull is only slightly nearer that of olivacea than it is to that of noveboracensis. The proportions of the skull, however, are distinctly those of olivacea.

Five other specimens, from northwestern Alabama, namely two from eight miles north of Nauvoo, two from Shoal Creek, and one from White Creek, also show intergradation between noveboracensis and olivacea. The remarks concerning color and color pattern of the specimens from Leighton apply equally well to the five from northwestern Alabama. In cranial characters, no. 51658 from Shoal Creek is referable to olivacea, as also is no. 51677 from the same place, providing it is a female rather than a male as sexed by the collector. No. 57146 from White Creek also is referable to olivacea although the skull shows some approach to that of noveboracensis. Of the two males from near Nauvoo, no. 51652 is to me indistinguishable from noveboracensis, but no. 51653 does have some characters of olivacea, although on the whole, the latter, too, seems to be a little nearer noveboracensis than olivacea. However, because the mean of these seven specimens from northwestern Alabama is nearer olivacea than noveboracensis the former name may be applied.

Another specimen from "Souinlonie" Creek, Clark County, Mississippi, has the coloration and rostral configuration of primulina, narrow mastoidal breadth and smaller teeth of noveboracensis and skull of large size with "full" braincase as in olivacea. No. 235364, U. S. Nat. Mus., from the Mobile River at the "L. and N. RR. Crossing," Mobile County, Alabama, although definitely olivacea, shows approach to arthuri in that the dorsal outline of the skull is longitudinally more convex and the tympanic bullae are less inflated than in olivacea and in that the color of the underparts is almost exactly as in the type specimen of arthuri. The young specimen labeled as from "Silver Springs," Florida, has large tympanic bullae (17 mm. long) and several characters that show its relationship to peninsulae as that race is now understood. Because the sex is unknown the identification as olivacea is tentative and is made on the assumption that the specimen is a male. If it is instead a female, the animal is referable to peninsulae.

An adult, female specimen in the Charleston Museum, no. 27.239.1, taken at St. Matthews, South Carolina, on December 8, 1927, contained four embryos which averaged 19 mm. in length and 47.75 centigrams in weight. Another adult female, in the Charleston Museum, no. 32.32, taken on February 21, 1932, at the same place, has prominent mammae, and the collector has noted that two were slightly active.

Sixteen of twenty-nine adults examined show infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites. However, in none is the malformation of the frontal region so great as frequently occurs in M. f. noveboracensis.

Specimens examined.—Total number, 52, arranged alphabetically by states and from north to south by counties in each state. Except as otherwise indicated specimens are in the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.

Alabama. Lawrence County: White Creek, 1; Little Sand Mt., Shoal Creek, 2. Winston County: 7-1/2 mi. N Nauvoo, 1; 8 mi. N Nauvoo, 1. Lauderdale County: near Leighton, 9 mi. N Tennessee River, 1[91]. Colbert County: Leighton, 1[91]. Autauga County: Autaugaville, 1[91]. Dale County: Midland City, 1[91]. Mobile County: Mobile River, 12 mi. NE Mobile, 1[91].

Florida. Alachua County: Gainesville, 4[61]. Marion County: "Silver Springs," 1.

Georgia. Spalding County, 1. Lamar County, 1. Talbot County: southwest part of county, 1; Box Springs, near Geneva, 3; Upatoie Creek, 1 mi. SW Box Springs, 2; 3 mi. SE Geneva, 1; 4 mi. W Geneva, 1; 5 mi. W Geneva, 1; 2 mi. E Geneva, 1. Chattahoochee County, 2. Grady County: Beachton, 3[91]; locality no more definite than county, 4. Thomas County: Sinkola Plantation, 2; locality no more definite than county, 2. Charlton County: 1/2 mi. E Chesser's Island, Okefinokee Swamp, 1[58]. County in question: Billy's Island, Okefinokee Swamp, 1[91]; Okefinokee Swamp, 1[58].

Mississippi. Clark County: Souinlonie Creek, 1.

South Carolina. Darlington County: Society Hill, 1[91]. Sumter County: Mayesville, 1[11]. Calhoun County: St. Matthews, 2[11]. Georgetown County: Sampit, 1[11]. Charleston County: Rantowles, 1[11]; 8 mi. N Charleston, 1[11]. Beaufort County: Yemassee, 1[2].

Mustela frenata peninsulae (Rhoads)

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 16, 17 and 18

Putorius peninsulae Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1894:152, June 19, 1894; Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:10, February 25, 1896.

Mustela peninsulae, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, December 31, 1912.

Mustela p. peninsulae, Bailey, Bailey Mus. and Library Nat. Hist., 1(no. 5):1, December 1, 1930.

Mustela frenata peninsulae, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:105, September 20, 1936.

Type.—Female, young, part skull and skin; no. 8515, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia; Hudson's, Pasco County [14 miles north of Tarpon Springs], Florida; before 1895; obtained by W. S. Dickinson.

The skull has been cut vertically in two at the plane of the glenoid fossae. These fossae and all the cranium posterior to them are missing. In addition to the part of the cranium anterior to the glenoid fossae, the lower jaws are preserved complete. The teeth all are present and entire. The prominent sutures on the rostrum and palate show the specimen to be young and its small size leaves but little doubt that the animal was a female. The light facial markings are more extensive than in any of the referred specimens. In the type these light facial markings consist of a median isolated spot immediately in front of the ears, a larger one on the nose, with an interrupted bar on each side extending posteroventrally in front of and anterior to the eye, a wider bar, on each side, extending anterodorsally between the ear and eye and finally an isolated spot at the anterior border of each ear. The skin is stuffed and in fair condition except that the vertebrae remain in the tail.

Range.—Austral and probably Tropical life-zones of Florida south of latitude 29°. See figure 29 on page 221.

Characters for ready recognition.—Differs from M. f. olivacea in coarser pelage and larger tympanic bullae.

Description.—Size.—Male: No external measurements available. Female: The type a young animal and no. 2379, an adult from Tarpon Springs, measure respectively as follows: Total length, 375, 378; length of tail, 100, 130; length of hind foot, 40, 44.5.

Externals.—As described in Mustela frenata noveboracensis except that hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure 20.

Color.—Upper parts (in winter) near tone 3 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. Dark spot at each angle of mouth present or absent. Tip of tail black. Underparts Reed Yellow except on chin and usually on legs where white. Upper lips white entirely around. Upper parts of uniform color. Color of underparts extends distally on legs over both sides of feet and on front legs over wrists. Proximal part of tail slightly lighter below than above. Least width of color of underparts, in seven specimens, averaging 41 (extremes 31-52) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in each of two females, 45 mm. long; thus slightly longer than hind foot and amounting to 36 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

The spot at the angle of the mouth is absent in four of the ten specimens and is present on both sides in the other six.

Skull and teeth.—Male (based on an adult from Apopka and the anterior part of an adult from Enterprise): See measurements and plates 16-18. As described in Mustela frenata olivacea except that: Weight, 7.0 grams; basilar length, 49.8.

Female (based on an adult from Tarpon Springs, Florida): See measurements. As described in Mustela frenata olivacea except that: Weight, 4.7 grams; basilar length, 44.2; zygomatic breadth more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla.

In comparison with M. f. olivacea, the insufficient material of M. f. peninsulae suggests that its skull averages larger and has relatively as well as actually larger and more inflated tympanic bullae.

Remarks.—The first published mention of this weasel seems to have been the original description which appeared in 1894. This description was based on a single specimen sent to Samuel N. Rhoads by W. S. Dickinson, who, in the following year, procured another specimen at Tarpon Springs. So far as known only eight other specimens, as listed under "Specimens examined," have found their way into collections of study specimens.

H. H. Bailey (1930:1) credits the range of this subspecies as extending south "to the shores of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, where ever high ground occurs."

Evidence of intergradation between M. f. peninsulae and M. f. olivacea is provided by specimens of olivacea from Gainesville, Florida, and the Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia. These specimens, on the average, have the color of the underparts wider, the skull larger, and the tympanic bullae relatively larger than do specimens of olivacea from farther north. In these features, approach to M. f. peninsulae is shown.

Light facial markings occur in this subspecies. They are similar to those possessed by weasels which occur at the same latitude and under corresponding climatic conditions on the Pacific Coast. The type specimen and one from Tarpon Springs have white facial markings. Two of the three specimens from Apopka also show white facial markings, although in reduced amount. One of the four specimens of M. f. olivacea from Gainesville, Florida, has well-developed light (white) facial markings. Also of the four specimens of M. f. olivacea examined from Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia, one has prominent white facial markings. However, in it the pattern is so unusual as to suggest that it is an instance of partial albinism rather than an outcropping of a racial tendency, or a pattern of coloration induced by climatic factors.

None of the eight available skulls show any infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites.

Specimens examined.—Total number, 10, arranged by counties from west to east.

Florida. Pasco County: Hudson's, 1[1]. Pinellas County: Tarpon Springs, 1[1]. Hernando County, 1[91]. Polk County: Auburndale, 1[91]; no locality more definite than county, 1[91]. Orange County: Apopka, 3[61]. Volusia County: Enterprise, 1[60]. Seminole County: Osceola, 1[2].

Mustela frenata spadix (Bangs)

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33

Putorius longicauda spadix Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:8, February 25, 1896; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:21, figs. 10, 11, June 30, 1896; Cory, Mamm. Illinois and Wisconsin, p. 374, 1912.

Mustela longicauda spadix, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, December 31, 1912; Bailey, Journ. Mamm., 10:156, May 9, 1929.

Mustela longicauda, Johnson, Journ. Mamm., 11:439, November 11, 1930.

Mustela noveboracensis, Murie, Journ. Mamm., 16:321, November 15, 1935.

Mustela frenata spadix, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:105, November 20, 1936.

Type.—Male, young, skull and skin; no. 3265/1786, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota; June 25, 1889; obtained by Edgar A. Mearns; original no. 812.

The skull is complete although there are fractures on the top of the braincase, on the right side of the braincase and at the middle of the right zygomatic arch. The teeth all are present and entire. The skin, although overstuffed, is complete, well preserved, and in summer pelage.

Range.—Upper Austral and Transition life-zones of Minnesota, northern and western Iowa, southeastern North Dakota, eastern part of South Dakota, and northeastern Nebraska. See figure 29 on page 221.

Characters for ready recognition.—Differs from M. f. noveboracensis and M. f. primulina in that specimens of all ages have least width of color of underparts amounting to more than 41 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, and have light color of underparts extended onto hind foot rather than stopped short of ankle; adults with hind feet more than 50 in males and 40 in females; orbitonasal length more than 15.5 in males and 13.5 in females; length of tooth-rows more than 18.0 in males and 15.7 in females; mastoid breadth more than 25.5 in males and 22.0 in females. From M. f. longicauda by color darker than near (h) Clay Color, in males by a flattened occiput in which the depth of the skull, exclusive of the sagittal crest and taken at the anterior border of the basioccipital, amounts to less than 58 per cent of the mastoid breadth.

Description.—Size.—Male: Three adults from Elk River, Minnesota, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 458 (444-467); length of tail, 154 (140-165); length of hind foot, 55 (52-59). Tail averages 51 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot averages more than basal length. Corresponding measurements of three subadults from Madison, Minnesota, are as follows: 453 (438-469); 157 (152-165); 50 (47-51). Tail averages 53 per cent as long as head and body.

Female: Three adults from Elk River, Minnesota, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 387 (380-391); length of tail, 131 (121-138); length of hind foot, 44 (43-46). Tail averages 51 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more or less than (approximately equal to) basal length. Corresponding measurements of two adults and one subadult from Madison, Minnesota, are as follows: 385 (379-396); 137 (119-159); 42 (38-44). Tail averages 55 per cent as long as head and body.

The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes from Elk River, are: Total length, 71; length of tail, 23; length of hind foot, 11. At Madison, corresponding differences are 68, 20, and 8. Two adult females from Elk River, Minnesota, weigh 205 and 210 grams.

Externals.—Longest facial vibrissae black, brown, or white (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles (in summer pelage) as shown in figure 19.

Color.—Winter pelage all white except tip of tail. In southern part of range sometimes assumes a brown winter coat. Summer pelage with upper parts ranging from near (16´) Cinnamon Brown to Vandyke Brown. Chin and upper lips white. Remainder of underparts ranging from near (a) Olive Ocher to Ochraceous Buff and Pale Orange Yellow. Tip of tail at all times black. Upper parts of uniform color except for occasional slight darkening of nose. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and ankles, on medial sides of hind limbs to ankle, over antiplantar faces of toes and distomedial fourth of each tarsus, and over proximal fifth to third of under side of tail. Least width of color of underparts averaging (in 3 specimens from Elk River) 54 (47-59) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail averaging same length as hind foot and 28 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae. Save for the greater width of the light-colored underparts and relatively short black tip of the tail, both features of M. f. longicauda, spadix is variously intermediate, depending on locality, as between noveboracensis and longicauda.

Skull and teeth.—Male (based on 3 adults from Elk River, Minn.): See measurements and plates 16-18. As described in Mustela frenata longicauda except that: Weight, 5.6 (5.0-6.5); basilar length, 49.0 (48.7-49.2); zygomatic breadth sometimes less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more or less (about equal to) width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 to 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla less than length of rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below talonid of m1.

Female (based on 4 adults from Elk River, Minn.): See measurements and plates 31-33. As described in Mustela frenata longicauda except that: Weight, 3.5 (3.3-4.0) grams; basilar length, 42.9 (42.3-43.2); least width of palate more or less than greatest length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 5 upper incisors.

The skull of the female averages 33 per cent lighter than that of the male.

Skulls of adult males of spadix from Elk River, Minnesota, as compared with those of longicauda from Alberta, are larger in every part measured. Relative to the basilar length these skulls of spadix are broader across the mastoid region, narrower across the zygomata, deeper through the plane of the postorbital processes, shallower through the braincase and have relatively shorter tympanic bullae. Whereas the tympanic bullae of longicauda are, on the average, approximately as long as the rostrum (orbitonasal length), in spadix the rostrum is longer than the bulla. Viewed posteriorly, the braincase of spadix is seen to be much shallower and wider than that of longicauda. Indeed, the depth of the braincase, measured at the anterior end of the basioccipital, amounts to only 56 per cent of the mastoid breadth in spadix as against 61 per cent in longicauda. The longer, waistlike, postorbital constriction, relatively smaller braincase, and especially the relatively narrower zygomatic expanse in spadix imparts to its skull a more slender appearance than has the skull of longicauda. These differences are not shown by the skulls of females. To be sure, spadix, in most of its cranial measurements, averages slightly larger, has a relatively shallower braincase and is relatively deeper through the postorbital processes, but these differences are so slight that inclusion of one more specimen, of slightly different proportions, in the average might cause the average measurements to read as they do in longicauda.

Compared with noveboracensis, from Massachusetts, adult skulls of spadix, taking sex into account, are larger in every part measured and are relatively as well as actually wider and deeper throughout. Also, in spadix: Sagittal and lambdoidal crests higher, especially in females; anterior margin of tympanic bulla projecting up sharply from squamosal; occiput more flattened in posterior view; tooth-rows relatively and actually longer but orbitonasal length relatively shorter; postorbital processes more robust; zygomatic arches widely bowed outward rather than evenly rounded; canines larger; squamosal less swollen ventrally, especially in females. Between noveboracensis and spadix, the differential cranial characters are greater in number and degree between females than between males. Comparison of the skull with that of M. f. primulina is made in discussion of that subspecies.

Remarks.—Edgar A. Mearns in 1889 and the early nineties took several specimens of this weasel and it was principally on these that Bangs in 1896 (p. 8) based his description. The best material, however, is that from Elk River, Minnesota, collected in later years by Bernard Bailey, and supplemented by one specimen taken in 1885 by Vernon Bailey and another by his sister Anna Bailey in 1891 at the same place.

Mustela frenata spadix has just one structural feature of a "unique" kind which serves to differentiate it from the geographically adjoining subspecies. This feature is large size. The other diagnostic characters ascribed to spadix are of an intermediate sort—intermediate as between two extremes, one found to the westward in longicauda and the other to the eastward in noveboracensis. For example, the dark-colored upper parts are merely darker than in longicauda and merely lighter than in noveboracensis. The color is not "different"; it is only "intermediate." Furthermore, each of the characters ascribed to spadix, including large size itself, undergoes change from one part of its geographic range to another; the characters are not constant over a wide area. Indeed, excepting the large size which remains relatively uniform over the northern two-thirds of the range, no two localities have been found from which the specimens can be said really to agree in characters.

By way of illustration, the coloration of the upper parts may be cited. Near the range of noveboracensis the average coloration of individuals from one locality is only a little lighter than in noveboracensis. Farther westward the average coloration is a little lighter and farther westward yet, toward the range of the extremely light colored longicauda, the average coloration is lighter still. Although all these animals are darker than longicauda and lighter than noveboracensis, those from the three places do not agree among themselves. Because of the lack of more than one character of a "unique" kind and because of the inconstancy, geographically, of other characters, and for that matter, lack of constancy geographically in combination of characters, the writer regards spadix as a barely recognizable subspecies.

Examination of the specimens of spadix shows that the individual variation in a single species is greater in a region of intergradation than it is some distance inside the borders of the geographic range of a well-marked subspecies. This is illustrated by three specimens of M. f. spadix in fresh summer pelage from the single locality, Elk River, Minnesota. In these, the color of the upper parts varies from a little darker than Cinnamon Brown to Vandyke Brown. At any one locality well within the range of longicauda, or noveboracensis, there is nowhere nearly so much variation in color, even in much larger series of specimens.

Study of the specimens here assigned to spadix reveals that some features regarded as of diagnostic value for one or the other of the two races, longicauda and noveboracensis, behave differently. For example, the dark coloration of the upper parts, which is characteristic of noveboracensis, manifests itself far westward within the range of spadix whereas the wider extent of the light-colored underparts, which is characteristic of longicauda, and the Olive Ocher, rather than Pale Orange Yellow, color of these underparts, are seen in varying degree all the way across the range of spadix. Thus, these animals are colored above like noveboracensis and below like longicauda, but not vice versa. In these animals, then, the longicauda type of underparts is dominant, in one sense of the word, over the noveboracensis type of underparts, and the noveboracensis type of upper parts is dominant over the longicauda type of upper parts. Each of these features is subject to actual intergradation and does not always behave as a "unit character," that is to say, one which is either present or absent. However, the noveboracensis type of upper parts is carried much farther west before being diluted than is the noveboracensis type of underparts. Indeed, within the range of noveboracensis itself, the broad extent of the longicauda type of underparts is manifest. This is, of course, near the western margin of the range of noveboracensis.

The large size of males of spadix, as exemplified by specimens from Elk River (see measurements on page 421), seems to be retained across the northern part of the range here assigned to the subspecies. This larger size than is found in longicauda from Alberta, is shown also by some specimens from eastern North Dakota which are assigned to longicauda. However, the average of these Dakotan specimens, all characters considered, is nearer to my concept of longicauda.

Inspection of the cranial measurements of spadix shows also that in addition to its large size it is distinguishable from any one of the geographically adjoining races by its relatively (to basilar length) greater, as well as actually greater, mastoidal breadth. This might be included with size as a unique character distinguishing spadix from longicauda and noveboracensis. However, it is not clear whether or not this greater mastoidal breadth is more than a function of the large size.

Excepting the greater mastoidal breadth and generally larger size of the skull, the cranial features distinguishing males of spadix from longicauda are features in which spadix shows approach to noveboracensis. This is true, in spadix, of the relatively longer (in comparison with longicauda) rostrum, relatively lesser zygomatic breadth, relatively shallower braincase measured at the anterior end of the basioccipital, and relatively deeper skull as measured at the posterior borders of the last upper molars. This same approach to noveboracensis already has been pointed out with respect to color of the upper parts and is evident also in the relative shortness of the tail which averages only 51 per cent of the length of the head and body rather than 55 per cent as in longicauda.

Because the longicauda type of animal previously has been regarded as specifically distinct from the noveboracensis type of animal, comment is offered below on selected specimens, referred to spadix, which are regarded as intergrades with noveboracensis or with other subspecies.

No. 8722, Univ. Wisconsin, adult male, in the white winter coat, from north central Itasca County, Minnesota, obviously has characters of M. f. spadix or longicauda that occur to the west and M. f. noveboracensis of the east. Selected outstanding characters of longicauda are its long tail, anteriorly truncate tympanic bullae and large teeth. Characters indicating its affinities with noveboracensis are smaller size of skull, general narrowness of skull, and relatively low tympanic bullae. The skull is intermediate as regards several individual structural features. For example, although long and narrow and in this feature more nearly approaching noveboracensis, the skull is wider than usual in that subspecies and thus approaches that of longicauda or spadix. The hind foot, in the dried state, measures 47 millimeters. This large hind foot, obviously long tail (the specimen lacks external measurements), and anteriorly truncate bullae constitute basis for here referring the specimen to spadix. However, the seemingly small size of the body and the narrow skull clearly show relationship to noveboracensis.

Specimens, referred to spadix, from northern Iowa, are instructive as showing what happens where the ranges of noveboracensis, primulina, spadix, and perhaps longicauda, meet. No. 47167, Univ. Mich. Mus. Zoöl., a nearly adult female, taken on November 22, 1915, at Island, Clay County, and in process of assuming a brown winter pelage, retains enough of the dark summer pelage to show that the color was slightly lighter than average for spadix. The color pattern, white lips, and extension of light color of the underparts onto the feet, agrees with spadix or longicauda as does also the long tooth-row. The overall length of the skull is intermediate between that of spadix and primulina. The proportions of the anterior part of the skull and of the tympanic bullae resemble those found in primulina. A subadult male skull only, no. 123846, American Museum of Natural History, from Webb, Clay County, shows approach to primulina in the narrowness of the rostrum.

A young male from Ruthven, Iowa, no. 48340, Univ. Michigan, has a large skull approaching in size that of spadix, has the longicauda-spadix type of light-colored underparts and color pattern, and is slightly darker above than true longicauda. Another subadult male in the white winter coat from Palo Alto County, no. 35756, Univ. Michigan, has a large skull, which shows approach to primulina in its narrowness anteriorly and in some other features. Although the tail is of moderate length, the body is large as in spadix or longicauda, and the length of the hind foot suggests spadix or longicauda.

A subadult male, no. 425a, Iowa State College, from Manson, Iowa, in brown winter pelage, agrees with primulina in the restriction of the area of the light color of the underparts and in less expanded zygomatic arches. The teeth are intermediate in size between those of noveboracensis and primulina on the one hand and those of spadix and longicauda on the other. In other respects it agrees with, or is more nearly like, spadix.