94 [October, 1841. 



ruulating in European museums. The last revision we have seen was by 

 Gray, of the British Museum, who has divided the bats into forty-eight 

 genera. The two species here described, belong to the genus Vespertilio, 

 as now restricted. It is characterised by having four incisors in the upper 

 jaw, in pairs on each side, near the canines, with a large, unoccupied space 

 between them. The only species as yet described in the United States, that 

 can be referred to this genus, are Ves. Carolinensis, Ves. noctivagans, Ves. 

 subulatus, Ves. monticola and Ves. Virginianus. 



The existence of a Brown Weasel in America, which does not become 

 white in winter, has been doubted by some naturalists; and by others, the 

 species has been regarded as the Mustela vulgaris of Europe. Dr. Harlan, 

 (Fauna Americana, p. 61,) under the name of Mustela vulgaris, does not 

 appear to have described an American species. His description appears in- 

 tended for the common Weasel of Europe, which we think does not exist in 

 America. Dr. Godman, after giving figures of the Ermine, both in winter 

 and summer colours, considered the latter as the species improperly referred 

 to Mustela vulgaris of Europe ; and in accordance with the views of Charles 

 L. Buonaparte, the Ermine was regarded as the only species of American 

 Weasel. Dr. Richardson, (Fauna B>reali Americana,) under the name of 

 Mustela (Putorius) vulgaris, has described from specimens obtained by 

 Captain Bayfield on the borders of Lake Superior, and also from others 

 procured by himself at Carleton House, which he regarded as agreeing in 

 all respects with the European species. He concludes, by stating, that this 

 species, like the Ermine, "becomes white in winter." We had an oppor- 

 tunity, in the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, of examining the 

 specimens referred to by Dr. Richardson, and of comparing them with Mus- 

 tela vulgaris, and were satisfied that the species were distinct; yet, unless 

 he was in error in stating that the American species became whire in winter, 

 we are not certain that the species we are about to describe is identical 

 with the specimens he referred to. 



Mustela fusca. American Brown Weasel. 



M. (fusca). Corpore inter Mustelam erminiam et Mustelam vulgarem in- 

 termedio ; cauda illius breviore, sed hujus longiore; apice nigro; vellere 

 supra fusco ; subtus albo. 



American Brown Weasel. Intermediate in size between Mustela erminia 

 and Mustela vulgaris ; tail shorter than the former, but longer than the 

 latter, with the extremity black ; brown above, white beneath. 



The body is long and slender, but far more robust than that of Mustela 

 vulgaris ; the feet especially appear one-third larger, and mure thickly 

 clothed with fur, which completely covers the nails. The ear is a little 

 longer, and more pointed, than that of either the Ermine or common Weasel. 

 The white on the lower surface is not mixed with brown hairs, a3 in the 

 Mustela vulgaris, and not only occupies a broader space on the belly, but 

 extends along the inner surface of the thighs as low as the tarsus, whilst in 

 the Mustela vulgaris, the white scarcely reaches the thighs. 



Colour. The whole of the upper surface, to within three-fourths of an 

 inch of the tail, is of an uniform dark fawn colour. On the upper surface 

 of the tail, the hair is darker brown than the back, and its extremity is for 

 an inch nearly as black as that of the Ermine. In writing this description, 

 we have several specimens of the European Mustela vulgaris before us; and 

 the ends of the tails in that species are uniformly brown, with here and 

 there a black hair interspersed. Although the hair of the present species, 

 at the extremity of the tail, is black, like that of the Ermine, yet these hairs 

 are short and soft, and more like fur, and do not present the long and 

 coarse appearance of that of the former species. The whole of the 

 under surface is pure white; this colour does not commence on the 

 upper lip, as in the Ermine, but on the chin, extending around the 

 ^Tes of the mouth, and by a well-defined line, along the neck, inner 



