378 NATURAL SCIENCE. June, 1895. 



Weasel (P. nivalis). — Bottom row. 



Size small ; colour-distribution variable, but the white, 

 as a rule, of less extent than in the Stoat, and of greater than 

 in the Assogue ; line of junction between the two colours 

 irregular, as in the latter ; rims of ears brown ; tail short, 

 uniformly brown. 



It may be thought that these colour characteristics are of little 

 importance, especially when it is granted that they vary in the 

 Assogue ; but the noticeable point is, that not a trace of variation, in 

 these respects, can be found in Stoats elsewhere. Not less than 

 some sixty or eighty specimens have been examined, coming from 

 Scotland, England, and France on the west, through Scandinavia 

 and Russia, to Siberia on the east, while even in those of Western 

 North America, however other characters may differ, the colour 

 distribution remains absolutely the same. 



Compared to this vast area, that the little island of Erin, with a 

 climate not unlike those of Cornwall or Brittany, and nearer to S.W. 

 Scotland than we are to France, should have a local recognisable 

 form is a most astonishing fact, and one for which it seems almost 

 impossible to offer any reasonable explanation. 



That, later on, we may find the Assogue to vary so as to meet 

 the Stoat in colour, and, therefore, to be, according to some people, 

 only a sub-species or " local race " of the latter, is, no doubt, possible ; 

 but this would, of course, be perfectly immaterial from the point of 

 view of anything beyond mere species-naming, the fact remaining 

 that the Stoat of Ireland is, even in its variability, an inherently 

 different form from that found elsewhere. The discovery of the 

 influences which have caused the one animal to become fixed in its 

 colour-markings while the other has remained, or become, variable, is 

 a nice problem which may be commended to the notice of geographical 

 zoologists. 



As yet, however, although the possibility is granted, no Assogue 

 coloured like a Stoat has turned up out of more than a score of 

 specimens seen; while the majority are of the very well-marked type 

 represented by the five right-hand specimens in the figure. 



I may take this opportunity of thanking the friends to whom we 

 are indebted for specimens of this interesting animal, namely, Colonel 

 J. W. Yerbury, Mr. J. E. Harting, Mr. Deane Drake, Mr. G. H. 

 Pentland, and, most of all, Sir Douglas Brooke, from whom we have 

 had nearly a dozen specimens. Lord Powerscourt, besides several dead 

 examples, has also sent a pair of live ones, which may now be seen in 

 the Small Cats' House in the Zoological Gardens. 



Further specimens will still be acceptable, almost to any extent, 

 as one of the most interesting points about the Assogue is its vari- 

 ability, and this can only be properly gauged when really considerable 

 series are available for examination. 



Oldfield Thomas. 



