152 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP [1894. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MAMMALOGY OF FLORIDA. 

 BY SAMUEL N. RHOADS. 



During the past two years the writer has received from Mr. W. S. 

 Dickinson, of Tarpon Springs, Hillsborough Co., Florida, a con- 

 siderable series of the mammals inhabiting that vicinity. A recent 

 study of these has developed facts of sufficient interest to warrant 

 publication. 



Tarpon Springs lies within a few miles of the Gulf of Mexico, near 

 the Anclote River, in a region typical of a large part of the southern 

 half of the State. The country is level, very sandy, well shaded 

 with lakes and "hammocks" and, owing to its proximity to the 

 Gulf, combines inland and maritime zoological features within a com- 

 paritively small compass. The region in question lies just to the north 

 of Tampa Bay, which may be said to define the northern extension 

 of the typically Floridian fauna along the Gulf Coast. The follow- 

 ing notes would seem to confirm the intermediate faunal position of 

 Tarpon Springs between a Louisianian and Floridian environment. 

 There is, however, an indication of geographic variation from forms 

 typical of northern and eastern parts of the State, which shows a 

 closer alliance among the mammals of Tarpon Springs with those of the 

 more southern districts. 



The only important faunal paper specially relating to the mam- 

 malogy of Florida is that of Dr. J. A. Allen in the Bulletin of the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Vol. II, p. 168-185. 



I follow Dr. Allen's sequence of orders, genera and species. 



1. Putorius peninsulae Ehoads, sp. nov. Type, No. 1515, ad. 9 , rol. of 

 S. N. Ehoads; " Hiidsou's," Pasco Co., Florida; col. by W. S. Dickinson, 

 Feb. 1894. 



Description. — Size greater than average P. erminea from the Mid- 

 dle States ; relative breadth of coloration of lower and upper parts 

 as in P. frenatiis ; color pattern of feet, legs and face nearest P. xan- 

 thogenysi; pilosity of foot- pads and ears nearest to P. frenatiis; colors 

 and length of tail and whiskers as in P. erminea ; pelage scant, 

 coarse and shorter than in any weasel examined ; skull nearest P. 

 erminea, but differing more markedly from either than P. erminea 

 from P. xmdhogenys. 



