270 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ZOOLOGY, VOL. i. 



As many as sixty have been counted at one time, congregated 

 on the beach at low tide hunting for soft shell clams, and 

 *! crustacea revealed by the receded waters. It is a hand- 

 some animal, the tail being large and bushy, with a great deal 

 of white, which almost conceals the black hair, especially toward 

 the end. In fact, the tail appears more white than black. 

 The latter color is intensely jet, without any inclination to 

 rusty or lightening in any place, and the hairs are very glossy. 



Six specimens: The Lagune, near Port Angeles. 



The figure exhibits lower surface of the skull of this sub- 

 species of the natural sizes. 



26. Spilogale olympica. Sp. nov. 



General characters: Similar to 5. /. latifrofis; but differing 

 in measurements, and in the following described markings : The 

 white on the forehead is long, comparatively narrow, diminish- 

 ing gradually, and ending in a point posteriorly, and reaching 

 nearly to a line drawn across head from base of ears. This 

 mark in latifrofis is of nearly equal width throughout its length, 

 and square posteriorly, ending just behind the eyes. The white 

 stripe beginning behind the eyes, and running along the side 

 of the back, is much broader, and more extensive in front 

 of ears; a moderately broad white line commences just back of 

 shoulder, and runs parallel with the lateral line above described, 

 and crosses up to the back in front of hips. In S. phenax, 

 this line is much broader, and widens greatly as it ascends 

 to the back. The corresponding line in latifrons is merely 

 a broad patch from the back to just in front of hips, and is 



