Mar. 1898. NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS ELLIOT. 215 



zona and Texas examples, six, has these very much broader and 

 the white ones correspondingly narrower, giving the tail an 

 entirely different appearance. The black rings are separated 

 beneath by only a very narrow interval, as mentioned by Baird. 



But although there are discrepancies in the appearance of these 

 examples and Baird' s description as I have already remarked, I 

 think it best to include them under his name. 



Mr. Rhoades, in his paper on the "Geographic variation in Bas- 

 sariscus astutus," Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien., Phila., 1893, p. 413, 

 speaking of the tail of Baird's type, which was before him, says, 

 "I find that in only one respect, the relative width of white and 

 black tail rings does Baird's diagnosis, as given above, apply to 

 the Pacific coast form, as contrasted with those from Texas. But 

 in this respect typical B. astutus is very variable." Undoubtedly 

 there is variation in the tail as there is in the coloration of 

 numerous examples, but I think the California animal can readily 

 be distinguished almost always by the broad, black tail rings 

 causing the member to appear above of nearly that hue. 



FAMILY MUSTELID.E. 



46. Spilogale phenax. 



Spilogale phenax. Merr. N. Am. Faun., No. 4, 1890, p. 13. 



One adult specimen from the Snow Mountains, Calusa Co. 



This specimen appears to agree with Merriam's description of 

 phenax (1. c.), but there is no white whatever beneath the chin, 

 or at the angles of the mouth, otherwise I see no differences. 

 The hind foot is 51 mm., instead of 46, but as the measurement 

 of the type was taken from the dry skin, while mine was the col- 

 lector's from the animal in the flesh, this may account for the dif- 

 ference. 



47. Putorius arizonensis. 



Putorius arizonensis. Mearns Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 

 iii, 1890-91, p. 234. 



One specimen from Mt. Siegel, Nevada. 



I refer this specimen to the species described by Mearns (1. c.). 

 There is a tuft of white hairs at the base of the ears, and a small 

 brown spot a short distance from the angle of the mouth. Whiskers 

 brownish-black. White of the upper lip only extending a short 

 distance beyond corner of the mouth. In other respects it agrees 

 with Mearns' description. Example & , taken July 27, 1895. 



