Vol. XXVI, pp. 123-124 May 21, 1913 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF hi i 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 





TWO NEW WEASELS FROM THE UNITED STATES. 



BY HARTLEY II. T. JACKSON. 









The Biological Survey Collection contains specimens of two 

 undescribed weasels which may be characterized as follows: 



Mustela primulina sp. now 



Type, subadult 9, skin and skull, No. 168,006, U. S. National Museum, 

 Biological Survey Collection, from 5 miles northeast of Avilla, Jasper 

 County, Missouri; collected May 11, 1905, by Hartley H. T. Jackson. 

 ( Original No. 552. 



General characters. — A weasel of the longicauda group, characterized 

 by its bright color, especially of the under parts. Differs from both longi- 

 cauda and spadix in having the color of the hack much darker; under- 

 parts yellow, not buff, and not continuous on feet and toes. 



Color. — Upper parts Brussels brown,* darker on the middorsal line, 

 slightly lighter on the Hanks; hind feet uniform in color with hack; soles 

 and toes of tore feet white; tail unicolor with back, slightly lighter 

 beneath, with distinct black tip; face and top of head dark warm sepia; 

 chin white; ventral parts primuline yellow, slightly darker on the throat 

 and midventral line; anal region Brussels brown. 



Measurements. — Type 9, flesh measurements of skin by collector: total 

 length, (324.5); tail vertebrae (part gone), (89.5); hind foot, 44. Skull 

 of type: interorbital constriction, ]<>; maxillary tooth row, 11.5; man- 

 dibular tooth row, 13.7. Skull of topotype, young d\ No. 168,007: con- 

 dylobasal length, 4(>. 4; postorbital constriction, 11.7; interorbital con- 

 striction, it. 7; maxillary tooth row, 11.3; mandibular tooth row, 13.4. 



Remarks. — The above description of Mustela primulina is based upon 

 two imperfect specimens, a subadult 9 and a young d\ The two were 

 killed by dogs, May 11, 1905, and were received by me several days later 

 in a badly mutilated and decomposed condition. The skulls of both are 

 crushed; the skin of the type specimen lacks about one-third of the tail; 

 the skin of the topotype consists of the scalp only. Notes made at the 



•Colors here used are those of Robert Ridgway in " Color Standards and. Nomen- 

 clature," 1912. 



30— Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXVI, 1913. (123) 



