Vol. XXVI, pp. 139-140 May 21, 1913 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW WEASEL FROM ALABAMA. 

 BY ARTHUR II. HOWELL. 



uj ' 



Weasels are exceedingly scarce and very difficult to obtain in 

 the Southern States. Within the past year three specimens, 

 representing both winter and summer pelage, have been 

 received from Alabama by the Biological Survey, and these 

 seem to represent an undescribed subspecies, closely related to 

 Muxtda peninsvlae (Rhoads). 



The acquisition of this material is due to the energy of Mr. 

 Lewis S. Golsan of Autaugaville, and Mr. Bennington King of 

 Leighton, who, at my suggestion, made special efforts to obtain 

 specimens of the Alabama Weasel. 



The new race may be characterized as follows : 



Mustela peninsulae olivacea subsp. nov. 



Type from Autaugaville, Ala. c? ad. No. 180,802, U. S. National Mu- 

 seum, Biological Survey Collection. December 22, 1912. Collected by 

 L. S. Golsan. Original No. 144 (9988x). 



Characters. — Similar to M. peninsulae, but color in winter pelage decid- 

 edly paler and more olivaceous; yellowish of feet less extensive. 



Color. — Type (winter pelage): upperparts nearest to butty-brown (of 

 Ridgway) ; head slightly darker, about Natal brown; a small patch of 

 white on each side of face behind the eyes, and a few flecks of white on 

 top of nose; color of upperparts covering about half of front feet, the 

 remainder, including toes, being cream-bmT; toes of hind feet tinged 

 witb whitish; black tail tip about 70 mm. in length; underparts straw- 

 color, irregularly blotched with cartridge-buff. 



Summer pelage. — (Specimens from Leighton, Alabama): upperparts 

 mummy-brown; head Vandyke brown with a lew white flecks between 

 the eyes; underparts cartridge-buff to colonial bull'; color of upperparts 

 encroaching on the belly; toes of front feet cream color; those of hind 

 feet tinged with whitish. 



34— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. xxvr, 1913. (139) 



