276 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 61, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Weasels are reported to occur on Kodiak Island, but specimens 

 were not available. Jack Benson, agent of the Alaska Game Com- 

 mission, in a report dated June 30, 1940, commented that weasels 

 on Kodiak and Afognak were not as plentiful that year. In 1936, 

 on a visit to Kodiak and Afognak Islands, we were assured that 

 weasels occur there, and we were shown a photograph of a live 

 weasel as proof. 



Mustela rixosa: Least Weasel 

 Mustela rixosa rixosa 



Though this little weasel has been seldom observed in this 

 area, it is known to occur as far west as Unimak Island. In 1925, 

 a trapper informed me that he had caught a least weasel near 

 Izembek Bay and had intended sending it to the Biological Survey, 

 but he said that the specimen had been neglected and lost. 



In 1941, Beals reported that this weasel, though not plentiful 

 on Unimak Island, is known to most of the residents there. He 

 saw one at St. Catherine Cove and another at False Pass; the 

 latter was taken for a specimen. This animal was seen trying to 

 capture snow buntings, but it was not successful. 



Mustela vison: Mink 

 Mustela vison ingens 



Aleut, Morzhovoi Bay: Illigitookh (Wetmore) ; ilgitukh (Geoghegan) 

 Aleut (?), Iliamna Village: Emachamooduk (Osgood) 

 Egegik: Kochcheechuk (Osgood) 

 Kenai: Yarkeechah (Osgood) 



This is assumed to be the form occupying the Alaska Peninsula. 

 Hollister (1913) says: 'Though specimens from the Alaska Pen- 

 insula are placed with ingens, these show an approach toward 

 melampeplus." Evidently, the mink occurs throughout the length 

 of the peninsula and on Unimak Island. Specimens, mostly skulls 

 but also a few skins, are available from various localities : Kakh- 

 tul, 2 ; Kakwok, 1 ; Kakwok River, 7 ; Lake Weelooluk, 5 ; Lake 

 Aleknagik, 1 ; Becharof Lake and between Portage Bay and 

 Becharof Lake, 73 ; Cold Bay, 3 ; Stepovak Bay, 1 ; Chignik and 

 Chignik Bay, 2; Frosty Peak, 1. No specimens are available 

 from Unimak Island, but mink are known to occur there, for 

 trappers mention their occurrence as a matter of course. In 

 1925, a trapper told me that he had trapped six minks at Urilia 

 Bay in the winter of 1924-25. In 1936, another trapper of 

 Unimak Island remarked that minks were increasing in numbers, 

 and, in 1941, Beals saw mink tracks at False Pass and neighbor- 

 ing localities. 



