182 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec. 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES FOR 1908. 



By J. F. Whiteaves. 



Among the additions to the zoological collections in the 

 Museum of the Geological Survey for 1908, there are three 

 specimens that seem to be of sufficient interest to warrant a 

 permanent record. These are as follows: — 



MAMMALIA. 



(1) PuTORius Rixosus, Bangs. 

 (Least Weasel: Bangs' Weasel). 



A weasel, that corresponds very well with Mr. Bangs'' 

 description of this diminutive species, was obtained by Mr. 

 Joseph Keele in Januarv, 1908, at Third Lake, on the Ross 

 River, Yukon Territory,' in Long. 131°W., and Lat. 62° 45'N. 

 The specimen, which was caught in a marten trap, is in full 

 winter fur, and was said by the trapper to be a male. It is 

 remarkable for its extremely small size, its fur is pure white, 

 and its tail is short and white at the tip. It was received in 

 the condition of a well prepared skin, with the skull, and has 

 since been mounted for exhibition. Following the curves of 

 the head, neck, back and tail, it now measures roughly 172 mm, 

 or slightly less than 6 J inches, from the nose to the tip of the 

 tail; or about 5f inches, if measured in a straight line. 



The type of P. rixosus, Bangs, 1896 (Proc. Biol. Soc. 

 Washington, Vol. x, p. 21), is an adult female from Osier, 

 Saskatchewan; and the species is known to occur also at the 

 mouth of the Porcupine River, Alaska; on the upper Yukon; 

 at Fort Albany, and at Moose Factory. 



This .species is the smallest weasel known, and the only 

 American one that lacks the black tip to the tail. 



(2) Synaptomys (Mictomys) Wrangeli, Merriam. 

 (The Alaskan Lemming Mouse). 



A specimen of this species, was presented to the Museum of 

 the Survey by the Rev. J. H. Keen, of Metlakatla, B.C., in 

 October, 1908. This interesting little rodent was caught by 

 Mr. Keen at Metlakatla on the second of November, 1899, and 

 is the first specimen of this species that has been received in 

 Ottawa. The specimen is a skin, with the skull, and the lal>el 

 that accompanies it states that it is a male. 



The exclusively North American genus Synaptomys was con- 

 stituted by Dr. Spencer F. F. Baird. in 1857, in his "Mammalia 



