1 38 Ross on the Mammals, Birds j and Eggs 



of dark color and large size, inhabiting the wooded por- 

 tions of the district as far north as the Youcon River. 

 The other is usually a dirty white tint, with in general 

 a dark stripe down the back, and frequents the barren 

 grounds N. to the Arctic cost. It is of smaller size than 

 the first mentioned variety, and lives in much larger 

 bands ; Indeed it may possibly be a distinct species. 



(Vulpinae.) 

 Genus Vulpes. 



5. Vulpes fulvus : var. fulvus, var. decussatus, var. argentatus. Red. 



Silver, and Cross Foxes. Ma-kay-sis of the Cree Indians 

 — Naw-k^e-thay of the Chipewyan Indians. Pee-soot- 

 eh of the Anderson River Eskimos. This species, in all 

 its varieties, is found all over this district to the Arctic 

 coast. They are most numerous around the shores of 

 the lakes, and in swampy tracts on the banks of the 

 larger rivers. In the mountain ranges they are rare. 

 The proportions of the various colors killed in the Mc- 

 Kenzie district is as follows : Red ^ ; Cross -^g ; 

 Silver fj. 



6. Vuljyes lagopus, var. Lagopus, var. fuliginosus. — White and Blue 



Foxes. Both these varieties inhabit the barren grounds 

 and shores of the Arctic coast. The latter is exceedingly 

 rare, much more so than the Silver Fox is in the fulvus 

 species. White Foxes have been killed on the south 

 shore of Great Slave Lake, and a single blue one on the 

 North shore. 



Family Mustelid^e. 

 (Martinse.) 



Genus Mustela. 



7. Mustela Americana (Turton) — American Sable — Marten-tha of the 



Chipewyan Indians — Naw-they or Nau-fey of the Slave 

 Indians. Common wherever there are woods, but mi- 

 gratory. The farther north that the skin is obtained, 

 the darker the tint of the fur. On the Youcon River 

 they strongly resemble the Siberian Sable. 



8. Mustela Pennantii (Erxleben). — Fisher — Pecan of the Canadians. 



Zha-cho, or big Marten of the Chipewyan Indians. Rare- 

 Range to 62° north. 



Genus Putorius. 



9. Putorius pusillus (Aud. v. Bach.) — Least Weasel— New York to Big 



Iceland. Great Slave Lake. 



10. Putorius Cicognanii (Bonap). — Small brown Weasel. Boston to 62° 



North. Common. 



11. Putorius? Richardsonii (Bonap.) — Little Ermine. Boston to Lapierres 



House. Rather rare. 



