Proceedings of 

 the United States 

 National Museum 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION • WASHINGTON, D.C. 



Volume 122 1966 Numher 3584 



THE EXTINCT SEA MINK, 

 WITH TAXONOMIC NOTES 



By Richard H. Manville^ 



A century ago, along the coasts of New England, there appears to 

 have lived a large, distinctive mustelid variously known as the sea 

 or seashore mink, the giant or big mink, bull mink, salt-water mink, 

 shell-heap mink, or ancient mink. It long since has slipped into 

 obhvion, leaving such a fragmentary record that its true nature is 

 largely a mystery. With the present concern for rare and endangered 

 species similarly threatened with extinction, it seems appropriate to 

 summarize our knowledge of this former member of the American 

 fauna. 



For the opportunity to examine the Clark specimen I am indebted 

 to James C. Sullivan of East Winthrop, Maine. Sea mink materials 

 from the Museum of Comparative Zoology were kindly made available 

 by Barbara Lawrence. Arthur Stupka provided much useful, un- 

 published information. John L. Paradiso assisted ^\ith helpful 

 suggestions and by checking my measurements of various specimens. 

 Joseph P. E. Morrison and William C. Schroeder confirmed the 

 identification of certain items reported in the sea mink's diet. To 

 all these individuals, I am most grateful for their willing assistance. 



> Director, Bird and Mammal Laboratories, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

 and Honorary Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution. 



1 



