NO. 3584 EXTINCT SEA MINK — MANVILLE 7 



dispose of the whole lot and felt that he could sell the mink specimen 

 for a sizeable sum. When we were approached at the National 

 Museum on this matter, we agreed to examine the specimen to verify 

 its identification before negotiating fiu'ther regarding its acquisition. 

 The lengendary specmien, which for safekeeping had been in storage at 

 Waltham, Mass., reached us early in May 1965. Unfortunately, 

 no data whatsoever accompanied it. It was examined wdth much 

 interest and closely scrutinized by our staff and later by other, visiting 

 scientists. In all, no less than 20 mammalogists expressed their 

 opinions on it. The mink was subsequently returned to Mr. Sullivan, 

 now residing at East Winthrop, Maine. 



The Clark specmien (pi. 1) is indeed a large mink and in all prob- 

 ability was an adult male. The fur is coarse in texture and light 

 reddish tan in color. The tail and hind feet are darkest, and the rest 

 (particularly the right side and head) are much faded. Between the 

 forelegs is a whitish patch about 50 x 15 mm in area; smaller white 

 spots are present on the left forearm and medially in the inguinal 

 region. Measurements of the mounted specimen are approximately 

 as follows: total length 720, tail 210, hind foot 70 mm. In table 1, 



Table 1.— Skin measurements (mm) of various minks 



these measm-ements are compared mth those of M. macrodon, as 

 computed by Seton (1929, vol. 2, p. 562), as well as with examples, 

 from the national collection, of specimens of M. v. vison and ]\I. v. 

 mink, from immediately north and south of the range in New England, 

 and of M. v. ingens, the largest subspecies of mink extant, from Alaska. 

 The Clark specimen, although larger in total length (possibly due to 

 stretching), falls clearly within the limits of Mustela vison and well 

 below those of Mustela macrodon. 



