10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 122 



Many of the differences were probably attributable to individual or 

 sexual variation. One of these forms, more distinct than others 

 because of its large size, was pursued avidly for its pelt. Its seashore 

 habitat rendered it relatively easy to capture. Overly zealous 

 hunting, and possibly other factors of which we are imaware, led to 

 its diminution and, ultimately, to its complete replacement by other, 

 smaller forms of mmk. 



All the evidence indicates to me that the sea mink is most real- 

 istically considered as a subspecies, now extinct, of the prevalent 

 mink, Mnstela vwon, of today. This view is strengthened if, as seems 

 possible, the Clark specimen was indeed an intergrade between two 

 other forms of mink. Accordingly, the sea mink should properly be 

 known as follows. 



Mnstela vison macrodon (Prentiss) 



Putorius vison Wyman, 1868, Amer. Nat., vol. 1, p. 574, January. 

 Liitreola macrodon Prentiss, 1903, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. 26, p. 887, July 6. 

 Putorius macrodon Trouossart, 1904, Catalogus mamm.alium, Suppl., vol. 1, p. 206. 

 Lxitreola vison antiquus Loomis, 1911, Amcr. Journ. Sci., vol. 31, p. 228, March. 

 Mustela macrodon Miller, 1912, U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 79, p. 101, Dec. 31. 



Type-locality: Shell heaps at Brooklin, Bluehill Bay, Hancock 

 Co., Maine. 



Range: Known only from skeletal remains; coast of New England 

 from Penobscot and Casco Bays south to Middleboro, Plymouth 

 Co., Mass.; possibly north to Campobello Island, New Brunswick, 

 and south to the salt marshes and rivers of coastal Connecticut. 

 Presumably extinct since about 1860 or somewhat later. 



Specimens examined: 57 fragmentary crania and mandibles of 

 Mnstela macrodon, all from MAINE. Hancock County: Babson's 

 Landing, 1 (USNM); Black Island, 4 (USNM); Brooklin, 2 (in- 

 cluding the holotype, USNM); Campbeirs Island, 5 (USNM); 

 Conary's Cove, 8 (USNM) ; Eggemoggin Reach, 1 (USNM) ; Freethy's 

 Bluff, 2 (USNM); Frenchman's Bay, 1 (MCZ); Harbor Island, 5 

 (MCZ) ; Kane's Pomt, 1 (USNM) ; Lower Babson Island, 3 (USNM) ; 

 Naskeag Point, 6 (USNM); Penobscot, 2 (MCZ); Stonington, Deer 

 Isle, 6 (USNM) ; Tibbitt's Cove, 1 (USNM). Knox County: Great 

 Spruce Head Island, 1 (MCZ) ; Port Clyde, 8 (MCZ). Also, numerous 

 specimens of Mustela vison. 



Summary 



Reviewed is what we know of the natural history of the sea mink, 

 Mustela macrodon, which inhabited the New England coasts until 

 about 1880. Its probable earlier distribution is sketched, and reasons 

 for its extinction are discussed. The only alleged skin extant, a 



