262 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.86 



Specimens from Lower Eamsey Branch of the Little Pigeon River, 

 from Pinnacle in Sevier County, and from Knoxville in Knox 

 County are referred tentatively to the southern weasel {M. n. notia) by 

 Komarek and Komarek (1938, p. 150). 



Campbell County: Highcliff, 1. 



Carter County: Roan Mountain, altitude 6.100 feet, 1. 

 Hamilton County: Walden Ridge, near Soddy, 3. 



Johnson County: Holston Mountains, 4 miles northeast of Shady Valley, 

 altitude 3,800 feet, 1. 



MUSTELA VISON VISON Schreber: Mountain, or Black, Mink 



The early records seem to indicate that the dark-colored mink v.as 

 formerly common in the mountainous portion of eastern Tennessee. 

 Under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Franklin, the 

 remuneration of a constable serving a warrant was fixed at one mink 

 skin beginning January 1, 1788 (Williams, 1924, p. 215). W. M. 

 Perrygo was told iii 1937 that a few minks are taken on Roan jNloun- 

 tain by local trappers, but that they are not so abundant as formerly. 

 One mink was trapped and another seen in 1933 at Greenbrier, Sevier 

 County (Komarek and Komarek, 1938, p. 150). 



MUSTELA VISON MINK Peale and Beauvois: Common, or BrowTi, Mink 



Minks were formerly generally distributed over most of Tennessee. 

 In many localities they are now rather scarce, and high prices for 

 pelts about 1920 almost resulted in their extermination in some 

 counties. Minks were reported (Will, 1884, p. 106) very abundant 

 near Savannah, Hnrdin County, during the winter of 1883-84. I>ocal 

 trappers reported in 1937 that minks were becoming rare in Shelby 

 and Fayette Counties. Perrygo likewise learned from trappers that 

 minks are caught occasionally in the vicinity of Reelfoot Lake, Obion 

 County. Rhoads (1896, p. 198) lists a specimen from Open Lake, 

 Lauderdale County. 



LUTRA CANADENSIS INTERIOR Swenk: Mississippi Valley Otter 



The otter doubtless occurred throughout Tennessee in early times, 

 but persistent trapping by the early hunters and settlers soon reduced 

 its numbei-s. No specimens have been received by the U. S. National 

 Museum from the State, and it is therefore impossible to identify 

 with certainty the race that may occur there now. 



While residing with the Cherokee Indian chief Ostenaco at the 

 mouth of Tellico River, Monroe County, Lt. Henry Timberlake on 

 January 2, 1762, made a note in his journal (Williams, 1927, p. 69) 

 concerning "brooks well stored with fish, otters, and beaver." Under 

 an act of the General Assembly of the State of Franklin, passed and 



