418 



CARNIVORA 



less convex throughout and in particular less bent downward 

 anteriorly ; depth of rostrum at level of front of carnassial 

 barely equal to distance from carnassial to front of premaxillary 

 instead of apprecialjly greater ; orbit larger and more widely 

 open posteriorly than in M. imtorius, a peculiarity due chiefly to 

 the very slight development of postorbital angle on upper margin 

 of zygoma ; auditory bulla moderately inflated, irregularly almond- 

 shaped in outline, its width Imrely lialf its length, the meatus 

 slightly projecting but not tubular. 



Teeth. — The teeth are less robust but more j^rehensive than 

 those of Mnstela putorius, the former peculiarity best shown by 

 the upper cai'nassial, the latter by the premolars seen in profile 

 when jaws are closed. In the upper carnassial the transverse 

 diameter behind inner lobe is distinctly less than in M. imtur'ms, 

 the anterior cingulum cusp is better developed, the main cusp is 

 lower, and the posterior cutting edge has a concave or nearly 

 horizontal posterior portion rather longer than the abruptly 

 sloping anterior portion (in M. putorius the cutting edge when 

 unworn slopes directly from apex of main cusp to base of 

 posterior cusp). Small premolars fitting closely against each 

 other when jaws are shut ; posterior lower premolar cutting 

 against anterior surface of upper carnas.sial and posterior surface 

 of pm?, instead of being widely removed from carnassial and 

 fitting distinctly inside of ptm^. 



Measure)iientsi. — Adult male and female from Laval, Mayenne, 

 France (skins) : head and body, 400 and 350 ; tail, 140 and 130 ; 

 hind foot, 59 and 53. Adult from Malcoci, Dobrudscha, 

 Roumania (skin) : head and body, 380 ; tail, 130 ; hind foot, 52. 

 For cranial measurements see Table, p. 417. 



Specimens examined. — Six, from the following localities: — 

 Fkance : Vinsac, Gironde, 2 (Lataste) ; Soulac, Girondc, 1 (Lataste) ; 

 Laval, Mayenne, 2 (Lataste). 



Roumania : Malcoci, Dobrudscha, 1 (Schliiter). 



Sub-Genus PUTORIUS Cuvier. 



1317. Putorius Cuvier, Eegne Animal, i, p. 117 (Type by tautonymy 



Mnstela imtorius Linnaeus). 

 1810. Fcctorius Keyserling and Blasins, Wirbelthiere Europas, p. G6 



{jmtorins). 

 1857. Fcctorins Blasius, Silugethiere Deutschlands, p. 219 (part). 

 1877. Cijnomiuiiax Coues, Pur-bearing Animals, p. 99 (Putorius nigriiKS 



Audubon and Bachman). 



Type sjicclcs. — Mustela putorius Linna-us. 



Geographical distribution. — Mediterranean region and central 

 Europe from Great Britain eastward into China; central United 

 States ; exact limits of range not known. 



Characters. — Form moderately slender ; tail bushy ; fur not 

 modified for aquatic life ; skull with noticeably projecting 



