400 



CARNIVORA 



extension of the dark area the brown forms a band 20 mm. wide 

 across throat just in front of fore legs, and spreads over whole 

 median region of belly, so that the white is confined to three 

 patches, one extending from chin to throat-band, another occupy- 

 ing chest between front legs and spreading on inner side of 

 forearm, and the third in region between hind legs and spreading 

 on inner surface of thighs. Between these extremes eveiy 

 gradation may be found, including the most irregular arrange- 

 ments of isolated dark spots in the regions where the dark cross 

 bands occur. 



Skull and teeth. — Except for their slightly smaller size the 

 skull and teeth are indistinguishable from those of Mustela 

 erminea. The difference is, however, particularly well marked as 

 compared with the large British M. erminea stabilis, the nearest 

 geographical ally. 



Measurements. — External measurements of type (adult male) : 

 head and body, 228 ; tail, 88 ; hind foot, 42 ; ear from meatus, 

 21. Average and exti^emes of four males from Cappagh, Water- 

 ford : head and body, 271 (256-283); tail, 111 (103-117); hind 

 foot, 48*2 (46-51). Average and extremes of three females 

 from Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow : head and body, 209 (205-221) ; 

 tail, 78 (77-81) ; hind foot, 37-6 (36-40). For cranial measure- 

 ments see Table, p. 399. 



Specimens examined. — Forty-four, from the following localities : — 

 Ireland : Carrick, Donegal, 1 ; Colebrooke, Fermanagh, 8 ; Enniskillen, 

 Fermanagh, 2 ; Clandeboye, Down, 1 ; Glaslough, Monaghan, 1 ; Board- 

 mills, Down, 2 ; Castle Hamilton, Cavau, 1 ; Mountainstown, Meath, 3 ; 

 Clonbrock, Galway, 1 ; Woodfair, Galway, 1 ; Carna, Galway, 1 ; Temple- 

 more, Tipperary, 1 ; Geashill, Kings, 1 ; Powerscourt, Wicklow, 4 ; 

 Bagenalstown, Carlow, 1 ; New Ross, Wexford, 4 ; Arthurstown, Wex- 

 ford, 2 ; Cappagh, Waterford, 4 ; Lismore, Waterford, 1. 



Isle op Man : Lewaig, Ramsey, 1 ; Santon, 2 ; Tholt-y-Will, Snaefell, 1. 



Remarks. — The Irish stoat is strikingly distinct from the 

 other European species of the sub-genus Mustela, though super- 

 ficially resembling certain North American members of the 

 group. It is at once recognizable by tlie combination of black- 

 tipped, heavily pencilled tail with entirely dark ear and upper 

 lip. It is also the only European stoat in which the line of 

 demarcation on sides of body is irregular and in which the dark 

 colour of sides tends to invade the light ventral area. In 

 exceptional instances''^ the colour pattern of body is like that of 

 Mustela erminea. While the colouring of the body and head 

 suggests that of Mustela nivalis, the animal is evidently a true 

 stoat, as shown by the heavily-pencilled, black-tipped tail and 

 the form of the skull. 



6 St. Carrick, Donegal, Ireland. Hon. N. C. Roths- 0.5.17.1. 



child (p). 

 3 6. Colebrooke, Fermanagh. Sir D. Brooke (c & p). 11. 1. 3. 199-201. 



* In four of the forty-one skins examined. 



