XXXVIII. 



Large Weasel, Large Ermine, Long-tailed Weasel 

 or Yellow-bellied Weasel. 



Putorius longicauda (Bonaparte.). 



(L. longicauda, from loitgus, long; cauda, tail.) 



Mustela longicauda BoN., 1838, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. 



Hist., II, p. 38. 

 Putorius longicauda Rich., 1839, Zool. Beechey's Voy., p. 10. 

 Type Locality. — Carlton House, Sask. 



French Canadian, la Belette a longue queue. 

 Cree, SauT., & OjIB., Shing-gwus'. 

 Yankton Sioux, He-tong-ka-shah. 

 Ogallala Sioux, He-tu-kah'-san. 



This large Weasel is readily recognized by its very long 

 tail and, in summer coat, by its rich buffy-yellow under parts, 

 very different from the white or pale sulphur tint often seen 

 on the under parts of other Weasels. 



Seen afar, in winter, it might be mistaken for a white 

 Squirrel. 



In addition to generic characters (see p. 872), it has the 

 following: 



Length, about 18 inches (457 mm.); tail, 6 inches (152 size 

 mm.); hind-foot, 2 inches (51 mm.). Female about one- 

 seventh smaller. 



All above, pale warm yellowish-brown (much like that of colour 

 cicognanii), darkest on crown and back, lightest on legs; all 

 below, rich warm bufify-yellow; tip of tail for one-quarter of 

 length, black; chin, cheeks, and upper lip, white. In winter, 

 pure white, except the tail-tip, which continues black. Fe- 

 male similar. 



865 



