866 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



The following races are recognized: 



longicauda Bonaparte, the typical form. 

 spadix Bangs, darker and more richly coloured. 

 oribasus Bangs, darker and duskier than spadix. 



Besides these are the following very nearly related forms, 

 at present ranking as species: 



Putorius artzonensis Mearns, similar to longicauda in 



colour and marking, but much smaller. 

 Putorius saturatus Merriam. Like arizonensis, but 



larger and darker, with distinct spots behind the 



corners of the mouth. 

 Putorius alleni Merriam. Like arizonensis, but upper 



parts more suffused with yellow and audital 



bullae flatter. 



Life-history. 



R-wGE The range of the species is the Great Plains from Kansas 



northward to the Saskatchewan. In Manitoba, I found it 

 abundant throughout the prairie region, seeking by preference 

 such cover as the edges of broken land, thickets, or river banks. 

 I have seen it out on the open prairie, but not more than a mile 

 or so from timber. I am told, however, that it follows the 

 Richardson Ground-squirrel wherever it goes, preying on it 

 and living in its burrows. As might have been expected, the 

 ranges of these two animals coincide in the north. 



I never saw or heard of a specimen taken in the forest 

 country. All those examined by me in Manitoba were from 

 Winnipeg, Carberry, and Morden. L is probably found 

 throughout our Alleghanian or Transition Region. 



HOME- I have no evidence on the home-range of the individual, 



but imagine, from the nature and abundance of its food, that in 

 summer, at least, it need not travel so far as do most of its kin. 



