CHAPTER lY 



MUSTELIN^E— CoNTixuED : The Weasels. 



The gennsPutoJuus — Generic characters and remarks — Division of the genns 

 into subgenera — Analysis of the Xorth American species — The subgenus 

 Gale — Putoriiis vulgaris, the Common Weasel — Synonymy— Habitat— Spe- 

 cific characters — €>eneral characters and relationships of the species — Geo- 

 graphical distribution — Habits — Putorius enninea, the Stoat or Ermine — 

 Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — Discussion of specific charac- 

 ters and relationships — Table of measurements — Xote on the skull and 

 teeth — Description of external characters — Conditions of the change of 

 color — General history and habits of the species — Its distribution in the 

 Old World — Putorius longicauda. the Long-tailed Weasel — Synonymy — 

 Habitat — Specific characters — Description — Measurements — General ac- 

 count of the species — Putorius hrasiUensis frenatus, the Bridled Weasel — 

 Synonymy — Habitat — Specific characters — General account of the species. 



CONTIXUIXG with the subfamily 2IusteJhi(e, but passing- 

 from the genus Musfehiy we reach the next genus, Puto- 

 riiis^ which contains the true TVeasels or Stoats (subgenus 

 Gale)^ the Ferrets and Polecats (subgenus Putorius proper), 

 the American Ferret (subgenus Cynomijonax), and the Minks 

 (subgenus Lutreola), This chapter is devoted to the considera- 

 tion of the species of the first of these sections, after presenta- 

 tion of the characters of the genus at large. The other sec- 

 tions are reserved for succeeding chapters. 



The Genus PUTORIUS. (CUYIER.) 



< Mnstela, or Martes, of some authors. 



X Yiverra sp.. Lutra sp. of some authors. 



= Putorius, Cuvier, Eegne Anim. i. 1617, aud of authors generally. 



= FoetoriUS, Kei/s. cfi Bias. Wirbelth. Eur. lS-10. 



> Gymiiopus, Gray, Cat. Mamm. Br. Mus. 1842. 



> Lutreola, " Wajner ', Grat/, P. Z. S. 1865, 117. (Type ifustela lutreola L .) 



> Gale, ''Wagiier", Gray, P. Z. S. 1865, 118. 



> Neogale, Gray, P. Z. S. 1865, 114. (Type P. brasiliensk.) 



> ViSOn, Gray, P. Z. S. 1865, 115. (Type P. visou.) 



Generic chx-rj^ctbrs.— Dental formula : I. f^| ; C. ^^ ; Pm. |^; 

 M. ^^ =T-| =3'^ (oiie premolar above and below less than in Gu lo and Mus- 



tela). Sectorial tooth of lower jaw (anterior true molar) without an inter- 

 7 m ' 9' 



