ANALYSIS OF THE GENUS PUTORIUS. 99 



{puteo^ to stink), as one of its synonyms, FwtoriuSj is from 

 foetor, foeteo, of the same signification. The relation of the 

 YiUglish 2)utri(l, fetid, &c., is obvious. 



The extensive genus Putorius is divisible into several well- 

 marked sections, doubtless of subgeneric value. Three such 

 groups exist in Xorth America. These may be analyzed as 

 follows, in connection with a fourth group, Putorius proper, 

 introduced to further elucidate the position and relations of a 

 new subgenus I propose for the reception of the Putorius ni- 

 gripes. 



Division of the genus into subgenera. 



1. Gale. * — The Stoats or Ermines, and Weasels. — Skull smooth, without 

 well-developed sagittal crest. Frontal profile strongly convex and decli- 

 vous. Pterygoids with small hamular processes, or none. BuIIjb auditoria? 

 nicked at end by orifice of the meatus. Skull moderately abruptly con- 

 stricted near the middle; postorbital processes slight. Species of small and 

 smallest size, with very slender, cylindrical, " vermiform " body, very Jong 

 neck, and tail (of variable length) slenderly terete, with terminal pencil, 

 usually black ; pelage, including that of the tail, short and close set (the 

 Northern species usually turning white in winter), bicolor, of uniform color 

 above, lighter below. Ears large, high, and orbicular. Palmar pads all 

 separate. Toes scarcely webbed. Habits terrestrial, and somewhat arbo- 

 real ; not aquatic. Of general distribution in both hemispheres. 



2. CynomyonaxI (nob., subg. nov.). — American Ferret. — Skull developing 

 sagittal crest. Frontal profile scarcely or not convex, strongly declivous. 

 Pterygoids with slight hamular process. Bulhie auditoria? nicked by orifice 

 of meatus. Sectorial tooth of upper jaw with its outer border nearly straight, 

 developing no decided antero-external process, and the antero-internal pro- 

 cess merely a slight spur. Skull abruptly and strongly constricted in ad- 

 vance of the middle, with strongly developed postorbital processes. Last 

 molar of under jaw minute, merely a cylindrical round-topped stump, without 

 trace of cusps or other irregularity of surface. Animal of large size, equal- 

 ling or exceeding a large Mink, yet retaining the attenuate^ elongate and 

 cylindrical body, long neck, large suborbicular ears, slenderly terete black- 

 tipped tail, and close short pelage of Gale. Coloration not distinctively 

 bicolor ; legs darker than body ; peculiar facial marking. Toes not semi- 

 l)almate. Palmar pads discrete. Habits terrestrial. No seasonal change of 

 colors. One species known, peculiar to North America. 



3. Putorius I (proper). — The Ferrets or Polecats. — Skull finally develop- 

 ing sagittal crest, and roughened muscular impressions. Frontal profile 



*Etym. — The Greek ya7Ji, a weasel. 



\Etym. — Greek kvov, dog, five, mouse, o)va^ (or ava^), king. — The genus 

 Cynomys (kvov, fiv^') is that of the so-called "' prairie-dogs", among which the 

 species lives, and upon which it largely subsists. — Cynomyonax, " king of 

 the prairie-dogs ". 



t Etyni. — See above. 



