ANALYSIS OF N. A. SPECIES OF PUTORIUS. 101 



Analysis of North American species of Putorius. 



A. (Gale.) Of smallest size (length of head and body under 12 inches), most 



slender and attenuate body, and longest neck. Ears conspicuous, 

 orbicular. Tail slenderly terete, with the tip usually (rarely in 

 vulgaris) black. Toes cleft. Palmar pads separate. Coloration 

 bicolor, in distinct upper and under areas, latter not darker than 

 former, feet not black ; or, entirely white, excejatiug black tip of 

 tail. (Weasels, Stoats or Ermines.) 

 a. Head not darker than rest of upper parts, nor variegated with -streaks 

 or spots. 

 a'. Tail pointed at end, scarcely or not black-tipped, 2 inches or less 

 in length, including h^irs ; belly white or scarcely tinged with 



sulphury 1. P. vulgaris. 



¥. Tail with a terminal pencil of black hairs, and over 2 inches long, 



including hairs. 



a". Belly pure sulphury-yellow; tail- vertebrae 2-5 inches long, the 



black tip not confined to the terminal pencil. . . 2. P. ekminea. 



h". Belly tawny, saffron or salmon-yellow ; tail 6-7 inches long, the 



black tip reduced to terminal pencil. ... 3. P. longicauda. 



&. Head darker than rest of upper parts, with light stripes or spots ; belly 



as in h" 4. P. brasiliensis frenatus. 



B. {Cynomyonax.) Much larger; length of head and body over 12 inches; 



body scarcely stouter, and equally close-haired, and tail very 

 short, slenderly terete, black-tipped. Ears conspicuous, orbic- 

 ular. Toes cleft. Palmar pads separate. Coloration not bicolor 

 in distinct areas. (American Ferret.) 

 Pale brown, nearly uniform, or brownish-white, scarcely darker on 

 the back ; feet, end of tail, and broad bar across the face black. 



5. P. NIGRIPES. 



C. (Lutreola.) Size of the last, or rather less ; body as stout or stouter. Ears 



low. Toes semipalmate. Palmar pads fused. Tail uniformly 

 bushy. (Mink.) 

 Dark chestnut-brown or blackish, uniform, or only varied by white 

 patches below ; tail without differently colored tip. 



6. P. VISON. 



The Subgenus GALE. (Wagner.) 



This subgenus, which iuchides the Weasels proper and the 

 Stoats or Ermines, comprises a large majority of the species of 

 Fiitorms, widely distributed over the globe. The leading char- 

 acters which distinguish it from its nearest allies have already 

 been given (p. 99), together with an analysis of the four species 

 known to inhabit North America. Further details of the skull, 

 teeth, and external form are presented beyond, under head of 

 G. erminea, which, as a typical member of the subgenus, may 

 serve as a standard of comparison. We may at once, there- 

 fore, proceed to consider the several North American species. 



