114 XOKTH AMERICAN MUSTELID.E. 



resembles and represents''. The i)oiiit I make is, that it is im- 

 possible to draw an}' dividing line between the extremes. 

 Whatever character, or whatever set of characters, we assume 

 as definitive, is instantly negatived by sufficient material. There 

 is no dividing line. The differences may be relegated to the cate- 

 gory of individual variability in size ; and as such they possess 

 for the zoologist quite as much interest as if they were " specific 

 characters". To facilitate the recognition and handling of this 

 range of variation, I have above thrown the synonyms in two 

 batches, assorting them as far as practicable ; though it must 

 always be remembered that the name refers, in most cases, not 

 to either extreme, but to various intermediates, so that exact 

 location of the names is in the nature of the case impossible. 

 The smaller Stoat may be recognized, by those who desire to 

 give it a name, as P. ennlnea var. cicognanl. 



So far from there being anything remarkable or exceptional 

 in this, it seems that a^similar case occurs in Europe. Though 

 I am not cognizant of any species based upon this distinction 

 in size, the specimens before me indicate the same range of 

 variation. Thus, one^from France, in winter pelage, and there- 

 fore full-grown, is quite^^as small as typical cicognani ; for all 

 I can discover, it is as nearly identical with a small Massachu- 

 setts skin as if the two had been born in the same litter.* 



Those engaged in investigating the points at issue here 

 should not fail to consult, further, Mr. Allen's paper upon the 

 subject above quoted. It will be found an admirable historical 

 summary of the case, an acute analysis of imaginary distinc- 

 tions, and a logicarconclusion. With the exception of tjie case 

 of P. longicauda, which Mr. Allen had not seen, his views are 

 substantially the same as those I have since been led to adopt 

 from my own studies, though I would lay a little more stress 

 upon the actually existing} differences than he was inclined to 

 do when arguing solely against that absence of specific distinc- 

 tion in which I wholly agree with him. I wish to here bring 

 out the differences as strongly as he did the resemblances. Since 

 the point at issue is entirely a matter of dimensions, relative 

 and absolute, the following table of measurements is presented 

 without comment as a fair resume of the whole question : — 



* " Earumiuter Americes aniiuaha ([uoqne meminit Charlevoix hist, de la 

 Nouv. France vol. iii. p. 134. Statnra ibi paiilo niiuore sunt. Sic et in Dauu- 

 riffi densissimis sylvis occurrent spithamam vix excedentes." — (Pai-Las, Zoog. 

 Fiosso-Jsiaii a i. 1811. 9i.) 



