144 NORTH AMERICAN MUSTELID^. 



Measurements of two specimens of Putorius brasiliensis frenatus. 



The facial white markings of this species deserve special 

 oousideration. Upon the most cursory examination, one may 

 satisfy himself of their irregular, indeterminate character, and 

 would expect to find them, as they really are, variable to the 

 last degree. They are similar in this respect to the white on 

 the chin and about the lips and along the belly of the Mink, 

 or on the chest of the Marten, and of a part with the variation 

 above mentioned in the color of the x^aws of the present spe- 

 cies. Thej^ appear to be, in fact, simply an exaggeration and 

 permanent retention of certain white markings that occur in 

 P. erminea (unassociated with beginnings or remains of the 

 winter dress). In several European examples of P. erminea^ 

 I find a little white coronal or two white supraciliary or auricular 

 spots, and a wholly variable extent of white upon the cheeks. 

 The usual pattern in P. frenatus is this : a triangular or quad- 

 rate white frontal spot just between the eyes, and a broad 

 oblique white stripe on each side of the head. In addition, 

 there may or may not be an occipital white spot between the 

 ears. The frontal spot is usually isolated from the white 

 stripes, but may fuse with them, completing the " bridle". It 

 is sometimes reduced to a mere nasal stripe, with correspond- 

 ing reduction of the pre auricular markings. In a specimen 

 from Fort Crook, California, which I refer to this species, 

 there are only a few white hairs on the muzzle, and a slight 

 patch at the base of the ear. But the malar stripe, on the 

 variations of which P. xanthogcnys chiefly rests, is still more 

 unstable in character 5 for its width and the outline it forms 

 with the black of the cheeks are wholly indeterminate. 



I am inclined to think that this animal has become fairly 

 ditferentiated from an original stock which comprised P. w- 

 minea^ although traces of a former connection may still subsist 

 on the confines of its present habitat. The Fort Crook speci- 



