152 NORTH AMERICAN MUSTELID^. 



white color and character of the pelage are peculiar. The coat 

 is very short and close, the individual hairs appearing scarcely 

 longer than those of a Stoat ; there is nothing of the length of 

 pelage of either Mink, Polecat, or Marten. The fur is every- 

 where, even on the darkest part of the back, white at the roots, 

 and on the under parts it is entirely white, excepting a faint 

 brownish discoloration. There is a stronger tinge of pale brown 

 on the back, and a certain dorsal area shows blackish- brown 

 tips of the haiLS, not strongly pronounced enough, however, to 

 materially alter the general cast of the parts. The tail has 

 nothing of the bushy character seen in a Mink or Polecat, be- 

 ing cylindrical, close-haired, scarcely enlarged at the terminal 

 brush, and relatively as slender as that of a Stoat. As far as 

 can be judged, this specimen agrees closely with the dimensions 

 assigned by Audubon. 



Dr. Hayden's specimen, in better order, corresponds closely 

 in coloration with that just described: it is dingy whitish all 

 over, with a slight brownish cast on the upper parts, and a 

 dorsal area of sparse dark brown streakiness. All four paws 

 are quite black ; on the fore legs, these black stockings run up 

 to the shoulder all around the limb, except on the outer sur- 

 face, where a pale line extends down from the body. On the 

 hind limbs, the black is more restricted, soon fading into smoky- 

 brown below the knee. A line along the soles is whitish. There 

 is a curious blackish stripe through the umbilicus. The feet 

 are remarkable for the great length of the numerous bristles on 

 the toes, projecting far beyond and almost hiding the claws j the 

 palms and soles are densely furry. The specimen equals a very 

 large Mink in size. 



The Kansas specimen aitbrds some additional characters, es- 

 pecially relating to the general shape. The body seems pro- 

 portionally as slender and the neck as long as in an Ermine. 

 The tail- vertebrae are only about five inches long, decidedly less 

 than one-third of the length of the head and body, which is 

 apparently some eighteen or nineteen inches, but is perhaps 

 stretched. The circumference of the body is about seven inches. 

 The slender tail has no enlarged terminal brush. The physi- 

 ognomy and general aspect is rather that of an overgrown Wea- 

 sel than of a Mink or Ferret. The ears are very prominent, 

 perhaps even more so than those of a Stoat, and are not per- 

 fectly orbicular, having an obtuse point at the highest part of 

 the border; they measure, in their present state, 1.10 above 



