EXTERNAL VARIATION IN PUTORIUS VISON. 165 



Variation in external characters. 



In the extensive series of Minks before me, two extremes of 

 size and color are apparent. One of these, represented by a few- 

 skins from AVashington Territory and the Upper Missouri, is 

 rather larger than any others I have seen — some 18 or 20 inches 

 long, exclusive of the tail. (But the ordinary dark Mink has 

 been found over 20 inches in length.) They are remarkably 

 light-colored, pale dull yellowish-brown all over, the tail but 

 little darker, with the usual white marks on the chin and else- 

 where underneath. Such specimens are noted by Prof. Baird, 

 p. 179, in text. Although by no means to be overlooked in any 

 formal account of the species, the fact that this style shades 

 in>sensibly into the ordinary state shows that it is merely one 

 phase of individual variation, which need not be recognized 

 by name. The other extreme has been described and figured 

 as Putorius nigrescens by Audubon and Bach man,* as above. 



*In order to set forth, fully tbe characters claimed for this supposed 

 species, the following digest of the original description is given : — 



Smaller than P. vison; teeth in the under jaw larger than the correspond- 

 ing teeth in the upper jaw; feet less deeply palmated than in P. vison; 

 ears broader and longer ; fur softer and more glossy. Color dark brownish- 

 black. 



In form, in dentition, and in the shape of the fe*et, this species bears a strong 

 resemblance to a stout Weasel ; the head is broad and depressed, and ^shorter 

 and blunter than that of P. vison. Ears large, oval, and slightly acute, cov- 

 ered on both surfaces with fur ; legs rather short and stout ; feet small and lees 

 webbed than in P. vison. The callosities under the toes are more prominent 

 than in that species, and the palms scarcely half as long. Toes covered 

 with short hairs almost concealing the nails, and the hairs between the toes 

 leaving only the tubercles visible. Fur blackish-brown from the roots to 

 the tips; whiskers and ears blackish-brown; a white chin-patch (not shown 

 in the figures); under surface of body a shade lighter and redder than the 

 back; tail blackish-brown, blackening on the end. Length of head and 

 body 11 inches; tail-vertebrse 6, with hairs 7 ; soles 2^; ear ^. 



Mountain Mink of hunters. From Pennsylvania, New York, New Eng- 

 land, and Canada, and supposed to be more northerly than P. vison. 



"We have had abundant opportunities of comparing many specimens 

 [with P. vison']. We have seen some with their teeth much worn, and 

 females which from the appearance of the teats had evidently suckled their 

 young. They were all of the size and colour of the specimen above described, 

 and we can no longer doubt that the latter is a distinct species from P. vison. 

 The comparison in fact is not required to be made between these species, 



but between the present species and P. Z«<r6oZa of Europe We had 



no opportunity of placing this little species by the side of the European. 

 We are inclined to believe, however, that distinctive marks will be found 



