WEASEL 



rectangular spot between eyes, and a broad oblique band 

 between eye and ear, whitish; end of tail black; a brown 

 spot behind comers of mouth; chin white; rest of underparts, 

 including forefeet all round and inner side and toes of hind 

 feet, varying from buffy ochraceous to ochraceous orange." 

 (Merriam) Total length, males, i6 inches, females, 14.7 

 inches; tail vertebrae, males, 6.2 inches, females, 5.4 inches; 

 hind foot, males, 1.7 inches, females, 1.6 inches. Found in 

 "Sonoran and Transition faunas of California, on both sides 

 of the Sierra Nevada. " (Merriam) 



Redwoods Weasel.^ — Mustela xanthogenys munda (Bangs). 

 Resembling typical xanthogenys but smaller and darker. 

 Upperparts (winter) dark, rich tawny russet, dusky on top 

 of head and nose; underparts deep rich orange-buff. In 

 summer darker and duller above, paler below. Males, total 

 length, 15 inches; tail vertebrce, 5.6 inches; hind foot, 1.7 

 inches. Found in the coast region of northern California. 



Oregon Weasel. — Mustela xanthogenys oregonensis (Merriam). 

 Larger, darker, and with more restricted face markings than 

 typical xanthogenys. Upperparts pale chocolate-brown ; tail 

 without any yellowish tinge, terminal fifth black. Total 

 length, females, 16.5 inches; tail vertebras, 6.2 inches; hind 

 foot, 1.8 inches. Found in "Rogue River Valley, Oregon; 

 limits of range unknown." (Merriam) 



Bridled Weasel. — Mustela frenata frenata Lichtenstein. 



A large, long-tailed Weasel with conspicuous white markings 

 on head. Upperparts light brown except for top of head, 

 which is blackish, marked by a white band between eye and 

 ear and a small white spot between eyes; underparts och- 

 raceous yellow, whitish on chin and throat, dark spot behind 

 comer of mouth; tail with short black tip. Total length, 

 males, 19.5 inches, females, 17.5 inches; tail vertebras, males, 

 7.7 inches, females, 7.5 inches; hind foot, males, 2 inches, 

 females, 1.7 inches. Found from the Valley of Mexico north 

 to southern Texas. Plate VIII. 



New Mexico Bridled Weasel. — Mustela frenata neomexicana 

 (Barber and Cockerell). 

 Paler than typical frenata, with more white on head. Upper- 

 parts pale yellowish ochre ; terminal two inches of tail black ; 

 underparts similar to back but paler; head brownish black 

 with large whitish patch between eyes, and with broad 

 whitish band between eye and ear. Males, total length, 20 

 inches; tail vertebras, 8 inches; hind foot, 2 inches. Found 

 in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico 



Subgenus Putorius 



Black-footed Ferret. — Mustela nigripes (Audubon and Bach- 

 man). Plate VIII. 

 Size large; more robust than other North American Weasels, 

 mink-like. Upperparts pale buffy yellow, with a sprinkling 



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