450 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [May, 



trasted browu-black of the median dorsal area. Au average of 

 the actuosa series would class as " pale" in the furrier's uomeucla- 

 ture, while brumalis would class as ' ' dark. ' ' On the other hand, 

 actuosa is of a very different sort of " pale" from typical ameri- 

 cana, such as we find in New Brunswick and Maine. These latter 

 are termed * ' canaries ' ' by the furriers and are distinguished from 

 the actuosa type by the pale-orange, buffy or ochraceous suffusion 

 of back and sides, some of them assuming a peculiar golden hue. 

 AU these pale color conditions of the southern animal, more on 

 account of tint than paleness, detract materially from their com- 

 mercial value as compared with those pale skins which are typical 

 of the interior Arctic martens. 



Measurements of brumalis. — Total length of c?, 680 mm. ; tail 

 vertebne, 195 mm. ; hind foot, 115 mm. : of ?, 585, 179, 91 mm. : 

 both specimens from Lance Au Loup. Skull measurements of four 

 adult males average : Basilar length, 79 max. ; interorbital constric- 

 tion, 16 ram. ; zygomatic expansion, 52 mm. 

 Mustela americana actuosa Osgood. Arctic or Alaska Marten. 



1900. Mustela aynericana actuosa Osgood, North American Fauna, 

 No. 19, p. 43. 



Type Locality . — Fort Yukon, Alaska. 



Faunal Distribution. — Bi'itish America, north of latitude 55° to 

 Barren Grounds; east to westei'u Labrador peninsula (Northeast 

 Territory) ; west to Coast Ranges of British Colmnbia and Alaska; 

 south in Rocky mountains almost to northern boundary of the 

 United States. 



Description of Species. — Osgood, tlie describer of this race, has 

 correctly characterized it in his original description and figure as 

 compared with americana typicus, but, as previously stated, he has 

 emphasized too strongly the distinctions between it and brumalis, as 

 now evidenced by the additional skulls of brumalis secured by Mr. 

 Bangs. 



^ Osgood's description of color characters of type may be quoted 

 in part as follows : * ' Posterior half of upper parts pale ochraceous- 

 buff, shoulders and anterior part of upper parts gradually be- 

 coming grayish; entire upper parts except head overlaid Avith 

 coarse brown hairs; head, including cheeks and throat, pale 

 grajdsh-white, lightly mixed with brown, especially on nose and 

 chin ; inside and edges of ears whitish ; outside and bases of ears 



