1902,] NATURAL SCIEXCE8 OF PHILADELPHIA. 455 



ties with ainericana, however, judging by the original descrip- 

 tion, are cranially much closer than to those of bnimalis, aduosa, 

 etc. 



In such a case it would seem preferable to make exception to the 

 arbitrary ruling of specific recognition (as contrasted with racial 

 separation), based primarily on geographic isolation. The sub- 

 specific differences of atrata, from the standpoint of coloration alone, 

 appear to merit its sepambility from typical americana. 



The color of atrata is said by Bangs to be " Deep chocolate, 

 becoming black on back, head, arms, legs, rump and tail ; a few 

 white haii-3 scattered along back ; chest and under side of neck 

 irregularly blotched with orange ; a median line of orange on belly ; 

 ears black, narrowly bordei'ed all round with dull white." This 

 indicates a much blacker and more orange-spotted animal than any 

 other marten known to me except a specimen from near Vernon, 

 British Columbia, in the interior region west of the Selkirk Range. 

 In this last specimen, however, the orange spot is small, and does 

 not extend below the base of neck. Bangs says further : ' ' Skull 

 about the size of or larger than that of M. americana ; rostrum 

 narrow, audital buUse much larger and deeper than in M. ameri- 

 cana . . . . ; dentition rather weaker throughout, Avith greater 

 spaces between premolar teeth than that of M. americana. Unfor- 

 tunately, the skulls as well as the type skins were from females. 

 But as other skulls, probably from males, were examined by him, it 

 is likely his diagnosis includes them, showing the close affinity of 

 atrata to typical americana from New Brunswick. 



Measurements. — Fide Bangs from two females, types: Average 

 total length, 550 mm. ; tail vertebrte, 185 mm. ; hind foot, 

 88 mm. ; ear from notch, 42 mm. Skull of type : Basilar length, 

 69.2; zygomatic expansion, 42 mm. 

 Mustela oaurina Merriam. Pacific Marten. 



1890. Mustela caurina Merriam, North American Fauna, No. 4, p. 27. 

 1865. Martes americana, var. 1, (ibktiiioides Gray (in part; referring 

 to J. K. Lord's specimens), Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud., p. 106. 



Type Locality. — Near Gray's Harbor, Chehalis county, Wash- 

 ington. 



launal Distribution. — Humid coast and Cascade mountain 

 region of western United States, British Columbia and probably 

 southern Alaska, from northern California northward, east to sum- 



