MAMMALS—MARTINAE—PUTORIUS VISON. 179 
there are no white spots whatever. The tail is generally darker than the body ; in most cases 
nearly black in its terminal portion. 
In the very great variation in size of different specimens, I would not be much surprised if 
the upper Missouri should furnish a new species, characterized by its very large size, and 
including number 1025. I am unwilling, however, to give a new name to this, in my ignorance 
as to whether the eastern species of mink ever attains these dimensions. The difference in color 
of the two mentioned above is not sufficient to constitute a species, especially as there is a dark 
brown one (1751) equally large with the lighter colored, (1755,) and otherwise agreeing 
perfectly with it. 
Specimens from the south have coarser and stiffer hair than more northern ones. The feet in 
summer generally are more naked than in winter. 
I regret not having had the opportunity of comparing the American mink with its near 
relative, P. lutreola of Europe and Asia, Judging from the descriptions of authors, this species 
appears to be smaller, and to have the edges of the upper lip white, a feature which never occurs 
in the American animal. It is one of the rarest of European mammals, very different from our 
species, which is so well known to every farmer as the pest of his existence. Cases are not 
unfrequent where a mink in a single night has killed twenty or thirty chickens or other 
domestic fowls. 
Inst of specimens. 
Se 5 =a ess aca 
ae F Blalé|2| 
Beas | 2 ulate hie 
e 33 So Locality. Whence obtained. = Nature of speci- aq 3 =; & 2 Collected by— 
Se hie fps =z men. = ° Fy © ¢ 
S 26/8 7 | = s 8 2 k= 
3 5 * ‘Eb g = =| = = 
3 S S = i) a | 7) oO 
o o n ° a is & A | 
675 | 1847 .| Carlisle, Pa?...... cote ceeeceeecs S. F. Baird .....sse0. EAE 
805 |..... , .| St. Simon’s island, Ga...... ..|G. Wiirdemann,. .... 
2303 |..... .| Prairie Mer Rouge, La, .... James Fairie... 
162 | 1145 |....]..... 0 60ccdO wcccccccesvecercccccs|sccccs do 
SESH LIAG ioe ck sabes cisnse dO) ocene cecceeucedbovceliiaacec dO). seesicevesves|eces|scee 
1390 |......|....| Bloomington, Ill......ee+ee++ee0++| R. Kennicott......... Seed bec 
22329 |......|....| West Northfield, Ill........ eee nine Ae age . 
1 Be Q |- -s0++---do 5 endl ensies!| ny BEI ¢ «cee 15.00 | 7.00 | 8.00 |......| 2.40 |...ssseeees Prory 
Tl eee sssic| WASCORKIN.. cccenjecceeccs ict: .»..| Skin in alcohol.) 17.00 | 8.00 | 9.25 | 1.90 | 2.50 |......cssceessees 
Lite ReRee «| Cannon Ball river, Neb Dry skin....... 20.00 | 8.25 | 9.95 |....0. 2.80 | Dr.F.V. Hayden. 
PITSS |. 2000. -|'Fort Pierre, Neb. sss.scccceccsees rds |waevdO4. concinene 19.50 | 8.00 | 9.00 |-.sseclescsesisseves dO. cevecess 
01023 | vcee .| Disputed island, near Vancouver’s | Dr. George Suckley ..| 64 |....d0.......+. 20.00) 7.00 | 7.50 |...... 3.00 | George Gibbs ... 
island. 
1423 |......|....| Klamath Lake, Cal. ....sersssesslevcees Wwe enereinns Aelescrl sensu lene amerrt | idcigess (ematwsta Seles |n-wae's a iaiaaice JeveeeedO ve eeeees 
MELTS la sicere -| Upper Klamath Lake, Cal... «| Lt. R. 8S. Williamson..|....]....d0 ...seeeee 17.50 | 6.00 | 7,00 |....ee]seeees |Dr.J.S.Newberry. 
vecceeleces San Francisco...... veceee ++.| Lt. Trowbridge ..... slecesleces 
655 |.. ..++| Fort Steilacoom, W. T... +++| Dr. George Suckley .. 
Men (eawestleces | OBNG MIRE, VWs Lisi ccc ccadsss|caedesQO vcovrvenncene 
seceeseveedO, 
200 .ecvcceece acces eens 
woe eO cocve cecleveces|cocccs|eccees|eoccce|cescuclcoccvccccccsccese 
«| Fort Steilacoom, W. T ....eccecnce|scccesd® sosccce socecelceee Skin in alcohol.|......|ssseeeleseees al flue Sei 
1 From tip of nose to eye, 1.05; to ear, 2.15; to occiput, 3. 00. 
