42 ZOOLOGY. . 



PUTOEIUS XANTHOGENYS. 



Yellow Cheeked Weasel. 



Mwstcla xanthogenys, Gray, Ann. and Mag. N. H. XI, 1843, 118. — In. Zool. Sulphur, 1844, 31 ; pi. Ix. 

 Pulorius xanthogenys, Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 176. 



Sp, Ch. — Similar to P. frenatus. Tail vertebra about half the length of the body ; the hairs about one-eighth this length. 

 Head chesnut brown, little darker than the back ; the three patches on the face reddish yellow ; body chesnut brown above, 

 reddish white beneath ; tip of tail black. 



About San Francisco this small species is very common and well known to the residents. I 

 supposed it to he the bridled weasel (P.frenata) when I obtained it, especially as I knew that 

 species to he common in northern Mexico. It is, however, apparently distinct, being much 

 lighter about the head. It varies, however, very much in color at San Francisco, some indi- 

 viduals being much darker than others, and closely approaching the Mexican species. 



The habits of P. xanthogenys are precisely those of the common eastern weasel, and they are 

 reported to be as busily employed in the destruction of rats about San Francisco as weasels are 

 with us. 



Our specimens were obtained in the San Francisco market. 



PUTORIUS VISON. 



Common Slink. 



Mustela vison, Brisson, Quad. 1756, 256. 



Putorius vison, Acd. & Bacu. IV, An. Quad. 1, 1849, 250; pi. xi, f. 1. 

 Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 177. 



rip. Ch. — Tail about half as long as the body. General color dark brownish chesnut ; tail nearly black ; end of chin 

 white, but not the edge of upper jaw. 



I obtained specimens of the mink from Klamath lake, and it was seen again by our party in 

 the Des Chutes river. It is found in all parts of Oregon, and probably of California, though 

 certainly less abundantly in the last mentioned State. The specimens obtained from Klamath 

 lake were not as dark as the handsomest skins I have seen from the British provinces ; they 

 were, however, killed in August, and for the season the fur was very fine and thick. 



Mr. McTavish, the intelligent factor of the Hudson Bay Company at Vancouver — from 

 whom I received much valuable information relative to the numbers and distribution, as well as 

 to the habits of the fur-producing animals of the northwest — told me that the company obtain 

 large numbers of mink skins from Washington and Oregon, and that it is the most valuable of 

 all the more common furs. The price now paid to the hunters is the same for a mink skin as 

 for that of a beaver ; but to the trader the mink skin is much the most valuable, the beaver 

 skins being hardly worth the price of transport. 



LUTRA CALIFORNICA, Gray. 



California Otter. 



Lulra califurnka, Gray, Charlesworth's Mag. N. H. I, 1837, 580. 

 Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 187. 



Sp. Ch. — Naked muffle wider than long ; under surfaces of feet scarcely hairy; the naked terminal pads not isolated from 

 the other bare portion by hair. 



The otter and beaver are generally regarded by those who have given the matter no special 

 attention as closely allied animals, and are supposed to have precisely the same habits and 



