MUSTELA SUB-HEMACHALANA. 83 



and Menageries of the Zoological Society." It has a very slight unplea- 

 sant odour. 



Martes toufmus, Hodgson, is stated to have been killed in Tibet, 

 Ladak, &c., at 11,000 feet of elevation, where it chiefly lives in the 

 villages of the inhabitants. It is also found in Afghanistan, and its skin 

 sold in the bazaars at Peshawur. Another species, which Blyth is inclined 

 to identify with Mustela zihellina, the Sable Marten, has also been pro- 

 cured from Tibet. This has the soles clad with fur. The former of these 

 has by some observers been taken for the Pine Marten of Europe, Martes 



dbietum. 



Gen. Mustela, Linnaeus. 



Char. — Four molar teeth above on each side, and five below ; lower 

 canine with no internal tubercle, upper tuberculated tooth with the crown 

 broader than long ; ears short, rounded ; feet short ; toes separate ; claws 

 sharp ; tail short or moderate. Of small size ; body elongated, vermiform. 



Weasels are a well-known group of small animals, of lengthened habit 

 of body and very short legs, to which the name vermin is commonly 

 applied. They are, though so small, most sanguinary in their disposition, 

 often killing far more than will satisfy their hunger. They are ground 

 animals, hunting on the ground, and living in holes in walls and like 

 places. They are chiefly inhabitants of the northern parts of the 

 old world and Northern America ; in India they are only found in the 

 Himalayas. 



97. Mustela sub-hemachalana. 



Hodgson, J. A. S. VI. 563. — Blyth, Cat. 202. — M. humeraUs,BLYTa. 

 — Zimiong, Bhot. — Sang-hing, Lepch. 



The Himalayan Weasel. 



Descr. — Uniform light bay or brown, slightly darker along the median 

 line ; nose, upper lip and forehead, and the end of the tail dark reddish- 

 brown ; edge of the upper lip and chin hoary-white ; feet dusky-brown ; 

 fur close, glossy and soft ; head and ears more closely clad than the body ; 

 tail laxly furred, tapering. 



Length, head and body, 12 inches ; tail 5^, with the hair 1 inch more. 



Blyth desci'ibed a specimen that had some white spots and mottling 

 on the shoulders and sides of the neck. He also likens this species to 

 the Ermine, which is about the same size, but is darker in colour, and 

 has the tip of its tail black. 



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