392 Mr. G. E. 11. Barrett-Hamilton on some 



various forms wliicli inhabit that continent. It may be 

 known as 



Putorius arcticus imperii^ subsp. n. 



Form as in P. ermineus or arcticus^ but smaller and with 

 the tail longer than that of the latter. 



Coloration of type specimen. Upperside (with exceptions 

 to follow) golden brown (between " tawny olive/'' " raw 

 vimber," and " mars brown ^'), the crown of the head darker. 

 Dorsal borders of ears, a tuft of hairs at their anterior angle 

 on each side, upper lips, chin, interramia, and upper throat 

 white. Underside (except as above) deep " primrose-yellow,'^ 

 including the inner and posterior surfaces of the fore legs, the 

 whole of the fore feet, the distal half and inner side of the 

 hind feet, and the under surface of the tail nearly to the dark 

 pencil. Line of demarcation well defined and straight, the 

 brown colour not encroaching on the underside. Tail with 

 conspicuous dark terminal pencil. 



The skull corresponds with Dr. Hart Merriam's description 

 of that of P. arcticus. 



Dimensions of the type (taken from the dried skin) : — 

 Hind foot 38 mm. ; ear 20; tail (including terminal hairs) 

 129; tail-pencil 71. 



The somewhat damaged skull has : — Zygomatic breadth 

 25 mm. ; palatal length 17 ; length of upper molar series 11, 

 of lower molar series 12. 



Type. No. 63. 10. 28. 1, from Fort Simpson, British 

 Columbia ; received from Mr. B. R. Ross. 



P. arcticus imperii appears to be a smaller race of P. arc- 

 ticus, from which it differs also in the possession of white 

 ear-borders and upper lips, a less deeply yellow underside, 

 and a longer tail. 



Secondly, the specimens long since brought home by 

 Mr. H., C. Hart from Greenland show that tiiere are in that 

 country two forms of stoat. Of these the first is a well- 

 defined species, apparently not very clearly related to its 

 allies either of the Old World or of the New. It may be 

 known as 



Putorius audaXj sp. n. 



General characters. — Size moderate ; tail short, with well- 

 developed dark pencil ; colours of upperside not encroaching 

 upon underside. 



Coloration. Above between "wood-brown" and "mars 



