new Species and Subspecies of Miisteli Jse. 303 



brown," the line of demarcation straight and decided. Below 

 white, tinged with yellow on the flanks, neck, and near the 

 legs, the white colour including also the upper lips, fore and 

 hind feet (but not conspicuously), the inner and anterior 

 surfaces of lhe limbs, but not the under surface of the tail, 

 which is barely lighter than the upper surface. Tail with 

 dark pencil commencing at about the middle point. Underfur 

 of upper surface near white. 



The akuU, as compared with that of American stoats, is 

 characterized by its broad, somewhat massive, and depressed 

 rostrum and moderately conspicuous postorbital processes. 

 It is shorter and far less massive than that of P. ermineus; 

 the posterior region lias a peculiar rounded appearance when 

 viewed from above, wliich is characteristic, but difficult to 

 describe. The audital buUas are shortened as compared with 

 those of P. ermineus. 



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

 Hind foot (without claws) 40 mm.; tail (including terminal 

 hairs) 19G ; tail-pencil 63. 



The somewhat damaged skull has a zygomatic breadth of 

 about 25 mm. ; palatal length 18 ; length of upper molar 

 series 10"50, of lower molar series 12. 



Type. No. 78. 6. 26. 5 ; secured by Mr. H. C. Hart at 

 Discovery Bay, North Greenland. 



A second skin was brought home by Mr. Hart from latitude 

 82° N., longitude 59° 20' W., in Hall Land, in the very far 

 north of Greenland. This specimen appears to me to be a 

 form of P. arcticus, Merriam, and I accordingly propose for 

 it the subspecific name 



Putorius arcticus polaris, subsp. n. 



Form and general characters as in P. arcticus, Merriam. 



Coloration. Above golden brown, the underfur near 

 white ; upper lips, interraraia, and upper throat white ; re- 

 mainder of underside deep " primrose-yellow,^'' this colour 

 running in a slightly lighter shade to the underside of the 

 tail (except the terminal pencil) and the fore feet. Line of 

 demarcation direct and as in P. audax. 



There were no dimensions or skull with this specimen. In 

 the dried skin the hind foot measures about 38 ram. and the 

 tail (including terminal hairs) 105, with a pencil of &2. 



Type. No. 78. 6. 19. 11 ; locality as abDve. 

 Ann. cfc Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol. xiii. 26 



