174 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



caruncles between the sixth and seventh, near the median line. The feet are broad, and the 

 digits connected by a thickened skin, which extends nearly to the end of the second phalanx. 

 There are ten naked balls on the fore foot, five at the ends of the fingers, four on the palm, and 

 one on the wrist. When the fingers are all drawn up, there are seven balls on the exterior of 

 the hand, two inside, and one posterior to all the others. The bulb situated at the base of the 

 third and fourth fingers is much larger than the rest, and may be considered as formed by the 

 union of two bulbs. The four palmar bulbs are not separated by hairs. The skin between 

 these and the posterior bulb, as well as between these and the fingers, is covered with dense 

 hairs. There are nine naked balls on the hind feet, the posterior one being wanting, the 

 arrangement of which is precisely similar to that of the fore feet. The third digit of both feet 

 is longest ; then fourth, second, fifth, and first". (Taken from a specimen in alcohol.) 



The prevailing color of the upper parts and sides is a chestnut brown ; the lower parts 

 generally yellowish white, with occasionally a tinge of brownish. The line of separation passes 

 a little below the middle of the sides all the way from the ear to the hind legs. The inside of 

 the limbs, the whole hands, and the inner edges and toes of the hind feet, brownish white. The 

 under surface of the head is of a purer white, this color also running out to a point, from the 

 angle of the mouth along the edge of the lip to about opposite the canines. The head, including 

 the ears and a slight suffusion on the sides of the neck, are rich blackish brown, with a triangular 

 patch of whitish in the middle of the forehead, between the eyes, and another on either side 

 still larger, running obliquely forwards to this spot in advance of the ear and confluent with 

 the paler under parts. In some specimens these three patches are connected, thus entirely 

 separating the dark brown muzzle, orbital region and cheeks from the sinciput. The tail is 

 colored like the back, (a little paler beneath,) with about two inches of the tip dark brownish 

 black. 



In none of the specimens before me are the under parts pure white, as described by Lichten- 

 etein ; all the adults have, however, been preserved in alcohol, which is well known to alter 

 white to yellowish. One ortwo specimens, indeed, are bright gamboge yellow beneath ; other 

 wise, among nine specimens before me, there is little or no variation either in tint or pattern. 



The measurements in the annexed table are all taken from specimens preserved entire in 

 alcohol, and of dimensions representing the very old, half grown, and very young stages. The 

 proportional dimensions will be seen to vary considerably, the tail becoming decidedly longer 

 in the adult. Most prepared skins give an inaccurate idea of size, owing to the great extensi 

 bility of the neck in the weasels. Thus a skin from Ringgold Barracks measures thirteen inches 

 in length of head and body ; tail to end of vertebras, 6/ T ; to end of hairs, T|y ; yet it is evidently 

 no larger than the largest specimen given in the table, probably not so large. 



