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



List of specimens. 



PUTOKIUS XANTHOGENYS. 



Yellow Cheeked Weasel. 



Mustela xanthogtnys, GRAY, Ann. and Mag. N. H. XI, 1843, 118. IB. Zool. Sulphur, 1844, 31 ; pi. ix. 



SP. CH. Similar to P. frenatus. Tail vertebras about half the length of the body ; the hairs about one-eighth this length. 

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

 reddish white beneath ; tip of tail black. 



This species is closely related to P. frenatus in general characteristics of tint and pattern of 

 coloration.. The ears are rather more acute than in P. frenatus, and not so broad at the base. 

 The toes are longer and less fully webbed ; the under surfaces of all the feet more densely furred. 

 There are ten balls on the fore feet, but these are smaller than in P. frenatus ; of the nine on 

 the hind feet, two or three on the soles can with difficulty be made out, owing to their being 

 buried in the fur ; the interspaces between all have short stiff hairs, instead of being nearly 

 naked. This may, however, depend somewhat on the season. The tail, though mutilated, is 

 apparently about half the length of the body. 



The upper parts and sides are of a chestnut brown color ; beneath, of a dull brownish or 

 rusty yellow. The chin is of a paler tint. There is a yellowish spot on the top of the muzzle 

 anterior to the eye, and a patch of the same commences acutely about midway on the edge of 

 the upper lip, and passes in a sub-crescentic direction behind the eye, about halfway between it 

 and the ear, though not getting as high as the upper edge of the latter. The whole space 

 between the ear and the border just described is occupied by this color. There is a dusky spot 

 on each side of the lower jaw. The upper part of the head is a little deeper in color, though far 

 from having the intensity of P. frenata. The tail is like the back, dusky at the tip. 



In the arrangement of the patches on the head, this specimen differs materially from P. 

 frenatus, as compared with nine specimens from Matamoras. The frontal patch is of much less 

 extent, and situated considerably further in advance of not between the eyes but on top of 

 the nose. The brown mask on the side of the head, instead of extending backward in an acute 

 point for twice the length of the lower jaw nearly to the ear, and with its upper edge parallel 

 with the base of the ear, as in P. frenatus, is quite abruptly truncated by the light patch, which 

 is thus broader at the base, but does not extend so high up. The under parts have a good deal 



