452 Mr. O. Tliomas on the Representatives of 



bullaj 13'3 ; palate length from griatliion 15'2 ; palate breadth 

 between outer corners of ti 12 ; horizontal length of Eii 4*2, 

 of in 4-5. 



Hah. Algeria. Type from " Environs d' Alger " (Parzu- 

 daki). 



Type: B.M. 56.3.12.13. 



The specimens now described are those called by Dr. Gray* 

 "Mustela erminea^ var. 1. afri'cana,^^ a term assigned without 

 much inquiry to the Algerian representative of the Weasel 

 group t by Lataste, who was evidently not aware that any 

 member of the ermineus group occurred in that country. In 

 this he was the more to be excused, as the only description 

 given by Gray was, " Tail very short, black-tipped, one sixth 

 the length of body," — a description quite true of some 

 members of the Weasel group. Gray, hovvever, was here 

 perfectly correct, as the specimens really prove to represent 

 a tenable variety of ermineus^ and, had he not used a name 

 already preoccupied, his designation would have had to be 

 adopted. 



When laid beside a series of ordinary European P. ermineus, 

 the Algerian skins are very readily distinguishable from all 

 by their shorter tails and more fulvous colour. Curiously 

 enough, in the last-named character these southern Stoats are 

 most nearly matched at the furthest northern point of the 

 range of P. ermineus, the only skins in the Museum series at 

 all like them being some from the Polar Region (Greenland, 

 82° N.) and extreme north of North America (Fort Simpson, 

 Mackenzie River). But the northern specimens have the 

 long tails of P. e. typicus. 



Putorius ermineus Jerghance, subsp. n. 



Similar to P. e. tyjncus in proportions and essential respects, 

 but very much smaller, the male considerably smaller than 

 the female of that form. General colour pale, almost matching 

 Ridgway's " Isabella colour," with a distinct suffusion of 

 yellowish throughout above and below, except just on the 

 chin and throat, which are pure white. Head especially 



* P. Z. S. 1865, p. Ill ; Cat. Cam. B. M. 1869. Nee 31. africana, 

 Desm. 1818. 



t P. numidieus, Puch. Rev. Mag. Zool. vii. p. 393 (1855). The type 

 specimen of this form has been most kindly re-examined on my behalf by 

 Dr. Trouessart, and he informs me that it unquestionably belongs to the 

 Weasel group, and is, in his opinion, a mere variety of P. nivalis. I am 

 also indebted to him for a complete list of aU the specimens of the present 

 group in the Paris Museum, with their measurements, which have natu- 

 rally proved of the greatest value to me. 



