FAMILY MUSTELID^. 35 



We suppose this to be the Common Weasel of Richardson, which he states to be identical 

 with the Common Weasel of Europe. It is, however, generically different, and we have 

 been consequently compelled to suggest a distinctive name. Godman, Vol. 1, p. 193, asserts, 

 on the authority of Charles Bonaparte, that the Ermine, in its summer coat, has been usually 

 considered by naturalists as the M. vulgaris of Europe. This is a mistake : it is the present 

 species which has thus been confounded. 



It is by no means a rare animal, but is difficult to capture, and is usually known under the 

 name of the Little Weasel. It feeds on mice, insects, young birds, eggs, etc., and possesses 

 all the voracity characteristic of the tribe. 



THE BROWN WEASEL. 



MnSTELA FUSCA. 

 Mustelafusea. Bachman, Proceed. Ac. Sc. 1841, p. 94. 



Characteristics. Brown above ; pure white beneath. Tail one-fifth of the whole length. 

 Feet with long hairs. Length, 12' 0. 



Description. Form as in the preceding, but more robust. Feet remarkably robust, and 

 densely covered with long hairs, which almost conceal the nails. Ears broad and rounded. 

 Tail with no enlarged tuft at the end. 



Color. Dark fawn above, becoming deeper on the posterior part of the back ; the tip of 

 the tail still darker. Beneath, pure white, from the chin extending around the mouth, throat, 

 belly, and interior of the extremities. 



Head and body, 9*L 



Tail (vertebras), 2-8. 



Tail, including hairs, 3" 2. 



In the State Collection is a specimen of this animal, upon which I made, in 1840, two years 

 since, the following note : " Taken in May, in Suffolk county ; differs from pusilla in its legs, 

 " which are very robust, and covered with long hair. It resembles noveboracensis in its 

 " markings ; allied to vulgaris of Richardson, (excl. syn.), but his species has slender feet. 

 " We wait for more extended opportunities of comparison, before considering it a new 

 " species." 



Recently, Bachman, (Op. cit.) has gi\en this a careful examination, and distinguished it 

 as a new species. We adopt his name. 



{EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



M.frenata, Lichtenstein. (Bachm. Proc. Ac. Sc.) Light fawn above, yellowish beneath ; ears and 

 nose dark brown ; a white spot on the head, and a band above the eyes. Whole length 18 inches ; 

 tail 6  5. California. 



