48 Mr. G. E. II. Barrett-Hamilton on the 



may be short in the young of this subspecies. This is the 

 largest sul)specios of the series, and the great size of the 

 stuffed specimen from Malta makes it impossible to distinguish 

 ]\Ialtese fiom Egyptian specimens, at least with the material 

 at present available. In my identification I am therefore 

 glad to be able to follow Mr. Oldfield Thomas, who in 1895 

 recorded his belief that the weasels of Egypt and Malta are 

 identical (P. Z. S., Feb. 5, 1895, pp. 128-131). 

 Distribution. Egypt and Malta. 



(IX.) Putorius nivalis caucasicus, subsp. n. 



Type. No. 94. 9. 2. 3, from the Barey collection (Mons. 

 Ilotschal) , the Caucasus, at a height of 12,000 feet, 26th June, 

 18S7. 



Distinguishing characteristics. Winter coat white ; size 

 very small; tail short; belly white; line of demarcation 

 decided ; feet white. 



I make this subspecies with confidence from four specimens, 

 since the characters which they show are very constant in 

 the various subspecies of weasels, and their combination in 

 this form is unique. The white winter coat is represented 

 by two specimens, nos. 97. G. 4. 4 & 5, a male and a female, 

 collected at Van, Asia Minor, by Major Williams, K.A., and of 

 which the date and dimensions are : — 



Length of Breadth 



Hind foot skull (ba- of skull 



Head and (without sion to at 



body. Tail, claws). Ear. gnathion). zygoma. 

 J, 18th Jan., 1897 .... 190 55 27 12 35-5 17 



$ , 10th Jan., 1897 .... 173 55 27 13 34 



There is also one from Erzeroum (no. 84. 6. 3. 5), col- 

 lected by Messrs. Dickson and Eoss in 1840. 

 Distribution. Caucasus and Asia Minor. 



(X.) Putorius nivalis pallidus, subsp. n. 



Puforim Stoliczkanus, 0. Thomas, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. xv. p. 453 

 (1895). 



Type. No. 94. 9. 2. 1 of British Museum collection, from 

 Kokand, Ferghana. 



Distinguishing characteristics. Colour of upperside ex- 

 tremely light and faded ; size intermediate ; tail short ; line 

 of demarcation distinct ; feet white or nearly so. 



The characters given above readily distinguish this sub- 

 species from P. nivalis Stoliczkanus, with which it has been 



